Laurance sprints to sixth at Dauphine

Axel Laurance sprinted to sixth after a battling finish on the third stage of Criterium du Dauphine, having spent the majority of the 207km stage in the break.

Tackling five categorised climbs, Laurance and Michael Leonard went clear with a 13-man breakaway within the first 40km of the race, racking up a two minute lead.

While the chasing peloton put the hammer down inside the final 30km, attacks came thick and fast in the break to keep them at bay.

As Leonard was dropped on the final climb of the day after a solid day’s work, Laurance continued to fight the ebb and flow of attacks at the head of the race. The Frenchman attacked with 2km to go, but a lack of co-ordination in the group meant he wasn’t able to stay away.

Ivan Romeo (Movistar) went clear soon after to take a solo win, while Laurance sprinted to sixth in the chasing group 27 seconds back.