Spain’s Joaquim Rodriguez won the third stage of the Tour de France, a 159.5km ride from Antwerp, Belgium, on Monday, while Britain’s Chris Froome pulled on the leader’s jersey.
Froome was second with the same time and France’s Alexis Vuillermoz finished third four seconds behind at the top of the punishing Mur de Huy.
American Tejay van Garderen was sixth 11 seconds off the pace.
Swiss Fabian Cancellara, in yellow at the start, was caught in a massive crash that triggered organisers to neutralise the race for about 10 minutes.
Defending champion Vincenzo Nibali of Italy was seventh also 11 seconds behind Rodriguez, just like Colombian Nairo Quintana, who finished ninth, with Spaniard Alberto Contador in 12th place seven seconds further back.
Frenchman Thibaut Pinot’s hopes of a podium finish in Paris took a major blow when he finished one minute 32 seconds behind. (Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Ken Ferris)
Stage 3 Results:
- Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) 3:26:54″
- Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) ST
- Alexis Vuillermoz (France / AG2R) +4″
- Daniel Martin (Ireland / Cannondale) +5″
- Tony Gallopin (France / Lotto) +8″
- Tejay van Garderen (U.S. / BMC Racing) +11″
- Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana)
- Simon Yates (Britain / Orica)
- Nairo Quintana (Colombia / Movistar)
- Bauke Mollema (Netherlands / Trek)
General Classification After Stage 3:
- Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) 7:11:37″
- Tony Martin (Germany / Etixx – Quick-Step) +1″
- Tejay van Garderen (U.S. / BMC Racing) +13″
- Tony Gallopin (France / Lotto) +26″
- Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium / BMC Racing) +28″
- Peter Sagan (Slovakia / Tinkoff – Saxo) +31″
- Rigoberto Uran (Colombia / Etixx – Quick-Step) +34″
- Alberto Contador (Spain / Tinkoff – Saxo) +36″
- Geraint Thomas (Britain / Team Sky) +1:03″
- Zdenek Stybar (Czech Republic / Etixx – Quick-Step) +1:04″
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