Modolo wins stage 3a of Three Days of de Panne

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Sacha Modolo (Lampre-Merida) claimed his second consecutive stage win at the Three Days of De Panne on Thursday’s 3a stage in the centre of De Panne, holding off a late challenge from Andrea Guardini (Astana Pro Team) on the line.

Kenny van Hummel (Androni Giocattoli – Venezuela) finished further back in third, while a late crash for Kenny Dehaes (Lotto Belisol Team) split the field on the final corner.

Gert Steegmans (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) retains his overall lead ahead of the final stage, an individual time trial. Second placed rider Oscar Gatto failed to start this morning's stage, leaving Kenneth Van Bilsen (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise) and Niki Terpstra (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) as Steegmans' main challengers.

Gatto wasn’t the only rider to pull out of the race on the final morning with Arnaud Demare (FDJ), Laurens De Vreese (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) and Johnny Hoogerland (Androni Giocattoli – Venezuela) all failing to start.

With the time trial set to decide the overall honours it was left to the sprinters and the riders further down in the overall classification to entertain the local crowds that had turned out to watch the race.

Joren Segers, (Team 3M), Jaap De Man (Team 3M), Stijn Steels (Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise), Jay Robert Thomson (MTN – Qhubeka) and Maaskant (UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team) duly obliged, taking centre stage with a grouped attack just after 20 kilometres of racing.

With Steel the best placed in the general classification, at 3:39, the five-man move was given close to three minutes by the peloton. With 25 kilometres to go that advantage had dropped to 2:36 but despite the break's best efforts the might of Omega Pharma, Giant-Shimano and Lampre soon began to tell.

A minute was shaved off the break’s lead inside five kilometres and with 12 kilometres remaining the leaders squeezed the last of their efforts out as Segers and Thomson moved clear.

Behind them the sprinters' teams were stretching into action. The tough nature of the course with its long and exposed sections were always going to be a hindrance to a small group. Even the dotted and extensive road furniture that litters the city centre couldn’t hold off the peloton’s charge.

As the two leaders crossed the finish line for the first and penultimate time their gap on the field stood at just 14 seconds and even when they were finally caught and Michael Vingerling (Team 3M) catapulted off the front inside 5,000 meters the sprinters’ teams always looked in control.

Giant-Shimano looked the strongest. Kittel hadn’t featured in the opening two stage sprints and the Dutch team were looking for a late redemption. It wasn’t to be. First, despite their control at the front, Kittel lost his leadout when it appeared that a rider from Astana moved – fairly - into his line.

A crash inside the final 3 kilometres saw Andrew Fenn hit the floor and it was Lampre who assumed control when it mattered most. Kittel had fought back, sneaking onto Modolo’s rear wheel inside the final 800 meters. Yet again he was squeezed out of the action and as the leaders approached the final corner, Modolo was in the driving seat.

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