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Tour de Pologne. Stage 3. Jakob Fuglsang takes fourth on the first hilly stage in Poland
The longest stage of the Tour de Pologne saw many attacks, especially the Kazakh team was quite active and launched several attacks to head the race up before coming onto the final laps in Bielsko-Biala. On the final circuits the riders fought for positions and in an uphill sprint, Jakob Fuglsang took a strong fourth place.
After the first two days of flat kilometers, the third stage was the first of two consecutive hilly stages at the Tour de Pologne. The stage took the riders from Wadowice to Bielsko – Biala over more than 200km, the longest stage in this year`s edition. After seven categorized climbs the peloton entered the final hilly circuit before the stage winner was rewarded.
As in the previous days, a breakaway went up the road as the race reached the first climb of the day. But Jakob Fuglsang decided to head up the race a little bit and launched an attack together with three other riders. However, with 120km to go, the Danish rider went back into the peloton, waiting for the final laps. In the meantime, teammate Laurens de Vreese tried to distance himself from the peloton and was able to open up a small gap. With the gap dropping steadily, De Vreese got caught with 90km to go.
The race went on fire, as the riders entered the final circuit. On the final three laps each 7.2km, the pace increased and the fight for position started. Jakob Fuglsang was perfectly protected by his teammates. On the final stretch Jakob Fuglsang showed a great performance taking fourth while Carapaz took the win. Ion Izagirre crossed the line in 26th place.
- After two fast and flat stages, we had today the first hilly one. I am satisfied with my performance today, the team did a good job, protecting me over the day. The weather was, as in the last days, quite hot, so that for sure made the stage not so easy. The final laps where fast but Hugo brought me into position, I narrowly missed the podium but tomorrow is another day. – Jakob Fuglsang
- Today was the first hilly stage, so the first test for our climbers. The team did a good job and made the race fast with the attacks of Jakob and Laurens. The final laps were quite fast and so there was no chance to attack and to pull away. But Jakob was there at the finale and sprinted among the first places, he took fourth place, so that is a good result. Also, the team helped him and brought him into position. For tomorrow, the stage profile suits him more and we will work all for him to achieve another good result here at the Tour of Poland. – Bruno Cenghialta
Tomorrow the peloton has to face another hilly stage. The race will travel to the well-known Bukovina Resort to race 152km around Bukowina.
Photo credit: @GettyImages
