Paris-Nice (st. 3)
Spaniard (5th) repeats prior day's result in uphill finish at Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule; Gorka Izagirre, 16th, leads Movistar Team's GC performance before Queen stage on Thursday
It was another abortive attempt by José Joaquín Rojas (Movistar Team) in a 2015 Paris-Nice which has always seen him into the sprint picture, but not yet on the podium, after several tries. Even after getting into better position than in previous occassions to a scenery suiting him better -a steep, 100m slope followed by slight turns right into the finish-, the sprinter from the telephone squad had to stay content in Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule with the same result he obtained 24 hours earlier in Saint-Amand: 5th, behind Kristoff (KAT), Nizzolo (TFR), Cimolai (LAM) and stage winner Michael Matthews (OGE).
Despite the lack of a deserved success by Rojas, the Movistar Team comes into the Queen stage on Thursday -finishing atop the Croix de Chaubouret (Cat-1)- in good position. Once again, its eight riders did not lose any time, and as well Gorka Izagirre (16th) as Rubén Fernández, Ion Izagirre and Beñat Intxausti are all at a maximum 32" away from yellow, now worn by Matthews. Dayer Quintana isn't far, either (+56"), and is certain to offer Arrieta and Laguía's group good chances for the second, most mountainous part of this year's 'Race to the Sun.'