ARENBERG, France, (Reuters) – Norway’s Thor Hushovd set the record straight by winning the 213-km third stage of the Tour de France yesterday as defending champion Alberto Contador and seven-times winner Lance Armstrong lost ground.
Angered by the decision of the main pack not to sprint to the finish line in Spa on Monday in a protest at the slippery surface, won ahead of five breakaway companions.
Briton Geraint Thomas was second ahead of world champion Cadel Evans, one of the leading favourites who made the most of the seven cobbled sectors on the day’s menu.
Swiss Fabian Cancellara finished in the leading group and regained the race leader’s yellow jersey from France’s Sylvain Chavanel.
Contador finished 1:13 behind the leading group while Armstrong, who punctured, was 2:08 adrift.
In the overall standings, Cancellara now leads Thomas by 23 seconds and Evans by 39.