Paris-Nice 2011: Australian sprinter Matt Goss takes overall lead following dramatic stage three win
Matt Goss, the Australian sprinter, has taken the overall lead in Paris-Nice after the HTC-Highroad rider won stage three in Nuits-Saint-Georges, France.
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Drop the boy: Matt Goss took the overall lead of Paris-Nice after the Australian sprinter outsprinted Heinrich Haussler to the finishing line in Nuits-Saint-Georges Photo: AP
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Rollover: Peter Sagan (centre, green shorts) hit the deck after his tubular tyre appeared to roll Photo: REUTERS
By John MacLeary 6:54PM GMT 08 Mar 2011
Goss, 24, outsprinted Heinrich Haussler, his German-born compatriot, to the finishing line in Nuits-Saint-Georges at the end of what had been a relatively straightforward day on the 202-kilometre third stage from Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire.
However, after a two-man breakaway featuring Thomas Voeckler and Biel Kadri had been reined in the peloton gathered pace as riders jockeyed for position ahead of the final surge for the line.
As the riders did a final left-hand turn Peter Sagan, the young Slovak, lost control of his bike after his tubular tyre appeared to roll off his rear wheel. The Liquigas-Cannondale rider took with him a number of riders just behind the head of the bunch.
Geraint Thomas, the British national road race champion, lead the bunch before Haussler and Goss overhauled the Team Sky rider who failed to pull team-mate Greg Henderson through with him.
It was Goss, though, who took line honours ahead of the Garmin-Cervelo rider while Denis Galimzyanov of Russia finished third.
Goss's first ever stage win in the 'race to the sun' propelled him into the leader's yellow jersey as he leapfrogged Thomas de Gendt of Belgium by two seconds in the general classification.
"This is my first win in Europe this season so it is an important one," said Goss afterwards.
"My sprint was disrupted by Sagan's fall. I was two places behind him, and I saw him fall and I had to avoid him. I just put my head down and focussed on the finish line."
Paris-Nice continues on Wednesday with the 191km fourth stage from Crêches-sur-Saône to Belleville.
Paris-Nice details
Stage three, Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire - Nuits-Saint-Georges; 202km: 1. Matt Goss (Aus - HTC-Highroad) 5 hours 16 minutes 48 seconds, 2. Heinrich Haussler (Aus - Garmin-Cervelo) at same time, 3. Denis Galimzyanov (Rus - Katusha) s.t., 4. José Joaquín Rojas (Spa - Movistar) s.t., 5. Geraint Thomas (GB - Team Sky) s.t., 6. Greg Henderson (NZ - Team Sky) s.t., 7. Anthony Ravard (Fra - AG2R-La Mondiale) s.t., 8. Francesco Gavazzi (Ita - Lampre-ISD) s.t., 9. Romain Feillu (Fra - Vacansoleil-DCM) s.t., 10. Valerio Agnoli (Ita - Liquigas-Cannondale) s.t.
Selected others: 50. Dan Lloyd (GB - Garmin-Cervelo) s.t., 75. Bradley Wiggins (GB - Team Sky) s.t., 167. Jeremy Hunt (GB - Team Sky) s.t.
Overall general classification: 1. Matt Goss (Aus - HTC-Highroad) 14hrs 22mins 34secs, 2. Thomas De Gendt (Bel - Vacansoleil-DCM) 2secs, 3. Heinrich Haussler (Aus - Garmin-Cervelo) 6secs, 4. Greg Henderson (NZ - Team Sky) s.t., 5. Denis Galimzyanov (Rus - Katusha) 8secs, 6. Jérémy Roy (Fra - FDJ) 9secs, 7. Tony Gallopin (Fra - Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne) 10secs, 8. Cyril Gautier (Fra - Europcar) 11secs, 9. Cedric Pineau (Fra - FDJ) s.t., 10. Jens Voigt (Ger - Leopard-Trek) 14secs.
Selected others: 20. Geraint Thomas (GB - Team Sky) 16secs, 60. Dan Lloyd (GB - Garmin-Cervelo) s.t., 77. Bradley Wiggins (GB - Team Sky) s.t., 154. Jeremy Hunt (GB - Team Sky) 6mins 44secs.
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