"Of course
it's a little sad. But finally the time bonuses were deciding",
said Jens Heppner, Sports director of Team NetApp. His pros once
again showed up in the head of the race during the third stage and
had been part of different leading groups on the last 20 kilometers
All of them got caught again quickly. Until this moment a break
away of three riders with Michael Weicht of the LKT-Team from
Brandenburg was dominating the race. The trio established their gap
up to almost five minutes before the peloton kept up at the
20-kilometer-mark. After many attacks during the final a bunch
sprint decided today's race. John Degenkolb had the fastest leg and
outpaced Stéphane Poulhiès (Saur-Sojasun) and Yoeri Havik (Van
Vliet-EBH Elshof). French Pierre-Luc Perichon (S.C.O. Dijon) is
defending his lead in the overall classifiation. Alexander
Meenhorst is now ranking third overall behind Degenkolb. With
Jan Barta on rank nine Team NetApp can claim another top ten
position.
The stage on Saturday will be
challenging once again. The 147 kilometer course between Bioscope
and Carspach features three climbs. But a decision about the
overall victory cannot be expected until Sunday when the final will
be at the Ballon d'Alsace.
Team NetApp's second
victory
The Team NetApp at the Tour Alsace:
Jan Barta (CZE), Andreas Dietziker (SUI), Huub Duyn (NED), Tassilo
Fricke (GER), Alexander Gottfried (KAZ), Alexander Meenhorst
(NZL)
Sports director:
Jens Heppner
The stages:
27th July, prologue: Sausheim - Sausheim 4.2 km (ttt)
28th July 1st stage: Colmar - Cernay 156.4 km
29th July, 2nd stage: Strasbourg - Bischhoffsheim 153.8 km
30th July, 3rd stage: Illzach - Huningue 178.9 km
31st July, 4th stage: Bioscope - Carspach 147 km
1st August, 5th stage: Ribeauville - Ballon D'Alsace 146.3 km
Website of the event:
http://www.touralsace.fr/