Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling may have missed the move that decided the stage victory at the 170.5km Paris-Nice Stage 3 on Wednesday, but OPQS did a great job protecting team leader Sylvain Chavanel, giving him the energy to stay near the front as a select group emerged in the final kilometers.
Yellow jersey wearer Elia Viviani (Cannondale) was dropped from the select group, and the yellow jersey group finished almost three minutes back from stage winner Andrew Talansky (Garmin-Sharp). Talansky and his break mates attacked with about 10km remaining, and the handful of riders held off the charging group, including Chavanel, in the final meters. Davide Malacarne (Europcar) was 2nd and Gorka Izaguirre (Euskaltel-Euskadi) was 3rd. Peter Velits was the top OPQS finisher, in 20th place (+07"). Chavanel was 29th (s.t.).
Talansky is now the race leader. Chavanel remains in the Top 5 of the GC, 4" back in 4th place. Peter Velits also remaiins in the top 10 of the GC.
