Australian Robbie McEwen outsprinted the rest of the Tour de France peleton to win the 174.5-kilometre third stage in Reims today.
The Lotto rider, winner of the Tour's final stage three years ago in Paris, beat German Erik Zabel and fellow-Australian Baden Cooke on the line.
Zabel’s high finish was enough to claim the leader's yellow jersey from Switzerland's Rubens Bertogliati.
The German Telekom leader, who was three seconds behind Bertogliati at the start of today’s stage, earned precious seconds in intermediate sprints and earned a 12-second bonus on line.
He now leads McEwen by eight seconds in the overall standings.
Frenchmen Jacky Durand and Franck Renier embarked on a long breakaway, staying out in front for 160 kms and at one stage holding an 11-minute lead.
But they were gradually reeled on the flat approaches to Reims and were overwhelmed by the peloton seven kilometres from the finish line.
Australian Stuart O'Grady had problems towards the end of the stage when a raised heartbeat forced him to receive treatment from the Tour doctor.
It was yet another setback for O'Grady's Credit Agricole team whose leader, Christophe Moreau, crashed twice in the first stage while Norwegian Thor Hushovd struggled to finish in the second stage with leg cramps.
