Cycling: Paris-Nice: Sanchez takes overall lead

The Spanish professional cyclist Luis Leon Sanchez has taken over the overall lead of the long-distance trip Paris-Nice and has secured a good starting position in the battle for overall victory. The 34-year-old experienced rider from Team Astana drove 210 kilometres from Bourges to Chatel-Guyon in the Central Massif on the third leg, crossing the finish line at the same time as stage winner Jonathan Hivert (France/Direct Energy).

Germany’s top sprinter Andre Greipel (Rostock/Lotto-Soudal) was the sixth fastest rider in the main field. In the overall ranking, Sanchez is now 29 seconds ahead of the Frenchman Arnaud Demare (Groupama-FDJ), who won the opening leg on Sunday and has been wearing the yellow jersey ever since.

The 18.4 km individual time trial from La Fouillouse to Saint-Etienne is scheduled for Wednesday. The 76. After a total of eight stages and 1187 kilometres, the 11th edition of the “Journey to the Sun” ends on Sunday in Nice.