Christian VandeVelde ha vinto per distacco la terza tappa della Parigi-Nizza. Lo statunitense della Garmin Slipstream è stato in fuga per gran parte della giornata insieme ad altri sei atleti e nel finale si è avvantaggiato in perfetta solitudine conservando un leggero margine di vantaggio che gli ha permesso di conquistare il successo.
Intanto sull'ultima difficoltà della giornata, una salita di 3a categoria, ha dato spettacolo Alberto Contador: lo spagnolo della Astana ha attaccato con uno scatto secco e ha messo in grave difficoltà il leader della classifica Sylvain Chavanel, costretto a difendersi con fatica. Al traguardo Contador ha recuperato una manciata di secondi sull'avversario restituendo in pratica a Chavanel pan per focaccia, dopo l'attacco di ieri. Da segnalare l'ottimo terzo posto di tappa conquistato da Mirko Lorenzetto, giunto con Garate nel gruppetto di Contador. Sfortunato un altro spagnolo, Luis Leon Sanchez: ha forato a un chilometro dal traguardo e, senza assistenza, ha chiuso ad oltre due minuti dal vincitore.

Ordine d'arrivo
1. VANDEVELDE Christian GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM 4:01:31
2. HIVERT Jonathan SKIL-SHIMANO + 00' 14"
3. LORENZETTO Mirco LAMPRE - N.G.C + 00' 14"
4. MOREAU Christophe AGRITUBEL + 00' 14"
5. VOIGT Jens TEAM SAXO BANK + 00' 14"
6. MOINARD Amaël COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE + 00' 14"
7. FUGLSANG Jakob TEAM SAXO BANK + 00' 14"
8. MONFORT Maxime TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD + 00' 14"
9. SCHLECK Frank TEAM SAXO BANK + 00' 14"
10. GARATE Juan Manuel RABOBANK + 00' 14"
11. COLOM Antonio TEAM KATUSHA + 00' 14"
12. CONTADOR Alberto ASTANA + 00' 14"
13. MILLAR David GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM + 00' 14"
14. LOPEZ GARCIA David CAISSE D’EPARGNE + 00' 14"
15. KREUZIGER Roman LIQUIGAS + 00' 14"
16. TAARAMAE Reine COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE + 00' 14"
17. NOCENTINI Rinaldo AG2R-LA MONDIALE + 00' 14"
18. VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen SILENCE - LOTTO + 00' 14"
19. SANCHEZ Samuel EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 00' 14"
20. TROFIMOV Yury BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM + 00' 14"
21. KARPETS Vladimir TEAM KATUSHA + 00' 14"
22. MONCOUTIE David COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE + 00' 14"
23. SPILAK Simon LAMPRE - N.G.C + 00' 22"
24. SEELDRAYERS Kevin QUICK STEP + 00' 41"
25. BOUET Maxime AGRITUBEL + 00' 41"
26. HAUSSLER Heinrich CERVELO TEST TEAM + 00' 41"
27. ROHREGGER Thomas TEAM MILRAM + 00' 41"
28. POPOVYCH Yaroslav ASTANA + 00' 41"
29. CHAVANEL Sylvain QUICK STEP + 00' 41"
30. FLECHA Juan Antonio RABOBANK + 00' 41"
31. LEQUATRE Geoffroy AGRITUBEL + 00' 41"
32. DUPONT Hubert AG2R-LA MONDIALE + 00' 41"
33. LE MEVEL Christophe FRANCAISE DES JEUX + 00' 41"
34. OROZ Juan José EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 00' 41"
35. TANKINK Bram RABOBANK + 00' 41"
36. FOTHEN Markus TEAM MILRAM + 00' 41"
37. PERGET Mathieu CAISSE D’EPARGNE + 00' 41"
