Tuesday 5 August 2014 18:16, UK
Theo Bos sprinted to victory on the third stage of the Tour of Poland after another dramatic finale in Rzeszów.
Bos benefitted from a strong lead out by his Belkin team-mates as the 174km trek from Kielce neared its conclusion, with the Dutch team drilling it on the front before firing the 30 year old into contention on the tight finishing circuit.
It had looked as though Bos had left it marginally too late to challenge at one point, but he produced a fine late kick in the closing stages to round Michael Matthews and Luka Mezgec, and wrapped up his triumph by just over a bike length.
That result saw Bos leap to third in the overall standings, where he now sits 27 seconds behind Monday’s surprise winner Petr Vakoc, and level on time with stage one victor Yauheni Hutarovich.
The action had followed the tried and tested formula of a sprint stage, with Team Sky’s Salvatore Puccio among a group of four riders who sprung clear early in the day.
The escapees combined well as they aimed to make it two breakaway wins from two, but the peloton kept them on a tight leash and hauled them back shortly after they’d commenced the final two laps.
The peloton were forced to negotiate a fallen sponsor balloon and bollard before the sprint finish ensued, and a sizeable crash in the last 500m saw only 17 riders sprint it out for victory. Bos was amongst them and repaid the faith shown in him by battling to his seventh win of the season.
Stage three result
1 - Theo Bos (NED) - Belkin - (3:39:27)
2 - Luka Mezgec (SLO) - Giant - (+0)
3 - Michael Matthews (AUS) - Orica - (+0)
4 - Sacha Modolo (ITA) - Lampre - (+0)
5 - Thor Hushovd (NOR) - BMC Racing - (+0)
6 - Tyler Farrar (USA) - Garmin - (+0)
7 - Yauheni Hutarovich (BLR) - AG2R - (+0)
8 - Jonas Van Genechten (BEL) - Lotto - (+0)
9 - Davide Appollonio (ITA) - AG2R - (+0)
10 - Roberto Ferrari (ITA) - Lampre - (+0)
General Classification
1 - Petr Vakoc (CZE) - Omega Pharma - Quick-Step - (14:50:55)
2 - Yauheni Hutarovich (BLR) - AG2R - (+27)
3 - Theo Bos (NED) - Belkin - (+27)
4 - Roman Maykin (RUS) - RusVelo - (+31)
5 - Luka Mezgec (SLO) - Giant - (+31)
6 - Boris Vallée (BEL) - Lotto - (+33)
7 - Manuele Mori (ITA) - Lampre - (+33)
8 - Maciej Paterski (POL) - CCC - (+35)
9 - Matthias Krizek (AUT) - Cannondale - (+35)
10 - Grzegorz Stepniak (POL) - CCC - (+37)
