Cavendish wins 3rd Tour de France stage; Armstrong gains time on favorites

Cavendish wins 3rd Tour stage; Armstrong advances

LA GRANDE-MOTTE, France — Britain’s Mark Cavendish has won his second straight stage at the Tour de France, and Lance Armstrong has gained ground and is now third overall.

Fabian Cancellara extended his lead to 33 seconds after Monday’s third stage.

Cavendish finished in an unofficial time of 5 hours, 1 minute, 24 seconds. Armstrong and 23 other riders had the same time.

The Tour said Armstrong will be fined the equivalent of $92 for failing to sign in before the stage. His team said the seven-time champion was delayed because of autographs and interviews.

Breakaway riders dominated the hot and breezy 122-mile course along the Mediterranean from Marseille to La Grande Motte. The race ends July 26 in Paris.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

MARSEILLE, France (AP) — The third stage of the Tour de France is under way, with breakaway riders attacking right from the start of the ride from Marseille to La Grande Motte.

The riders can expect hot and breezy conditions during the 122.1-mile course along the Mediterranean.

Fabian Cancellara leads the overall standings by 18 seconds ahead of 2007 winner Alberto Contador of Spain. Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong is 10th, 40 seconds back.

Sprint specialists were favored Monday in one of the flattest stages in the three-week race. Frenchmen Maxime Bouet and Samuel Dumoulin attacked right at the start.

They were joined by two other riders in the breakaway, and chiseled out an early lead of more than 9½ minutes in the first 16 miles of the stage.

The Tour also lost its first rider this year. Belgium’s Jurgen Van de Walle of Quick Step dropped out after breaking his collarbone in a crash during the second stage, leaving 179 riders still competing.

The race ends July 26 in Paris.