Eryk Latoń continues his solid sprinting performance in Tour of Hainan by claiming 8th place on Stage 3. This time the bunch sprint finish was won by Sacha Modolo (Lampre-Merida). 

The 130-kilometer stage kicked off with an early breakaway. Right after the gun, a 4-man leading group was established in the front and it involved James Glasspool (Novo Nordisk), Krists Neilands (Rietumu Delfin), Ma Guangtong (Hengxiang) and Vitaliy Buts (Ukraine). Their advantage quickly increased to its maximum level – 2:40. Due to the short distance, the peloton had to start chase early and it did. The gap was being reduced systematically and the escape was caught with around 10 kilometers to go.

In the very finale CCC Sprandi Polkowice took control at the head of the bunch to position Eryk Latoń. Thanks to teammates’ help he was again able to start the sprint from the right spot and finish 8th. Sacha Modolo (Lampre-Merida) grabbed the victory, beating Jakub Mareczko (Southeast) and Eduard Michael Grosu (Nippo – Vini Fantini).

"Just like on the previous stages, a few sprinters’ teams were fighting for position in the end and it made things little bit nervous. My teammates also moved tp the front with about 2 kilometers remaining. They stretched the field drastically and Leszek Pluciński, Jarosław Marycz and Grzegorz Stępniak made a really strong push in the end. Because of their sacrifice I was able to take another top 10 place," Eryk Latoń said afterwards.

"Today most of the stage was controlled by the leader’s team. It was quite nervous because of the strong wind, but we manged to finish safely in the bunch. In the final kilometers our entire team was riding at the front to help Eryk and Grzegorz to get the right spot in the group for the sprint," Łukasz Owsian added.