Gorka Izagirre retains the lead with two seconds over Thibaut Pinot and Tony Gallopin
16th February, 2018 – Le Castellet, France: The 2012 World Champion Philippe Gilbert of Deceuninck-Quick Step claimed the 75th victory of his pro career as he outsprinted the other 22 members of the front group on the Paul-Ricard car racing circuit of Le Castellet, home of the Formula 1 French Grand Prix. Closing in third place – despite being on antibiotics due to sickness – Tony Gallopin of AG2R-La Mondiale moved up on GC, now just two seconds adrift in the same time with Groupama-FDJ’s Thibaut Pinot. Despite a shortage of team-mates, Astana’s Gorka Izagirre retained the lead ahead of the conclusive stage.
After the finish, stage winner Philippe Gilbert said: “It was a pretty fast sprint coming after a tight curve. I managed to get a good position and I launched my sprint 120 metres before the end. It was the right timing. I came to the Tour de La Provence to add racing miles, that’s why I didn’t try anything before and put all my eggs in the basket of a sprint finish. In a cycling season, there’s always the question on when to get the first win. A victory delivers confidence, rest and serenity. It’s my first one on a car racing circuit but I knew Le Castellet thanks to having trained here with BMC before a Team Time Trial World Championship. I’m delighted to leave it with the sweetness of a victory.”

The GC leader Gorka Izagirre said: “It’s been a very difficult day. I saved myself well, but Groupama-FDJ were up there with three riders and they massacred me! I believe it’ll be another difficult day tomorrow because the gaps are very tight. Now Tony Gallopin will be another rider to watch out closely because he is only two seconds down.”

3. Etappe
1 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep 4:25:10
2 Toms Skujins (Lat) Trek-Segafredo
3 Tony Gallopin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
4 Simon Clarke (Aus) EF Education First
5 Gorka Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Astana Pro Team
6 Cyril Gautier (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B Hotel
7 Guillaume Martin (Fra) Wanty-Gobert
8 Julien El Fares (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTM
9 Dorian Godon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
10 Edward Dunbar (Irl) Team Sky
11 Eduard Prades (Spa) Movistar Team
12 Lilian Calmejane (Fra) Direct Energie
13 Pierre Luc Perichon (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
14 Luis Mas Bonet (Spa) Movistar Team

GC:
1 Gorka Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Astana Pro Team 9:25:55
2 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) Groupama-FDJ 0:00:02
3 Tony Gallopin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
4 Simon Clarke (Aus) EF Education First 0:00:08
5 Rudy Molard (Fra) Groupama-FDJ 0:00:10
6 David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ 0:00:15
7 Edward Dunbar (Irl) Team Sky
8 Eduard Prades (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:21
9 Jimmy Janssens (Bel) Corendon-Circus 0:00:26
10 Lilian Calmejane (Fra) Direct Energie 0:00:32
11 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep
12 Luis Mas Bonet (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:49
13 Cyril Gautier (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B Hotel 0:00:51
14 Pierre Luc Perichon (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 0:00:55
15 Toms Skujins (Lat) Trek-Segafredo 0:00:58