Farrar Sprints to Victory in Beijing Tour

News & Results

10/13/2014| 0 comments
by Gerald Churchill
Tyler Farrar wins stage 3 of Tour of Beijing 2014 for Team Garmin Sharp POC Slipstream

Farrar Sprints to Victory in Beijing Tour

Tyler Farrar is ending his Garmin-Sharp career on a high.

Tyler Farrar is ending his Garmin-Sharp career on a high. Farrar, who will ride for MTN-Qhubeka next season, took a bunch sprint to win the rugged, 176-km stage 3 ride from Yanqing to Qianjiadian Chao Yang Temple in 4:15:46. Luka Mezgec (Giant-Shimano) finished second, and Nikolas Maes (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) finished third. Philippe Gilbert (BMC) remains the race leader.

Smog was not an issue today. Dayer Quintana (Movistar), Julien Berard (Ag2r-La Mondiale), Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier (FDJ.fr), Julian Alaphilippe and Michal Golas (both from Omega Pharma-Quick Step), and Karsten Kroon (Tinkoff-Saxo Bank) jumped clear and forged a four-minute lead. BMC  began to chase on behalf of Gilbert, who led Alaphilippe by 0:11 at the beginning of the day.

With 50 km left, the break led the bunch by a little more than two minutes. The peloton reeled in the escapees on the Category 3 Huang Tu Liang, the day’s final climb, with 15 km to go.

Adam Hansen (Lotto-Belisol) attacked, and Julian Arredondo (Trek) joined him. The bunch caught the pair on the descent, but Carlos Betancur (Ag2r-La Mondiale) countered with about five km left.

Sky, Belkin, Katusha, Giant-Shimano, and Orica-GreenEdge battled for control at the front. The acceleration snuffed out Betancur’s move. Orica-Green Edge led the field into the last km. Farrar started sprinting from 12th place and won by a bike length.

Farrar attributed his victory to teamwork. “I’m very happy with today’s win,” he said. “The team here is really strong, and they worked hard all day. I am glad to be able to pay them back by bringing home the win. Today is truly special.”

In the overall, Gilbert leads Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (Giant-Shimano) by 0:05 and Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) by 0:07. Stage 4 could change this state of affairs. The 157-km ride from Yanqing to Mentougou Miaofeng will feature two Category 1 ascents, including the climb to the finish. Who will have the overall lead at the end of the stage? Gilbert? Costa? Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp)? Check in at www.roadcycling.com and find out!

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