That year he also finished 5th in the `` Race to the Sun '' - the Paris-Nice stage race , and 9th in the world championship , but he abandoned the Tour de France on stage 3 , because of an earlier knee injury . That year , he also finished fifth in the early season Parisâ `` Nice stage race , and ninth in the world championship , but he abandoned the Tour de France on stage 3 , affected by a knee injury .