38. CASAR Sandy FRANCAISE DES JEUX + 00' 41"
39. DE KORT Koen SKIL-SHIMANO + 01' 18"
40. KNEES Christian TEAM MILRAM + 01' 18"
41. LADAGNOUS Matthieu FRANCAISE DES JEUX + 01' 18"
42. BARREDO Carlos QUICK STEP + 01' 18"
43. EFIMKIN Vladimir AG2R-LA MONDIALE + 01' 18"
44. ELTINK Theo SKIL-SHIMANO + 01' 18"
45. GAVAZZI Francesco LAMPRE - N.G.C + 01' 18"
46. MORI Manuele LAMPRE - N.G.C + 01' 18"
47. VERDUGO Gorka EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 01' 18"
48. VOECKLER Thomas BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM + 01' 18"
49. HUGUET Yann AGRITUBEL + 01' 18"
50. BUFFAZ Mickaël COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE + 01' 18"
51. ROULSTON Hayden CERVELO TEST TEAM + 01' 18"
52. BOTCHAROV Alexandre TEAM KATUSHA + 01' 18"
53. HUNT Jérémy CERVELO TEST TEAM + 01' 18"
54. BURGHARDT Marcus TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD + 01' 35"
55. KUSCHYNSKI Aleksandr LIQUIGAS + 01' 35"
56. LEMOINE Cyril SKIL-SHIMANO + 01' 35"
57. TIMMER Albert SKIL-SHIMANO + 01' 35"
58. PETROV Evgeni TEAM KATUSHA + 01' 35"
59. PETERSON Thomas GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM + 01' 35"
60. NUYENS Nick RABOBANK + 01' 35"
61. ZUBELDIA Haimar ASTANA + 01' 35"
62. ERVITI Imanol CAISSE D’EPARGNE + 01' 35"
63. NAVARRO Daniel ASTANA + 01' 35"
64. JOLY Sébastien FRANCAISE DES JEUX + 01' 35"
65. WILLEMS Frederik LIQUIGAS + 01' 35"
66. LLOYD Matthew SILENCE - LOTTO + 01' 35"
67. HORRACH Joan TEAM KATUSHA + 01' 35"
68. EVANS Cadel SILENCE - LOTTO + 01' 35"
69. ISASI Inaki EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 01' 35"
70. FEILLU Romain AGRITUBEL + 02' 06"
71. FISCHER Murilo Antoniobil LIQUIGAS + 02' 09"
72. VANENDERT Jelle SILENCE - LOTTO + 02' 28"
73. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon CAISSE D’EPARGNE + 00' 14"
74. CHEREL Mickael FRANCAISE DES JEUX + 02' 47"
75. PINEAU Jérôme QUICK STEP + 02' 47"
76. REDA Francisco QUICK STEP + 02' 47"
77. HINAULT Sébastien AG2R-LA MONDIALE + 02' 47"
78. SCHÄR Michael ASTANA + 02' 47"
79. ROLLAND Pierre BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM + 03' 31"
80. TURGOT Sébastien BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM + 03' 31"
81. AMADOR Andreï CAISSE D’EPARGNE + 03' 31"
82. SANTAROMITA Ivan LIQUIGAS + 04' 08"
83. GILBERT Philippe SILENCE - LOTTO + 04' 42"
84. DELAGE Mickaël SILENCE - LOTTO + 04' 42"
85. LAURENT Christophe AGRITUBEL + 04' 42"
86. GOUBERT Stephane AG2R-LA MONDIALE + 04' 42"
87. VOGONDY Nicolas AGRITUBEL + 04' 42"
88. BODNAR Maciej LIQUIGAS + 04' 42"
89. KOLOBNEV Alexandr TEAM SAXO BANK + 04' 42"
90. PICHOT Alexandre BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM + 04' 42"
91. MONIER Damien COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE + 04' 42"
92. GAUTIER Cyril BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM + 04' 42"
93. TJALLINGII Maarten RABOBANK + 04' 42"
94. PAULINHO Sergio ASTANA + 04' 42"
95. GOESINNEN Floris SKIL-SHIMANO + 04' 42"
96. KROON Karsten TEAM SAXO BANK + 04' 42"
