John Degenkolb’s victory, at the third time of asking, showed once again that he is still more than capable of leading Giant-Shimano to stage wins, even if he found himself in Marcel Kittel’s shadow last year.
Degenkolb’s five wins at the 2012 Vuelta a Espana highlighted his undoubted talent, and he now has four wins and two points jerseys to his name already this year. The German was not the only rider celebrating a ‘third time lucky’, though – in fact, most of the peloton were.
Save for a handful of riders, the bunch finished together on Magny-Cours’ famous circuit, with the crashes which beset stages one and two not repeating themselves this time out.
Kris Boeckmans (Lotto-Belisol), Lars Boom (Belkin) and Gianni Meersman (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) have already seen their races ended through the injuries sustained in those crashes but a steadier pace in the bunch this time, and better negotiation of France’s narrow roads, ensured a much more sedate stage.
