Reinardt Van Rensburg got a rare chance to sprint for himself in today's stage of the Bayern Rundfahrt and he dutifully won the sprint of the peloton. Unfortunately, Daryl Impey managed to stay away after making a late attack but the Giant sprinter focused on the positive in being beaten by one of his few compatriots in the professioanl peloton.

Reinardt Janse van Rensburg today sprinted to second place on the third stage of the Bayern Rundfahrt, winning the group sprint behind a late escapee who attacked in the final kilometres.

Daryl Impey (Orica GreenEDGE) jumped early with two kilometres to race and managed to maintain his small advantage to the finish, with Van Rensburg showing a strong turn of speed in the final few hundred metres to take his first podium finish of the 2014 season.

The day started with a break of four riders, including the indefatigable Jens Voigt (Trek Factory Racing). These guys steadily build up their lead under a third day of wet and cold conditions before gradually their lead was cut int he second half of the long 233.5km stage.

Voigt eventually went along and held strong until the final five kilometres where his lead quickly tumbled, and the junction was made with just over three kilometres to race. Not long after this regrouping, Impey jumped and got a gap, while behind teams looked at each other and despite chasing, Team Giant-Shimano couldn’t close the gap to him by the finish.

Sticking to the plan at the finish, the team set up Van Rensburg and he showed his strength in taking the sprint for second, but a short eight seconds off contesting the stage win.

Team Giant-Shimano coach, Lionel Marie said after the stage: “The plan was to go for Reinardt today in a sprint and this very nearly came off. It was a real pity as Reinardt was strong today and he doesn’t always get his chance to sprint for himself so when you have these chances you always want to make the most of them.”

Van Rensburg added: “You’re never quite satisfied with second place but I am happy with this result and if I lose I prefer losing to a countryman!

“Lawson [Craddock] did a strong pull at the end when Impey went to bring him back to only one or two seconds but there was hesitation from other teams and no one came through to help Lawson so he pulled away again.

“I am surprised with how good my legs have been here the past few days and hopefully as a team we can make the most of this in the coming days.”