Sylvain Chavanel of France won the third stage of the Paris-Nice race here on Tuesday and also grabbed the overall lead from Spain’s Alberto Contador.

Chavanel, of Quick Step, saw off Spain’s Juan Antonio Flecha and a tilt for glory from the Rabobank team which began with them upping the ante 45km to the line.

Chavanel quickly moved to counter that move and managed to hold on as Contador battled in vain to overcome a gap of some 30sec which had opened up as he fought to hang on to his overall lead before slipping back to come in 69sec adrift of the Frenchman.

“I saw how the guys from Rabobank were grouping together and I was ready for them – I had a good feeling about it. I’m glad to be up there. I know that compared with the best climbers such as Contador in (Friday’s) Lure climb, well, I won’t say I have no chance but I’m not going to get ahead of myself there,” said Chavanel, who described himself as being “in tip top condition.

“My morale is sky high,” he beamed.

“The goal was to win a stage and make an impression in the overall standings so I’m half way there.”

The rain beat down on the riders across much of the 178km ride but Chavanel mastered the conditions as the 27-year-old scored his first race win of the season to establish a 32sec lead over Spaniard Juan Manuel Garate.

Contador dropped back to over one minute behind Chavanel.

Last year the French rider briefly took the yellow jersey at Saint Etienne only to lose it 24 hours later at Mont-Serein on the slopes of the fabled Ventoux.

Wednesday’s fourth stage is a 173.5km ride from Vichy to Saint Etienne.

Photo’s by: CorVos Pro