Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Gianni Meersman finished 3rd in another bunch sprint, this time at the end of 167km Stage 3 of Criterium du Dauphine on Tuesday. OPQS worked on the front as usual in the final kilometers, including Sylvain Chavanel and Michal Kwiatkowski covering late race attacks to ensure the sprint finale.
Other OPQS riders such as Frantisek Rabon, Pieter Serry, Martin Velits, Tony Martin, and Nikolas Maes, worked tirelessly to try and get a good result in a stage with a descent into a flat finish after Category 3 Col des Sauvages (4km, 5.5%).
However, in the final meters there was a technical left turn into about 300m to go, and that is where Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky ProCycling) was able to get ideal position in the chaos and take the race victory. Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEDGE) was 2nd.
Meersman remains in the green jersey as points leader, and is also 2nd place in the GC, 1'56" behind David Veilleux (Team Europcar).
OPQS looks next to a 32.5km time trial on Wednesday. Riders such as four-time French National TT Champion Sylvain Chavanel, and UCI World TT Champion Tony Martin, will be looking for top results.
