Hat-trick win for Kittel

Marcel Kittel continued his 100% winning run at the Tour de Pologne with another dominant sprinting display.

German star makes it three from three

Marcel Kittel continued his 100% winning run at the Tour de Pologne with another dominant sprinting display. The Skil-Shimano rider worked his way into contention again as the third stage reached its conclusion and then outpaced his rivals in Katowice to seal a remarkable hat-trick of victories. The 137.5km trek from Bedzin had followed the tried and tested route for a sprint stage with five riders breaking clear early in the day and building up a five-minute advantage before Kittel’s team were roused into action behind. The quintet maintained that lead as they pressed onto the eight, 11.2km laps which rounded off the day, but with HTC-Highroad and Lampre also lending a hand, it began to fall rapidly as the race wore on. Sensing their days were numbered, the five riders began attacking each other with two laps to go and Lukasz Bodnar (CCC) was the last man to be swept up on the final loop of the day. With the peloton back together Omega Pharma-Lotto and Vacansoleil both set a brisk pace on the front, but their efforts would ultimately prove in vain on the long, flat run in to the finish line. John Degenkolb (HTC-Highroad) was the first rider to kick with around 300m to go but Kittel bided his time in his German compatriot’s wheel before powering clear and taking another comfortable triumph ahead of Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil) and Jonas Jorgensen (Saxo Bank).