With the Schleck brothers having been set back by time losses, Bob Jungels is the sole leader of Trek in this year's Paris-Nice. The young Luxembourger is ready to take on the responsibility when the race hits the climbs later today.

With no time trial or mountain top finish in this year’s edition of Paris-Nice every second counts in the fight for the overall classification. As a result, the tactical game played out in these early sprinters’ stages mirrored each other for the third successive day: allow a small breakaway to gain a controllable gap, let the escapees harmlessly scoop up the bonus seconds, then inevitably snag them back in the final kilometers as the sprinters’ teams rush in for the bunch finish.

Giant-Shimano timed their lead out perfectly, and with textbook-like precision disembarked John Degenkolb with nothing but the white finish line ahead. Degenkolb handedly won the sprint leaving Matt Goss (Orica GreenEdge) and Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar) to settle the top three in second and third place respectively. Degenkolb also leaped from second into first place overall and will wear the leader’s jersey into tomorrow’s fourth stage.

With another stroke of bad luck for Trek, Fabio Felline broke his front wheel with 3.5 kilometers to go, which took him out of the running for any chance to contest the sprint. He was just outside the three-kilometer ‘safety net’ rule and lost 62 seconds, dropping him far down in the overall classification.

Bob Jungels continues to be the highest placed in the general classification for the team (24th at +29") as the attention turns from the flatlands to the hills over the next few days. He admitted overall his feeling is good and is happy the race is finally hitting the climbs.

“Yesterday it was a pity that I lost a bit of time with the crash at the end,” said Jungels, resting in the team bus shortly after the fast stage had ended. “For me I am first in the GC for the team right now, so it’s important to always stay with the first guys and try not to lose any time. I am happy today is over and no time was lost. My feeling is really good.  If I have the possibility to make my own way on climbs, I am confident I can do well. I am looking forward to the climbs.

“It was not as nervous today, not until the last 40K that is.  In the end they had to go à bloc to catch the breakaway.  It’s always like this.

“Tomorrow we have a climb with 15K to go, and I think that will make the race different. I believe it’s a narrow road and everyone will try and be there again, the sprinters will try to make it over, the GC riders, and it’s going to be a tough day again. I look forward to the climbs, but not this fight before the climbs. But that’s how it is, for everyone it’s the same. 

"The parcours of the next few days will suit us a lot better. And Fabio [Felline] is riding really well and may be able to pass this climb tomorrow and be there for the sprint. Or there could be a breakaway that goes on the climb. We have better chances tomorrow to play our cards.”

You can read our preview of today's stage here and follow our live coverage at 14.25 CET on CyclingQuotes.com/live.