Stage 3: Fleurie - Saint-Étienne 166km
Carlström wins Paris-Nice third stage
Sylvain Chavanel took over the leadership in Paris-Nice (AFP/Getty Images)
Finland's Kjell Carlström won a sprint finish for the third stage of Paris-Nice over 165.5km from Fleurie to Saint-Etienne on Wednesday.
Carlström, 31, pulled ahead of fellow breakaway rider Clement Lhotellerie in the final stretch to achieve the most important success of his career. France's Sylvain Chavanel of Cofidis, who came in 11th at 43s adrift, took the leader's yellow jersey.
"I didn't know the French rider (Lhotellerie) with me. In the sprint I stuck to his wheel and I waited as long as possible. It's better for me to have a short sprint," explained Liquigas rider Carlström.
"I'm very happy with this win, Paris-Nice is an important race," added the Finn whose best previous result was second in a stage of the 2006 Tour de France.
French rider Pierre Rolland, 21, finished third ahead of Italian Davide Rebellin.
Carlström and 22-year-old Frenchman Lhotellerie led a long breakaway from the 8km mark along with Australian Bradley McGee, building up a 12-minute advantage. McGee fell behind on the final Croix-de-Chabouret climb.
"At the beginning of the breakaway, I really hoped that we would go all the way but you're never sure," said Carlström. "The team isn't targeting the overall standings so we have free range for the stages."
Chavanel failed in his bid for a stage win as he finished in the first pursuing group some 40 seconds behind the leading duo. But the French rider is confident that this can be his year to finally win Paris-Nice, heading into Thursday's 176km fourth stage which takes in the famous Mont Ventoux climb.
The 28-year-old holds a two-second lead on Dutch rider Karsten Kroon in the overall standings with Spaniard Luis Leon Sanchez three seconds off the pace.
"I'm savouring this to the maximum! My legs were on fire at the Croix-de-Chaubouret," said Chavanel. "Tomorrow I think I'm capable of being in front. I've already been there on the Ventoux. It's in the Ventoux that it's going to be decided, but I saw today that there are not many of us for the overall standings."
For full results, report and photos, see Cyclingnews.com
© AFP 2008
STAGE 3 RESULTS
| 1 Kjell Carlström (Fin|Liquigas) | ||
| 2 Clément L'Hottelerie (Fra|Skil-Shimano) | ||
| 3 Pierre Rolland (Fra|Crédit Agricole) | ||
| 4 Davide Rebellin (Ita|Gerolsteiner) | ||
| 5 Roman Kreuziger (Cze|Liquigas) | ||
| 6 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita|AG2r - La Mondiale) | ||
| 7 Robert Gesink (Ned|Rabobank) | ||
| 8 Damiano Cunego (Ita|Lampre - Fondital) | ||
| 9 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa|Caisse d'Epargne) | ||
| 10 Gorka Verdugo Marcotegui (Spa|Euskaltel - Euskadi) | ||
| General classification after stage 3 | ||
| 1 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra|Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone) | 12:37:01 | |
| 2 Karsten Kroon (Ned|Team CSC) | 0:00:02 | |
| 3 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa|Caisse d'Epargne) | 0:00:03 | |
| 4 Gorka Verdugo Marcotegui (Spa|Euskaltel - Euskadi) | 0:00:08 | |
| 5 Davide Rebellin (Ita|Gerolsteiner) | 0:00:14 | |
| 6 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa|Quickstep) | 0:00:18 | |
| 7 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr|Silence - Lotto) | 0:00:19 | |
| 8 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita|AG2r - La Mondiale) | 0:00:21 | |
| 9 Robert Gesink (Ned|Rabobank) | ||
| 10 Alexander Efimkin (Rus|Quickstep) | 0:00:34 |
