Nikias Arndt (Giant-Shimano) won the bunch sprint as the end of a hot and hectic stage three of the Criterium du Dauphine in France on Tuesday.
Arndt pipped Kris Boeckmans (Lotto-Belisol) to the line in a photo-finish, with Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (Giant-Shimano) in third.
Chris Froome (Sky) finished safely in the peloton to retain his overall lead in the race, 12 seconds ahead of Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo). British rider Adam Yates (Orica-GreenEdge) also retained his ninth place overall.
The break of the day consisted of Natnael Berhane (Europcar), Cesare Benedetti (NetApp-Endura) and Blel Kadri (Ag2r), with the trio caught by the Sky-led peloton with 24km to go.
After a short lull in the action, veteran Jens Voigt (Trek Factory Racing) launched an attack inside the final 20km, dragging a group of seven riders with him and they quickly opened up a big gap.
Behind, there was an element of panic as Omega Pharma-QuickStep and then Katusha took up the chase for their respective sprinters. The remaining riders from the move were swallowed up inside the final six kilometres to set up a bunch sprint.
Wednesday's stage four to Gap could see some action from the overall contenders, with the second-category Col de Manse climb positioned just 10 kilometres before the finish. Cycling Weekly will be covering the stage with live text updates and interactive chat from around midday.
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Results Criterium du Dauphine 2014, stage three: Ambert to Le Teil, 194km
1. Nikias Arndt (Ger) Giant-Shimano in 5-30-03
2. Kris Boeckmans (Bel) Lotto-Belisol
3. Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (RSA) Giant-Shimano
4. Yannick Martinez (Fra) Europcar
5. Davide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre-Merida
6. Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica-GreenEdge
7. Alexey Tsatevitch (Rus) Katusha
8. Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ
9. Gianni Meersman (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
10. Marco Marcato (Ita) Cannondale all same time
Overall classification after stage three
1. Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky in 10-07-47
2. Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo at 12 secs
3. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Belkin at 21 secs
4. Andrew Talansky (USA) Garmin-Sharp at 33 secs
5. Jurgen Van den Broeck (Bel) Lotto-Belisol at 35 secs
6. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana at 50 secs
7. Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Trek Factory Racing at 1-22
8. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana at 1-22
9. Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-GreenEdge at 1-31
10. Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana at 1-35
Chris Froome on stage three of the 2014 Criterium du Dauphine
(Image credit: watson)
Blel Kadri leads an escape on stage three of the 2014 Criterium du Dauphine
