Overshadowed by several falls, Frenchman Christophe Laporte won the third stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné and extended his lead in the overall standings.
The man in the yellow jersey, who had already won the classic Gent-Wevelgem this year, won the sprint after 194.1 kilometers from Monistrol-sur-Loire to Le Coteau in front of the Irishman Sam Bennett from the German Bora-hansgrohe team and the Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen, both of whom were later disqualified. Laporte is now eleven seconds ahead of his compatriot Julian Alaphilippe in the overall standings.
For ex-world champion Alaphilippe it was a day to forget. A day after his stage win at La Chaise-Dieu, the Frenchman was constantly thrown back by a crash and two mechanical failures. In any case, there had been a few falls in the final of the stage.
On Wednesday, the contenders for overall victory will be challenged when the individual time trial over 31.1 kilometers from Cours to Belmon-de-la-Loire is due. The stage race, which features Tour champion Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark, concludes in Grenoble on Sunday.