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.