For this third stage, the weather again proved to be a key element. The race direction was once again forced to modify the day’s stage and planned a finish in the city of Craponne sur Arzon. The stage was therefore reduced from the initial 174 kilometres that should have taken the riders to Chambon sur Lignon, to 118 kilometres.

Despite this change of program, the 163 riders took off to a very fast start with attacks in the early stages of the race. In the climb up to the Côte de Courpière (Cat 2 – Km 14), Moncoutié (Cof), Baranowski (LSW) and Cuesta (SDV) managed to break free. At the top, Moncoutié beat Cuesta and Baranowski for the mountain points. On the way downhill, the three leaders were caught by Sorensen (CSC), Popovych (DSC), Landis (PHO), Facci (FAS), Zandio (IBA), Aerts (DVL), Verdugo (EUS) and Goubert (A2R). The group of 11 riders started working together and increased the gap. The advantage climbed up to a maximum 1’50 at kilometre 31,5.

The Rabobank, T Mobile and Domina Vacanze teams then took command of the peloton and started the chase. From then on, the gap started dropping and reached 1’30 at the intermediate sprint of Ambert (km 47,5) won by Sorensen ahead of Moncoutié and Verdugo. Team CSC gave a helping hand in the chase as the main bunch moved closer to the escapees. In the climb up the second difficulty of the day, the Côte de Lavet, last year’s overall winner Jorg Jaksche (LSW) managed to break away from the peloton and catch the leading riders. At the top of the climb (Cat 1 – Km 77,5), Moncoutié beat Cuesta, Baranowski, Verdugo, Facci, Aerts and Sorensen.

The front men then extended their lead from 35’’ at the first passage in Craponne sur Arzon to 50’’ at kilometre 89. Troubled by the fast pace, two riders eventually dropped out of the group: Verdugo and Landis. With 25 kilometres to go, the peloton was 55” adrift and eager to catch up the troublesome leaders. The CSC and Quickstep teams moved to the front of the bunch. The gap indeed started dropping down: 40’’ at kilometre 100, 20’’ kilometre 103… Eventually, the riders were caught at kilometre 108 while the Quickstep men kept control of the pack.

In the final part, attacks took place with first of all a Liberty Seguros trio led by Jaksche, and then attempts from Martinez (EUS), Chavanel (COF) and Gusev (CSC). In a final uphill sprint for strong riders, Spaniard Vicente Reynes (IBA) managed to beat Trenti (QST) and Rodriguez (SDV). Boonen (QST) keeps command of the overall leader’s yellow and white jersey.

Vicente Reynes (Illes Balleares – stage winner)

“It’s a huge satisfaction. This victory is for my family, my team and my team managers. I almost fell in the last part of the stage when I touched Jens Voigt. I really like this sort of sprint going uphill. It suits me well and everything went perfectly today. For the moment, this Paris-Nice is going well especially with this stage success, the second win of my career after a race victory in Portugal. The team is strong with me and Alejandro Valverde who remains our leader. Tomorrow, we’ll just have a few small hills so it could again go well for me. After that, it’ll probably be too difficult.”