Niklas Arndt of Giant-Shimano has won the Critérium du Dauphiné third stage.
Chris Froome, with a twelve second lead over Alberto Contador, led 167 riders out on a third stage which was 194kms long and from Ambert, which hosted a second stage sprint, to La Teil.
Biel Kadri of AG2R, Natnael Berhane of Team Europcar and Cesar Benedetti of Team Net App were on the attack early and after 57kms, they had attained a lead of 7.30.
FDJ took to the front of the peloton and fifty kilometres later and that lead had been reduced to 2.10.
After Jérôme Coppel abandoned after being unable to continue following a crash yesterday, the riders started on the Col de la Mure climb.
With 62kms to go, there was a crash and Giacomo Nizzolo of Trek Factory went down and stayed down with what looked a shoulder injury. Nizzolo was treated but his race was over.
The trio out front were still 1.28 ahead as Berhane took the main points on the climb but it was his team mate in Kevin Razza who will keep the King Of The Mountains jersey, following his efforts on stage two.
The gap came down on the descent as the riders headed for the sprint at Saint Laurent Du Pape in the Ardeche department, which Cesar Benedetti of Team Net App took ahead of Berhane and Kadri.
Through Ardeche with 25kms to go, and the gap was down to forty two seconds on a dry, hot day.
The peloton with Chris Froome and his Team Sky domestiques around him, had them in their sights and with 23.7kms left, the trip who had been out all day since the flag dropped, were bridged.
Jens Voigt, started a new attack which was split in to three groups. Grivko, Lithgart Erviti, Gougeard, Favilli, Koren, Edet and Voigt were amongst those in the first group which had a 38 seconds lead going into the final fifteen kilometres.
At speeds of 50km/h, the gap was holding until Katusha worked and brought the gap down to fourteen seconds with 8.8kms left.
Cofidis' Nicholas Edet broke with Favilli but the peloton were on them and everyone was together in Rushmore with five kilometres to go.
Lieuwe Westra led but he was caught with 1.5kms left. Round the roundabouts and riders were all over the road and it was a mad dash to the line with Kris Boeckmans of Lotto just beaten by Niklas Arndt of Giant-Shimano in 5.30.03. Third was Janse Van Rensburg, followed by Martinez. Cimolai, Keukeleire, Tcatevich, Demare, Meersman and Marcato.
Chris Froome finished safely and keeps his twelve second lead overall