Jasper Philipsen secured victory on the third stage of the Tour de France in the sprint on Monday (July 3rd, 2023) just ahead of Phil Bauhaus (Bocholt). Laurent Pichon had previously shone at the front during his 150km ride. In total, the peloton covered 193.5 kilometers of racing from Amorebieta-Etxano in the Spanish Basque Country to Bayonne in France.
Wearing the leader’s yellow jersey, Cofidis rider Adam Yates remains just ahead of his teammate and top favorite Tadej Pogačar and his twin brother Simon Yates (Team Jayco–AlUla).
On a sharp start: Pichon and Powless attack
Already at the sharp start of the race, Laurent Pichon (Team Arkea-Samsic) and Neilson Powless in the polka dot jersey of the best climber had set off and pulled away from the peloton. Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) continued to diligently collect mountain points and alternated leadership with the 37-year-old Frenchman.
More than 70 kilometers solo
With about 111km to go in Bayonne, Powless and Pichon clapped hands before the American dropped back and released Pichon on his solo run. The field let the Arkea rider do as he wanted, but made sure not to let the gap grow to more than two minutes.
After about 70 km of riding past countless enthusiastic cycling fans in the Basque Country over to France, the peloton caught up with the meanwhile exhausted Laurent Pichon – the decision of the day was to come in the sprint, where Philipsen (Alpecin – Deceuninck) ahead of Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious) and Caleb Ewan prevailed from Australia.
Another dangerous intervention in the race
Again, the stage was apparently the target of saboteurs: As on Sunday on the second stage, numerous drivers had defects in their tires, probably caused by thumbtacks scattered on the road. Luckily there were no crashes, all riders were able to continue the stage after changing their tires.
The fourth stage on Tuesday starts in Dax and leads over 181.8 km to Nogaro before the first mountain stage of this year’s tour awaits the riders on Wednesday.
