Svorada sprints to win in third stage of Four Days of Dunkirk
Czech rider Jan Svorada of the Lampre team won a sprint finish to take the third stage of the Four Days of Dunkirk cycling race in Landrecies, France. Svorada clocked a time of 4:35:10 to pip Italian Endrio Leoni of Alessio, and Slovenian Zoran Klemencic of Tacconi, to the post after the 189km run. Estonia's Jaan Kirsipuu of AG2R, winner of the first two stages, had difficulty throughout the stage and was overwhelmed some 100 meters from the line. He holds the overall leader's pink jersey ahead of Australians Baden Cooke (Mercury-Viatel) and Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) at 13 and 14
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By VeloNews Interactive
Czech rider Jan Svorada of the Lampre team won a sprint finish to take the third stage of the Four Days of Dunkirk cycling race in Landrecies, France.
Svorada clocked a time of 4:35:10 to pip Italian Endrio Leoni of Alessio, and Slovenian Zoran Klemencic of Tacconi, to the post after the 189km run.
Estonia’s Jaan Kirsipuu of AG2R, winner of the first two stages, had difficulty throughout the stage and was overwhelmed some 100 meters from the line. He holds the overall leader’s pink jersey ahead of Australians Baden Cooke (Mercury-Viatel) and Stuart O’Grady (Credit Agricole) at 13 and 14 seconds respectively.
After a number of failed break-away attempts early in the race France’s Eddy Seigneur of the Jean de la Tour team split from the peloton at 78km and led for most of the race with a 9:46 lead some 55km from the line.
The 1994 Four Days of Dunkirk champion, Seigneur, looked to be on his way to victory at Landrecies, but was worn down by concerted efforts from several team efforts led by the Cofidis and Festina riders.
The French rider, who also complained of running out of steam because of hunger, was caught at 30km from the finish with Cofidis’ Laurent Lefevre taking the relay. Lefevre was himself caught by the pursuing pack 2km from the line.
Friday’s stage between Fontaine-au-Pire and Saint-Venant is the longest of the race at 206.4km.
Copyright AFP 2001
Results
FOUR DAYS OF DUNKIRK, France, May 8-11
Stage 3 — Douvrin to Landrecies
1. Jan Svorada (Cze), Lampre, 189km in 4:35:10; 2.Endrio Leoni (I); 3. Zoran Klemencic (Slo); 4. Plamen Stoianov (Bul); 5. Jeroen Blijlevens (Nl); 6. Aart Vierhouten (Nl); 7. Ludovic Capelle (B); 8. Giancarlo Raimondi (I); 9. Daniele Galli (I); 10. Luciano Pagliarini (Bra), all same time
Overall standings
1. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est), AG2R, 12:43:13; 2. Baden Cooke (Aus), Mercury-Viatel, at :13; 3. Stuart O’Grady (Aus), Credit Agricole, at :14; 4. Christophe Capelle (F), at :15; 5. Laurent Jalabert (F), CSC-Worldline, at :19; 6. Didier Rous (F), at :20; 7. Nicolas Jalabert (F); 8. Bert Hiemstra (Nl); 9. Christophe Moreau (F);10. David Millar (GB), all same time.
