Sam Bennett (BORA – hansgrohe) was forced to withdraw from Paris-Nice yesterday on the 210-kilometre third stage of the race from Bourges to Châtel-Guyon due to illness.
According to a statement from the team, the Irish sprinter had gotten sick overnight and was forced to abandon at the feeding zone. The withdrawal comes the day after he had shown some form by getting into a good position in the closing stages of the second stage but ultimately faded to 11th after hitting the front too early.
It wasn’t all bad news for BORA – hansgrohe though as their Austrian rider Felix Großschartner took over the white jersey as leader of the young rider’s classification.
The stage was won by Jonathan Hivert Direct Energie ahead of Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana Pro Team) and Rémy Di Grégorio (Delko Marseille Provence KTM) after the three had broken clear towards the finish. Sanchez has now taken over the yellow jersey and has a lead of 28″ over Arnaud Démare (Groupama – FDJ) with Gorka Izagirre (Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team) at 35″.
The race continues today with an 18.4-kilometre Individual Time Trial from La Fouillouse to Saint-Étienne.
