Damien Shaw (An Post – Chain Reaction) maintained the yellow jersey after today’s 211-kilometre third stage of the Tour du Loir et Cher (2.2) from Savigny-sur-Braye to Vendome.

On a tough day which saw lots of splits in the peloton, the Mullingar man finished in 24th place, 13″ behind the stage winner Arvid De Kleijn (Baby-Dump Cyclingteam).

Going into the stage, Shaw had led from Thomas Rostollan (Equipe Cycliste Armée de Terre) by 6″ with Joey van Rhee (Destil – Jo Piels Cycling Team) a further four seconds down. However, Rostollan finished behind Shaw’s group and slips to fourth with van Rhee moving into second overall and Nicklas Overgaard Pedersen (Team Giant – Castelli) in third at 16″.

An early break of five riders went clear, gaining a gap of over four minutes at one point which meant Maarten van Trijp (Metec-TKH p/b Mantel) was virtual leader of the race.

However, Van Trijp was dropped as another group made it across to the break on the finishing circuit. Despite the fresh legs in the front group, the break were brought back inside the final kilometre with Shaw’s An Post – Chain Reaction doing a great job at the front of the peloton to ensure he kept his yellow jersey.

The race continues tomorrow with a 142.5-kilometre stage from Mantrichard to Mantrichard.

General Classification after Stage 3
1 Damien Shaw (An Post Chain Reaction) 12:54:44
2 Joey van Rhee (Destil – Jo Piels Cycling Team) 0:10
3 Nicklas Pedersen (OvergaardTeam Giant – Castelli) 0:16
4 Thomas Rostollan (Equipe Cycliste Armée de Terre) 0:21
5 Arvid De Kleijn (Baby-Dump Cyclingteam 0:34
6 Bram Nolten (Monkey Town Continental Team) 0:37
7 Alexander Kamp (Team Veloconcept) 0:38
8 Patrick Clausen (Riwal Platform Cycling Team) 0:40
9 August Jensen (Team Coop) 0:41
10 Nicolai Brøchner (Riwal Platform Cycling Team) 0:42

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