Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom, Sept 13, 2011 (AFP) – The Tour of Britain resumed Tuesday after its unscheduled day off with Lars Boom winning the third stage and taking the leader’s gold jersey from Mark Cavendish.

Monday’s second stage from Kendal to Blackpool was called off for safety reasons due to high winds in the north west of the country.

The peloton was back in business for this 140km ride around Stoke-on-Trent won by Rabobank rider Boom. The Dutch cyclist was followed across the line by his teammate Michael Matthews.

Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas was third, with Cavendish, who won the opening stage, in fifth, slipping back to second in the overall standings, three seconds behind Boom.

Welshman Thomas is a further three seconds behind in third place heading into Wendesday’s fourth stage on his home turf from Welshpool to Caerphilly.

Team Sky’s Alex Dowsett made a solo break with 17km to go and had stayed out in front to hold onto a 20-second lead with 10km remaining.

His advantage was slowly reeled in by the peloton to set up an uphill sprint to the finish line.

Boom proved best equipped to steal the stage, despite Cavendish’s sprinting quality, just ahead of his team-mate Matthews to claim the race lead with five stages remaining.

Stage Three, The Stoke-on-Trent Stage, 140.3km
1) Lars Boom (Ned, Rabobank) 3h 23m 42s
2) Michael Matthews (Aus, Rabobank) same time
3) Geraint Thomas (GB, Sky Procycling) same time
4) Steve Cummings (GB, Sky Procycling) same time
5) Mark Cavendish (GB, HTC Highroad) same time
6) Ian Bibby (GB, Motorpoint) same time
7) Jonathan Tiernan Locke (GB, Rapha Condor Sharp) same time
Jelle Wallays (Bel, Topsport Vlaanderen) same time
9) Linus Gerdemann (Ger, Leopard Trek) same time
10) Andrew Fenn (GB, AN Post) same time

Combativity Award: Andrew Fenn (GB, AN Post)

Overall General Classification, after Stage Three
1) Lars Boom (Ned, Rabobank) 8h 04m 35s
2) Mark Cavendish (GB, HTC Highroad) @ 0.03
3) Geraint Thomas (GB, Sky Procyling) @ 0.06
4) Michael Matthews (Aus, Rabobank) @ 0.07
5) Boy Van Poppel (Ned, UnitedHealthcare) @ 0.08
6) Andrew Fenn (GB, AN Post) same time
7) Ian Bibby (GB, Motorpoint) @ 0.13
Linus Gerdemann (Ger, Leopard Trek) same time
9) Steve Cummings (GB, Sky Procycling) same time
10) Daniel Lloyd (GB, Garmin Cervelo) same time

The Prostate Cancer Charity Points Classification, after Stage Three
1) Mark Cavendish (GB, HTC – Highroad) 26pts
2) Geraint Thomas (GB, Sky Procycling) 24pts
3) Lars Boom (Ned, Rabobank) 23pts
4) Michael Matthews (Aus, Rabobank) 14pts
5) Mark Renshaw (Aus, HTC Highroad) 14pts
6) Ian Bibby (GB, Motorpoint) 13pts
7) Theo Bos (Ned, Rabobank) 13pts
Steve Cummings (GB, Sky Procycling) 12pts
9) Robert Forster (Ger, UnitedHealthcare) 10pts
10) Jonathan Tiernan Locke (GB, Rapha Condor Sharp) 9pts

Skoda King of the Mountains Classification, after Stage Three
1) Russell Hampton (GB, Sigma Sport – Specialized) 32pts
2) Jonathan Tiernan Locke (GB, Rapha Condor Sharp) 16pts
3) Boy Van Poppel (Ned, UnitedHealthcare) 12pts
4) Andrew Fenn (GB, AN Post) 12pts
5) Steve Cummings (GB, Sky Procycling) 12pts
6) Michael Rogers (Aus, Sky Procycling) 10pts
7) Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel, AN Post) 9pts
Bernhard Eisel (Aut, HTC Highroad) 4pts
9) Mark Cavendish (GB, HTC Highroad) 3pts
10) Ronan McLaughlin (Irl, AN Post) 3pts

Yodel Sprints Classification, after Stage Three
1) Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel, AN Post) 17pts
2) Russell Hampton (GB, Sigma Sport – Specialized) 13pts
3) Boy Van Poppel (Ned, UnitedHealthcare) 8pts
4) Andrew Fenn (GB, AN Post) 8pts
5) Lars Boom (Ned, Rabobank) 6pts
6) Geraint Thomas (GB, Sky Procycling) 5pts
7) Mathew Hayman (Aus, Sky Procycling) 3pts
Alex Dowsett (GB, Sky Procycling) 2pts
9) Peter Williams (GB, Motorpoint) 2pts
10) Bernhard Eisel (Aut, HTC Highroad) 1pts

UNISON Best Young Rider Classification, after Stage Three
1) Michael Matthews (Aus, Rabobank) 8h 04m 42s
2) Andrew Fenn (GB, AN Post) @ 0.01
3) Jan-Bert Lindemann (Ned, Vacansoleil DCM) @ 0.06
4) Jelle Wallays (Bel, Tosport Vlaanderen) same time
5) Willem Wauters (Bel, Vacansoleil DCM) @ 4.30

Brief Quotes

Lars Boom, Stage Three winner and IG Markets Gold Jersey
“With 200 metres to go I managed to jump over (Steve) Cummings and (Geraint) Thomas and then the corners started so they couldn’t pass us anymore. My first aim was to pull for Michael (Matthews) and then I felt good so I am happy to win.

“We knew that you can’t bring HTC and Cavendish or the Sky boys to the finish. We knew we would have to surprise them, and we managed to do that.

“I know that it is always tricky with the wind when you are in England. I saw the Sky guys move up to the front and there was point that there was a lot of wind. It was a good point to go and we managed to get away.

“It is nice to win. It’s nice to win before the World Championships. I am to try and defend the jersey and win the overall, that is the goal now.”

Michael Matthews, Stage Three runner-up and UNISON Best Young Rider
“It worked out really well for the team.

“It is going to be really hard to defend the race lead, but it is what every team wants. It is a privilege to have the jersey in the team and we will be happy to work for it and see if we can keep hold of it until the end of the week. We worked hard today but having the jersey made it worth it.”

Russell Hampton, Skoda King of the Mountains Jersey
“We will have to talk tonight. We have looked at the stages on our training camp a few weeks ago. I know some of the climbs from the Junior Tour of Wales, so it brings back some memories. We will try and be aggressive and see what comes of it.”