Tropicale Amissa Bongo: 40-year-old Nocentini wins, Carstensen loses yellow

Cycling: After two days in the yellow jersey, Lucas Carstensen (Bike Aid) has to get used to his normal team jersey again at La Tropicale Amissa Bongo in Gabon. The German lost the overall lead to Australian Brenton Jones (Delko Marseille Provence KTM) on the third leg. The 40-year-old Rinaldo Nocentini (Sporting Clube de Portugal/Tavira) celebrated as the stage winner.

Carstensen stays within striking distance

Lucas Carstensen has made a name for himself in the cycling world, at least in Germany. He was the first German professional to win a stage this season. Right on the first stage the tour through the African Gabon he was successful. Ranked #3 on the second part he was able to defend the yellow jersey. After yesterday's third stage, however, he has to give up his leader's jersey. Although the 23-year-old crossed the finish line with the peloton, he did not receive a time bonus for being #30. Brenton Jones, on the other hand, won the peloton's sprint and secured the decisive seconds with position #3. The Australian now sits a second ahead of Lucas Carstensen in the standings and three ahead of Italian stage winner Rinaldo Nocentini.

Nocentini can still do it at 40

Every cycling fan has long known the name of Rinaldo Nocentini. The Italian drove for the AG2R La Mondiale and Acqua & Sapone teams for many years before moving to the Sporting/Tavira team. He began his career in 1999 with the then dominant team Mapei. Nocentini is now 40 years old. Yesterday he proved that you can still be successful in old age. Together with Frenchman Damien Gaudin (Direct Energie), he broke away on the last climb just before the finish. The peloton then came closer and closer, but the two fugitives were able to save themselves with a two-second lead. Nocentini, who had always been a strong jumper, then had the upper hand in the two-man sprint.

Rinaldo Nocentini: “It means a lot to me to show that you can still win at 40. Since there is no jersey for the best oldie here, I just go for stage victories. Two days ago I already watched the final ascent. So I knew that I had to attack here if I wanted to have a chance of winning.”