Cycling news - Garcia Cortina powers to surprise Stage 3 win

ByEurosport

Updated 10/03/2020 at 23:48 GMT

Ivan Garcia Cortina (Bahrain–McLaren) powered to a surprise Stage 3 win at Paris-Nice, a 212.5km ride from Chalette-sur-Loing to La Châtre, as Maximilian Schachmann (Bora–Hansgrohe) retained his advantage in the GC.

Bahrain - McLaren Spanish rider Ivan Garcia Cortina (L) celebrates as he crosses the finish line at the end of the 212,5 km 3rd stage of the 78th Paris - Nice cycling race stage between Chalette-sur-Loing and La Chatre, on March 10, 2020.

Image credit: Getty Images

Schachmann finished safely in the bunch to retain his lead in the GC, holding a 13-second advantage over Giacomo Nizzolo (NTT Pro Cycling), ensuring the German champion will start the Stage 4, 15km time trial around Saint-Amand-Montrond last.

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Stage 3 of the Race to the Sun began with an ambitious solo attack from Tom Devriendt (Circus Wanty Gobert) after just 4km - with his advantage over the peloton stretching to 09:20 at one point – but he was reeled in and distanced as the stage reached its conclusion

Crosswinds again split the peloton, so it was a reduced group left to contest the bunch sprint, and it was Garcia Cortina who emerged victorious on the uphill finish to La Chatre, holding off Peter Sagan (Bora–Hansgrohe) and Andrea Pasqualon (Circus–Wanty Gobert) to claim a second stage win of his career after success at the of California in 2019.

"It’s a surprise,” said García Cortina after the race.

"There was a bit of chaos in the end. I found my place, a bit of space to go, and I had to go full, full gas to the end and I could take the victory. It’s weather I like. I suffered in the race, but I think everyone suffered. In the end I had good legs, so I do like these conditions."

García Cortina emerges victorious from chaotic Stage 3 finish

A stage that had been a slow burner into a head wind for most of the day exploded into life when Niki Terpstra (Total-Direct Energie) and Bryan Coquard (B&B Hotels-Vital Concept) went down with 6km to go before Hugo Hofstetter (Israel Start-Up Nation) clipped the wheel of Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) sending Sam Bennett (Deceuninck-QuickStep) into the barriers inside the last 200 metres.

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It was 24-year-old García Cortina who emerged from the ensuing chaos to hit the front before holding off a collection of elite sprinters that included Sagan, Elia Viviani (Cofidis) and Caleb Ewan (Lotto–Soudal). Bennett would pick himself up to struggle over the line some minutes later clutching his wrist, and is a doubt to make the start line on Wednesday.