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Last Updated: Jul 28th, 2008 - 21:23:25 |
Nicolas Roche finished an excellent fourth on today’s third stage of the Tour de Wallonie in Belgium, sprinting home in the same time as the day’s winner Greg Van Avermaet (Silence-Lotto). Jussi Veikkanen (Française des Jeux) and Marco Marcato (Cycle Collstrop) were second and third.
Roche crossed the line one place ahead of Sunday’s victor Paolo Bettini (Quick Step), the current world and Olympic champion.
The Irish Crédit Agricole rider is now sixth overall, nineteen seconds behind ongoing race leader Van Avermaet.
“The stage finished on top of a one kilometre climb and the team did a fantastic ride,” Roche said after the stage. “They rode strongly to put me in a good position at the bottom.”
The 2.HC ranked event continues tomorrow with a 201.9 kilometre stage from Gouvy to Seraing.
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Tour de Wallonie (2.HC), Belgium, July 26-30:
Stage 3 - July 28: Beauraing – Neufchateau:
1, Greg Van Avermaet (Silence-Lotto) 203.5 kilometres in 5 hours 13 mins 34 secs (38.939 km/h)
2, Jussi Veikkanen (Française des Jeux)
3, Marco Marcato (Cycle Collstrop)
4, Nicolas Roche (Crédit Agricole)
5, Paolo Bettini (Quick Step)
6, Borut Bozic (Cycle Collstrop) all same time
General classification after stage 2:
1, Greg Van Avermaet (Silence – Lotto) 13 hours 23 mins 13 secs
2, Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) at 11 secs
3, Jussi Veikkanen (Française des Jeux) at 16 secs
4, Marco Marcato (Cycle Collstrop) at 18 secs
5, Alexandr Kolobnev (Team CSC - Saxo Bank) at 18 secs
6, Nicolas Roche (Crédit Agricole) at 19 secs
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