HTC Highroad's Matt Goss won the Third Stage of the Paris-Nice this afternoon.
On a gorgeous day, the race set off from Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire heading for Nuits-Saint-Georges.
Four Frenchman and a Finnish rider - Cédric Pineau (FDJ), Blel Kadri (Ag2r-La Mondiale), Cyril Gautier (Europcar), Romain Hardy (Bretagne-Schuller) and Finland's Jussi Veikkanen (Omega Pharma-Lotto), broke early.
Their lead had been close to five minutes but was just over half that with forty kilometres to go.
Gert Steegmans, who won the 21st stage of the Tour De France 2008 crashed with 38km to go when he ran wide and ended up in some gravel. He got back into the peleton after changing his bike.
After the second category climb the Cote de Becoup, the gap was down to a minute. Veikkanen took the final sprint to see him in the King Of The Mountains jersey as the peleton lead by Garmin closed in.
French Champion Thomas Voeckler went on the attack, followed by Biel Kadhri and the break away was over with 21kms left.
They built up a lead of fifteen seconds as one of the race favourites Quick Step's Sylvain Chavenel punctured.
That was reduced and with no team radios to keep them informed, Voeckler and Kadhri conceded defeat and were caught with five to go.
Katusha and Lampre hit the front before Geraint Thomas hit the front for the second successive time. Peter Sagan went down just after the final corner as Matt Goss, sprinted to the line ahead of Heinrich Haussler with Thomas finishing in fifth.
Goss now has the leaders yellow jersey by two seconds from Thomas De Gendt.
Speaking to the HTC Press office after the stage, Goss said: "It was certainly difficult, I was a little bit too far back in the last corner and was lucky to get round the crash, but once I got past them I had a straight run and it went well."
"I was very motivated for today's stage, I knew if I could get over the final five-kilometer climb I'd be in with a good shot, the finish was perfect for me."
"We just missed out on the first sprint on stage one, the second one I was a little bit boxed in, but today it worked out fine."
"Tomorrow's a tough stage to defend the lead, but it's not impossible. There are two climbs about 50 kilometers from the finish, so hopefully I can get over them ok and at least hold it for another day."
Tomorrow's stage is 191km long and from Crêches-sur-Saône to Belleville.
Health Tech Women's Grand Prix Series to take to the streets
Four Round Women's Series to support The Halfords Tour Series in 2011
An elite circuit series for Britain's elite female cyclists has been launched to support the already well-established Halfords Tour Series. SweetSpot Group and Johnson Health Tech UK Ltd are pleased to announce the Johnson Health Tech Women's Grand Prix Series.
The Johnson Health Tech Women's Grand Prix Series will see Britain's best female road cyclists compete in an action packed four round Series in May and June. The venues will be announced at The Halfords Tour Series' official launch in April.
The development of the four event Series follows the success of last year's Horizon Fitness Women's Grand Prix which was part of the Stoke-on-Trent round of the Series.
Commenting on the announcement, Jon Johnston, MD of Johnson Health Tech UK said;"As a company that actively encourages participation in exercise, physical activity, and competitive sport, we are delighted to have the opportunity to support this initiative.
"It's a great time for women's cycling, and with the Olympics just around the corner, and the ongoing focus on sport, health, and wellbeing, we hope that the Grand Prix Series will inspire more people to literally get on their bikes and become more active."
The Johnson Health Tech Women's Grand Prix Series will see the top podium spot going to the best individual rider across the four rounds, while a winning team will also be crowned after the completion of the final round.
Commenting on the development of The Halfords Tour Series, and the addition of the Johnson Health Tech Women's Grand Prix Series, Lynn Hayzelden of Halfords said: "As the largest bicycle retailer in Britain we want to help drive the sport of cycling wherever we can. The Halfords Tour Series is more than an elite series. The event showcases some of our finest home-grown athletes and brings the sport to the attention of the wider public. We hope this exposure will inspire more people to get cycling.
"Britain has great cycling heritage and the world's eyes will be on our athletes in the run up to next year's Olympics. Who knows, the next generations of Bradley Wiggins Sir Chris Hoy or Victoria Pendleton may be inspired by witnessing first-hand the excitement of the Series."
Event organisers, SweetSpot Group, are currently finalising both team entrants and venue partners with the full launch of the Series to be confirmed in April. Series Director, Mick Bennett, commented; "We are now at the final stages of negotiations with both existing and new venue partners. All of the team entrants are in and we are applying the finishing touches to the other elements. I am looking forward to officially launching the Halfords Tour Series, now in its third year, in April. The event continues to grow and the launch of the Johnson Health Tech Women's Grand Prix Series is a superb addition. I am sure 2011 will be spectacular."
For more information on the Series visit www.tourseries.co.uk or for up to the minute news follow the Series on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TourSeries
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