As expected, Stage 3 of the 2022 Tour de France came down to a spring and it was Dylan Groenewegen (BikeExchange Jayco) that came out on top in a four up photo finish.
Groenewegen bested race leader Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin Decuninck), and Peter Sagan (Total Energies) in Sønderborg, while Fabio Jakobsen (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) could not stay with his leadout man and came across in fifth.
“I have to say thanks to my team, and to my family and friends to bring me back to the Tour in a good shape, it’s beautiful! Not physically, but mentally it was a hard time, of course. After all that happened, also with my family, but this is for my wife and my son, it means a lot to me,” said Groenewegen at the finish.
“Yesterday I was a little bit angry at myself. Today, we were a long time boxed-in, I was also involved with a crash a bit with 9km to go, but they [the team] brought me back into position, we stayed calm.
“In the end I was on the right side, Amund brought me into a really good position on the left corner, I struggled a little bit in the left corner, but at the finish line it was enough and I can’t still believe it!”
Wout Van Aert notched his third second place finish in three days.
“Another second place is not so much fun anymore”, the Fleming said. “Three times in a row second in the Tour, that must be a record. The lead-out from Christophe was perfect, but I started my sprint a bit too early. I might have won if I had stayed in his slipstream a bit longer. That’s a mistake. I immediately asked Dylan if he was sure of his win because he’s the one who taught me to put your arms in the air when you’re not sure. I am happy that Dylan is back at the highest level.
Van Aert enjoyed the Tour’s opening days in the Scandinavian country. “It was a great day on the bike. Denmark showed itself from its best side. Nice to go through such scenes with so many supporters. And of course I am very proud to take the yellow jersey to France. The yellow makes up for these second places, but I disappointed myself a bit today.”
The majority of the race saw local Magnus Cort of the EF Education EasyPost team riding solo at the front and collecting mountain points as the peloton soft-pedaled behind.
2022 Tour de France: Stage 3 Brief Results
- Dylan Groenewegen (Team BikeExchange – Jayco) at 4h 11′ 33″ – B: 10″
- Wout Van Aert (Team Jumbo Visma) s.t. – B: 6″
- Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin Deceuninck) s.t. – B: 4″
- Peter Sagan (Total Energies) s.t.
- Fabio Jakobsend (Quick Step Alpha Vinyl) s.t.
General Classification After Stage 3:
- Wout Van Aert (Team Jumbo Visma) at 9h 01′ 17″
- Yves Lampaert (Quick Step Alpha Vinyl) at 7″
- Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) at 14″
- Mads Pedersen (Trek Segafredo) at 18″
- Matthieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin Decueninck) at 20″
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