Critérium du Dauphiné - Tour of the Dauphiné: Laporte extends his lead

Overshadowed by several crashes, Frenchman Christophe Laporte won the third stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné and extended his lead in the overall standings.

The man in the yellow jersey, who had already won the Gent-Wevelgem classic this year, won the sprint after 194.1 kilometres from Monistrol-sur-Loire to Le Coteau ahead of the Irishman Sam Bennett from the German Bora-hansgrohe team and the Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen. Laporte is now eleven seconds ahead of his compatriot Julian Alaphilippe in the overall standings.

It was a day to forget for former world champion Alaphilippe. One day after his stage win in La-Chaise-Dieu, the Frenchman was constantly set back by a crash and two punctures. There were several crashes in the final stage anyway.

On Wednesday, the contenders for overall victory will be challenged in the 31.1 kilometre individual time trial from Cours to Belmon-de-la-Loire. The stage race, in which Tour title defender Jonas Vingegaard from Denmark is taking part, ends on Sunday in Grenoble.

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