Cancellara upstages rivals for glory

OVERALL leader Fabian Cancellara claimed a dramatic victory in the 236.5km third stage of the Tour de France between Waregem and Compiegne.

The Team CSC rider was on the fringes of the leading pack heading into the final kilometre but found space during the sprint finish to power into the lead.

The Swiss, who won the Tour’s prologue in London, held off a fast finish from Team Milram’s German rider Erik Zabel and Italian Danilo Napolitano riding for Lampre-Fondital to keep the yellow jersey in a time of six hours, 36 minutes, 15 seconds. Cancellara has extended his lead in the general classification to 33 seconds over Andreas Kloeden.