Tour De France 2017 Stage 3

World champion Peter Sagan won an uphill sprint to claim stage three of the Tour de France as Britain's Geraint Thomas retained the yellow jersey.

Sagan showed remarkable composure and skill to clip his foot back into his pedal after it slipped out as he started his sprint in the final 300m.

The 27-year-old Slovak held on to beat Australia's Michael Matthews.

Thomas finished two seconds adrift, alongside defending champion Chris Froome and the other race favourites.

The Team Sky duo lead the overall standings with Welshman Thomas 12 seconds ahead of team leader Froome, who is chasing a fourth Tour win in five years.

"There were no crashes, which was good, but it was a really hectic final," said Thomas. "I'm happy to get through unscathed."


Stage three result:

1. Peter Sagan (Svk/Bora) 5hrs 07mins 19 secs
2. Michael Matthews (Aus/Team Sunweb) Same time
3. Dan Martin (Ire/Quick-Step Floors)
4. Greg van Avermaet (Bel/BMC Racing)
5. Alberto Bettiol (Ita/Cannondale-Drapac) +02secs
6. Arnaud Demare (Fra/FDJ) Same time
7. Jakob Fuglsang (Den/Astana)
8. Geraint Thomas (GB/Team Sky)
9. Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky)
10. Rafal Majka (Pol/ Bora)

General classification after stage three:

1. Geraint Thomas (GB/Team Sky) 10hrs 00mins 31secs
2. Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky) +12secs
3. Michael Matthews (Aus/Team Sunweb) Same time
4. Peter Sagan (Svk/Bora) +13secs
5. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor/Dimension Data) +16secs
6. Pierre Latour (Fra/AG2R) +25secs
7. Philippe Gilbert (Bel/Quick-Step) +30secs
8. Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol/Team Sky) +32secs
9. Tim Wellens (Bel/Lotto) Same time
10. Nikias Arndt (Ger/Team Sunweb) +34secs

Selected others:

18. Simon Yates (GB/Orica-Scott) +45secs
20. Richie Porte (Aus/BMC Racing) +47secs
21. Nairo Quintana (Col/Movistar) +48secs
24. Romain Bardet (Fra/AG2R) +51secs
26. Fabio Aru (Ita/Astana) +53secs
27. Alberto Contador (Spa/Trek-Segafredo) +54secs
29. Jakob Fuglsang (Den/Astana) Same time