Kessler storms to stage victory

MATTHIAS KESSLER produced a strong finish to win an action-packed third stage of the Tour de France yesterday as world champion Tom Boonen claimed the yellow jersey.

A five-man breakaway of Jose Luis Arrieta, Unai Etxebarria, Christophe Laurent, Jerome Pineau and Jens Voigt led for much of the day but they were reeled in close to the finish and Kessler made the most of his opportunity to take the victory.