ALEJANDRO VALVERDE WON stage three of the Paris-Nice today while Bradley Wiggins retained the leader’s yellow jersey.
Valverde edged a sprint finish with Australia’s Simon Gerrans and Gianni Meersman of Belgium to claim the 194-kilometre stage from Vierzon to Lac de Vassiviere.
The Spaniard’s victory, his fourth of the season, earned him a 10-second time bonus and sixth place in general classification. Vlaverde’s Movistar teammate Luis Leon Sanchez claimed fourth place, while Xavier Florencio rounded out the top five.
Team Sky’s Wiggins finished among the chasing pack, retaining his six-second lead over Levi Leipheimer. Radioshack rider Andy Schleck was forced to pull out of the race earlier in the day due to illness.
The fourth stage is a 178-kilometre route from Brive-la-Gaillarde to Rodez.
