Davide Martinelli sprints to sixth in frantic finish, as Yves Lampaert gains several places in the overall standings.
Stage 3 of the race (Lyngdal – Kristiansand, 180 kilometers) took in a rugged territory which many riders used as a platform to throw in several attacks inside the closing 20 kilometers, once the original three-man breakaway had been brought to heel.
One of the teams who controlled the escapees, Deceuninck – Quick-Step couldn’t rely on powerhouse Tim Declercq, who lost contact due to a puncture, but that didn’t put us on the back foot, Yves Lampaert joining a dangerous move which went clear on the final hill of the local circuit.
Victorious on the previous day, white jersey Alvaro Hodeg was among those dropped on the punchy climb, but our squad continued to be prominent, at first with the Belgian Champion – whose group was pulled back inside three kilometers to go – and in the final with Davide Martinelli, who safely negotiated a tricky left corner and sprinted to sixth from a split peloton, which came home three seconds behind winner Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data).
In the general classification, Lampaert jumped 17 places, sitting now less than 20 seconds behind the new overall leader of the six-day race, which continues on Friday with another complicated stage, between Arendal and Sandefjord.
Photo credit: ©Luc Claessen/ Getty Images
