Home favourite claims yellow jersey
The Tour de France leader's yellow jersey changed hands today as the world's greatest cycling race got ready to change gear and test the strength of four-times champion Lance Armstrong.
Frenchman Jean-Patrick Nazon grabbed a 14 seconds time bonus in the intermediate sprints during the 167.5-km third stage to St Dizier and ousted prologue winner Bradley McGee of Australia from top spot in the overall standings.
Nazon became the first Frenchman to wear the yellow jersey since Francois Simon two years ago.
The stage was won by Italian Alessandro Petacchi, who outsprinted his rivals again after winning Sunday's first stage in Meaux. Armstrong finished in 69th place.
Winner of six stages on the Giro, Petacchi confirmed he was the fastest man in race finishes this season.
But while the sprinters were battling it out, the rest of the field were gearing up for tomorrow's 69-km team time trial seen by Armstrong as the first big test of the Tour.
"I'm looking forward to tomorrow's team time trial," said the American, who is going for a record-equalling fifth victory.
"I'm confident we can take the yellow jersey," he added.