Cycling:After the start of today's third stage of the Paris-Nice was hit by heavy snowfall on the route, Ireland's Nicolas Roche claimed a place on the podium with a third place finish in Aurillac. Peter Sagan of Slovakia claimed the stage in a sprint finish.
Conditions in Saint-Junien led organisers to cut 53km from the start of the stage but the disruption failed to trouble the young Irish rider and he was to the fore in the latter stages, attacking on the final climb.
But he was pipped in a six-way dash to the finish with Sagan and Joaquim Rodriguez taking first and second after 155km along icy roads. Roche’s effort was enough to elevate him 14 places to 21st in the overall standings.
Having crashed out yesterday, Roche’s fellow Irish professional Daniel Martin finished among the peleton in 54th place and lies 46th overall.
Tour de France champion Alberto Contador was sixth in the stage and now lies seventh overall, 20 seconds behind.
Yann Huguet (Skil Shimano), Nikolas Maes (Quick Step) and Jurgen Roelandts (Omega Pharma Lotto) broke clear after 33 kilometres and led by seven minutes at one stage, but they were caught in the closing stages.
Germany’s Voigt was the biggest winner on the day, however, as he took the race lead when Lars Boom (Rabobank), who had begun the day in the race lead, finished 27 seconds down in 79th to fall back to sixth place overall.
Paris-Nice third stage results
1. Peter Sagan (Slovakia / Liquigas) 3hrs 44mins 28secs
2. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) same time
3. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / AG2R)
4. Jens Voigt (Germany / Saxo Bank) +2secs
5. Tony Martin (Germany / HTC - Columbia)
6. Alberto Contador (Spain / Astana)
7. Mirco Lorenzetto (Italy / Lampre) +6 secs
8. Samuel Dumoulin (France / Cofidis)
9. Xavier Florencio (Spain / Cervelo)
10. Marco Marcato (Italy / Vacansoleil)
Overall standings
1. Jens Voigt (Germany / Saxo Bank) 12hrs 40mins 26 secs
2. Peter Sagan (Slovakia / Liquigas) +6 secs
3. Luis Leon Sanchez (Spain / Caisse d'Epargne) +9secs
4. David Millar (Britain / Garmin) +12 secs
5. Roman Kreuziger (Czech Republic / Liquigas) +14secs
Selected others
21. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / AG2R) +44secs
46. Daniel Martin (Ireland / Garmin) + 1min 11secs