Scanlon helps Nazon to stage victory

IRELAND’S Mark Scanlon played a critical role in helping AG2R team-mate Jean-Patrick Nazon win yesterday’s third stage of the Tour de France from Waterloo in Belgium to Wasquehal in France.

Scanlon, alongside several other AG2R team-mates, headed the pack with a kilometre to go and then helped protect Nazon in the finish to shepherd him to victory.

The 23-year-old Sligo man finished in 75th place, just five seconds behind Nazon, and moves up eight places in the overall standings to 28th position - 36 seconds off the pace. The former junior world champion has also climbed up the young riders’ classification - from eleventh to fifth, 35 seconds behind Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellera.