Jasper Stuyven moves up in the overall standings.
Two dozen climbs and over 2600 vertical meters - stage three of the Belgium Tour was the hardest of the week so far and led to a spectacular race, one which ended up being too hard for the pure sprinters, who got dropped long before the final part.
Tim Merlier started the day with the leader’s jersey on his shoulders, but he knew he wasn’t going to be a protagonist in Durbuy, host of a stage finish for the fifth consecutive year. The numerous attacks that came made a selection, but curiously enough, no one could open a clear gap and hold off the chasers on Friday’s lumpy finale.
Soudal Quick-Step’s Dylan van Baarle was among those who went on the attack, but the group he was part of was caught in the closing kilometers, and Alex Aranburu (Cofidis) took the victory on the uphill drag to the line. Jasper Stuyven, who came just four seconds from the top ten, is the best placed rider of our team in the general classification.
Photo credit: ©Luc Claessen / Getty Images
