Sanchez closes in on Wiggins
Spain's Luis Leon Sanchez capped an impressive uphill sprint with victory in the Tour of Romandie third stage on Friday, closing the gap to race leader Bradley Wiggins of Britain.
The versatile Rabobank rider, upstaged by Frenchman Jonathan Hivert in a similar finale on Thursday, timed his effort to perfection to finish ahead of Belgian Gianni Meersman of the Lotto team.
Sanchez is now just 1 second behind Team Sky's Wiggins, who failed to finish in the top ten of the 157.6 km stage from La Neuveville to Charmey.
STAGE 3 RESULTS
1. Luis Leon Sanchez, Spain, Rabobank, 3 hours, 58 minutes, 29 seconds.
2. Gianni Meersman, Belgium, Lotto-Belisol, same time.
3. Paolo Tiralongo, Italy, Astana, same time.
4. Andrew Talansky, United States, Garmin-Barracuda, same time.
5. Bauke Mollema, Netherlands, Rabobank, same time.
6. Rinaldo Nocentini, Italy, AG2R La Mondiale, same time.
7. Maciej Paterski, Poland, Liquigas-Cannondale, same time.
8. Giampaolo Caruso, Italy, Katusha, same time.
9. Gorka Verdugo, Spain, Euskaltel-Euskadi, same time.
10. Fabrice Jeandesboz, France, Saur-Sojasun, same time.
OVERALL STANDINGS
1. Bradley Wiggins, Britain, Sky, 12 hours, 40 minutes, 31 seconds.
2. Luis Leon Sanchez, Spain, Rabobank, 1 second behind.
3. Michael Rogers, Australia, Sky, :7.
4. Bauke Mollema, Nethelands, Rabobank, :09.
5. Stef Clement, Netherlands, Rabobank, same time.
6. Andrew Talansky, United States, Garmin-Barracuda, :11.
7. Wilco Kelderman, Netherlands, Rabobank, same time.
8. David Zabriskie, United States, Garmin-Barracuda, :12.
9. Simon Spilak, Slovenia, Katusha, same time.
10. Ruben Plaza, Spain, Movistar, same time.
