The third stage in the Four Days of Dunkirk went to Jimmy Engoulvent. The Frenchman was the fastest in a two man sprint and takes over the leader’s jersey. Styby crossed the line back in 41st.
With the start taking place in Poperinge and the finish line in Reningelst, the entire 178 km third stage took place on Belgian soil. The early break consisted of six riders who built up a lead of more than five minutes.
The riders in the break worked well together and they were able to stay in front of the peloton which made its move too late and could do little more than try to limit the damage. Engoulvent and Kevin Lalouette made a move 3 km before the finish and Engoulvent took the sprint.
The peloton arrived about 1:45 later. John Degenkolb had to surrender his pink leader’s jersey to Engoulvent, who now leads the general classification by more than a minute.
“It was a difficult stage to control. It cost a lot of energy. Tomorrow is the queen stage,” Styby said shortly after the race. He now sits in sixth overall, 1:43 behind the leader.