Janez Brajkovic (RadioShack) shrugged off a mid-course bike change to win the stage 3 time trial of the Criterium du Dauphiné between Monteaux and Sorgues. In windy conditions, the Slovenian champion clocked the fastest time at all the checkpoints to finish in a time of 1:01.51 for the 49km; finishing 25 seconds ahead of David Millar (Garmin-Transitions). Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen proved that he has recovered fully from his Achilles injury by posting the third best time, 43 seconds behind Brajkovic.
“This is a great victory for me,” said Brajkovic to letour.fr. “I knew I always had the best time but I had to change bike after the climb, so I was angry and I didn’t know my position. I lost about 30 seconds in the bike change, but my directeur sportif Alain [Gallopin] told me I still had the best time.”
An early starter due to his poor position overall, thanks mostly to being caught behind splits in the peloton on stage 1, Boasson Hagen completed the course in 1:02.34, a full 2’35” quicker than previous best Tomas Vaitkus (RadioShack).
"This is a good time. I was feeling good today,“ Boasson Hagen said to letour.fr after his ride. “Because I haven’t trained hard recently, since I resumed riding my bike three weeks ago after my Achilles injury, I wanted to test myself today.
“It was a long course but I’m used to do 50 kilometres at the National and World championships,” he added. “I hope to get the best possible result in this stage once the big names will finish."
For a long time no one was able to come close to the Norwegian’s time, until Rabobank’s Denis Menchov passed the first checkpoint just 18 seconds behind. The Russian continued to lose time though, and by the second check at 32km he was 32 seconds behind; he rallied in the closing kilometres though finish just 12 seconds slower and go into provisional second place.
Having targeted this race, Millar flew past the first checkpoint 19 seconds ahead of Boasson Hagen; he was still 6 seconds ahead at the second check and finished 17 seconds clear to take the race lead.
Millar was not on top of the standings for long though, as before he’d even crossed the second checkpoint Brajkovic had gone even faster. The Slovenian was 9 seconds faster than Millar at that first check, then 16 seconds faster at the second despite his bike change. He crossed the line in a new best time, 26 seconds faster than the Scot.
With just Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Columbia) and race leader Alberto Contador (Astana) still to finish, it looked likely that Brajkovic would take the stage. Contador was running a long way off the pace, but Van Garderen was only slightly slower than Millar at both checkpoints. The young American faded a little over the closing stages though, and faded to fourth place 53 seconds back.
Contador eventually finished 1’46” slower than Brajkovic in a disappointing sixth place. The time lost means that the Slovenian takes the yellow jersey, with Millar and Van Garderen filling the other two provisional podium spots; Contador slips to fourth.
“It’s fantastic to be in yellow,” said Brajkovic. “We have a very strong team and I am in good form; I feel good but I’ve never done these climbs in France. The Dauphiné is one of the biggest races in the cycling calendar, so I want to do well.”
Result stage 3
1. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Team RadioShack 1:01.51
2. David Millar (GBr) Garmin-Transitions @ 26s
3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team Sky @ 43s
4. Tejay Van Garderen (USA) Garmin-Transitions @ 53s
5. Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank @ 55s
6. Alberto Contador (Spa) Team Astana @ 1’46”
7. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky @ 1’56”
8. Christian Knees (Ger) Team Milram @ 2’09”
9. Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Team Katusha @ 2’14”
10. Patrick Gretsch (Ger) HTC-Columbia @ 2’15”
Standings after stage 3
1. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Team RadioShack
2. David Millar (GBr) Garmin-Transitions @ 36s
3. Tejay Van Garderen (USA) Garmin-Transitions @ 50s
4. Alberto Contador (Spa) Team Astana @ 1’41”
5. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky @ 2’01”