Roche claims podium place

Sagan: Celebrates sprint win

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Nicolas Roche put in a battling display to claim third place on stage three of Paris-Nice.

The Irish Ag2R rider attacked on the final climb of the day but was unable to retain his lead as Liquigas's Peter Sagan sprinted clear on the closing straight ahead of Joaquim Rodríguez (Katyusha).

Veteran Saxo Bank rider Jens Voigt followed Roche home in fourth position and that proved enough to elevate him to the top of the overall standings.

Snowy conditions at the start of the day had forced the race organisers to shorten the stage by 53km, meaning the riders rolled out of St Yrieix la Perche instead of Saint Junien.

Yann Huguet (Skil-Shimano), Nikolas Maes (Quick Step) and Jürgen Roelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto) formed the day's first major breakaway after 30km and still had a seven-minute gap with 81km remaining.

RadioShack eventually took the ascendancy at the front of the peloton and were aided by Caisse d'Epargne as they chipped away steadily at that advantage.

Huguet, Maes and Roelandts were eventually swept up with around 5km to go and the bunch stayed together until Roche made his move on the ascent up the Côte de la Martinie just inside the 4km banner.

Five further riders were also able to break free and it was Sagan who proved the most powerful of that quintet in a hotly-contested sprint at the line.

Stage three result:

1 - Peter Sagan - (SVK) - Liquigas - (3:44:28)
2 - Joaquim Rodríguez - (ESP) - Katyusha - (same time)
3 - Nicolas Roche - (IRL) - AG2R - (same time)
4 - Jens Voigt - (GER) - Saxo Bank - (+2)
5 - Tony Martin - (GER) - HTC-Columbia - (+2)
6 - Alberto Contador - (ESP) - Astana - (+2)
7 - Mirco Lorenzetto - (ITA) - Lampre - (+6)
8 - Samuel Dumoulin - (FRA) - Cofidis - (+6)
9 - Xavier Florencio - (ESP) - Cervélo - (+6)
10 - Marco Marcato - (ITA) - Vacansoleil - (+6)

Overall standings after stage three:

1 - Jens Voigt - (GER) - Saxo Bank - (12:40:26)
2 - Peter Sagan - (SVK) - Liquigas - (+6)
3 - Luis León Sánchez - (ESP) - Caisse d'Epargne - (+9)
4 - David Millar - (SCO) - Garmin - (+12)
5 - Roman Kreuziger - (CZE) - Liquigas - (+14)
6 - Alberto Contador - (ESP) - Astana - (+20)
7 - Levi Leipheimer - (USA) - RadioShack - (+24)
8 - Joaquim Rodríguez - (ESP) - Katyusha - (+28)
9 - Xavier Tondo - (ESP) - Cervélo - (+28)
10 - Alejandro Valverde - (ESP) - Caisse d'Epargne - (+30)