Wet and filthy stage three in Hungary brings out the TNN train

The rain came down across northeastern Hungary on stage three of the Tour de Hongrie with Team Novo Nordisk shaking off the raindrops over the closing kilometers to provide sprinter Andrea Peron with an almost perfect lead out train into the final.

Almost perfect. Almost because of an untimely and unfortunate mechanical with 300m to go as Peron freewheeled to the line as the sprint unfolded around him.

Andrea Peron:

“The guys were incredible today. Truly. I don’t remember the last time we were all lined out at the front like that over the last ten kilometers. One by one the guys emptied themselves and peeled off right up to the final kilometer. I was in a great position going into the sprint and it’s just bad luck that I had a mechanical at that moment.”

“It can happen to anyone and we’re already looking ahead to tomorrow, it will be the last opportunity to try and do something in the sprint and If we ride like we did today we’ve got every chance of achieving a result.”

Head sports director Massimo Podenzana:

“We did everything right today and had some bad luck there at the end. Of course, it’s disappointing because Andrea was so well positioned and after the work the guys did bringing him to the front, he had every chance of a good result, but it happens and it’s already past.”

“Tomorrow is another chance, and it will be a longer day and hopefully in much drier conditions. We need to stay organized like we did today and collectively save our energy to work for Andrea in the final to give him the opportunity to do his sprint from the best possible position.”