Spain’s Oscar Freire for the third consecutive day finished 2nd on a stage of the Tour of Basque Country (north), today finishing just behind Italian Francesco Gavazzi, but has kept control of the leader’s jersey,

Freire (Rabobank) went a little late in the final sprint of the 3rd stage and could not catch Gavazzi (Lampre), the winner in Amurrio in less than five hours after the 187 kilometers that traveled from Viana.

In the overall, Freire, beaten by Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne) in the first two steps ahead of his Spanish rival in two seconds. The Canadian Ryder Hesjedal was third, three seconds.

Freire took advantage of a break of two seconds between the group of sprinters and the pack to take Wednesday leader’s yellow jersey.

Five runners, Martinez, Albasini Vorganov, Mayoz and Di Gregorio, long escaped, believed they could compete for the stage victory before being taken to three kilometers from the finish line by the pack.

Stage 3 Results:
1. Francesco Gavazzi (ITA/Lampre), les 187 km en 4 h 49:52.
2. Oscar Freire (ESP) m.t.
3. Peter Velits (SVK) m.t.
4. Alexandre Botcharov (RUS) m.t.
5. Samuel Sanchez (ESP) m.t.
6. Davide Vigano (ITA) m.t.
7. Christian Knees (GER) m.t.
8. Davide Malacarne (ITA) m.t.
9. Paul Martens (GER) m.t.
10. Kristijan Koren (SLO) m.t.

Overall Results:
1. Oscar Freire (ESP/Rabobank) 14 h 41:30.
2. Alejandro Valverde (ESP) à 02.
3. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) 03.
4. Alexandr Kolobnev (RUS) m.t.
5. Haimar Zubeldia (ESP) m.t.
6. Marco Pinotti (ITA) m.t.
7. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP) m.t.
8. Damiano Cunego (ITA) m.t.
9. Dries Devenyns (BEL) m.t.
10. Jurgen van den Broeck (BEL) m.t.

File Photo by: CorVos Pro