97. HAYMAN Mathew RABOBANK + 04' 42"
98. PAUWELS Serge CERVELO TEST TEAM + 04' 42"
99. LOOSLI David LAMPRE - N.G.C + 04' 42"
100. PEREIRO SIO Oscar CAISSE D’EPARGNE + 05' 48"
101. CRETSKENS Wilfried SILENCE - LOTTO + 05' 48"
102. SIEBERG Marcel TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD + 05' 48"
103. CAUCCHIOLI Pietro LAMPRE - N.G.C + 05' 48"
104. FLORENCIO Xavier CERVELO TEST TEAM + 05' 48"
105. SORENSEN Chris TEAM SAXO BANK + 05' 48"
106. SORENSEN Nicki TEAM SAXO BANK + 05' 48"
107. NOVAL GONZALEZ Benjamin ASTANA + 05' 48"
108. VANDBORG Brian LIQUIGAS + 05' 48"
109. ARRIETA Jose Luis AG2R-LA MONDIALE + 05' 48"
110. ROCHE Nicolas AG2R-LA MONDIALE + 05' 48"
111. PATE Danny GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM + 07' 01"
112. RENSHAW Mark TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD + 07' 43"
113. CHAVANEL Sébastien FRANCAISE DES JEUX + 07' 43"
114. VAN IMPE Kévin QUICK STEP + 08' 48"
115. DE WEERT Kevin QUICK STEP + 08' 48"
116. STEEGMANS Gert TEAM KATUSHA + 08' 48"
117. ROOIJAKKERS Piet SKIL-SHIMANO + 08' 48"
118. FOTHEN Thomas TEAM MILRAM + 08' 48"
119. TERPSTRA Niki TEAM MILRAM + 08' 48"
120. MORENO FERNANDEZ Daniel CAISSE D’EPARGNE + 08' 48"
121. DUMOULIN Samuel COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE + 09' 07"
122. BANDIERA Marco LAMPRE - N.G.C + 09' 36"
123. ESKOV Nikita TEAM KATUSHA + 09' 43"
124. MARTIN Tony TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD + 09' 43"
125. VANDENBERGH Styn TEAM KATUSHA + 10' 20"
126. LARSSON Gustav TEAM SAXO BANK + 10' 20"
127. MÜLLER Martin TEAM MILRAM + 10' 20"
128. DYACHENKO Alexandr ASTANA + 10' 20"
129. RUSS Matthias TEAM MILRAM + 10' 20"
130. BARRY Michaël TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD + 11' 09"
131. RIBLON Christophe AG2R-LA MONDIALE + 11' 09"
132. PINOTTI Marco TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD + 11' 09"
133. VEELERS Tom SKIL-SHIMANO + 11' 09"
134. FRANZOI Enrico LIQUIGAS + 11' 09"
135. VAN DE WALLE Jurgen QUICK STEP + 11' 09"
136. AUGE Stéphane COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE + 11' 09"
137. VELITS Martin TEAM MILRAM + 11' 09"
138. ARAMENDIA Javier EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 11' 09"
139. HERNANDEZ Aitor EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 11' 09"
140. IRIZAR Markel EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 11' 09"
141. PEREZ Alan EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 11' 09"
142. COZZA Steven GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM + 11' 09"
143. ROELANDTS Jürgen SILENCE - LOTTO + 11' 09"
144. CUESTA Inigo CERVELO TEST TEAM + 11' 09"
145. BONNAIRE Olivier BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM + 11' 09"
146. GENE Yohann BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM + 11' 09"
147. LANGEVELD Sebastian RABOBANK + 11' 09"
148. LOWE Trent GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM + 11' 09"
149. FLEEMAN Daniel CERVELO TEST TEAM + 11' 09"
150. ROY Jérémy FRANCAISE DES JEUX + 11' 09"

Classifica generale
1. CHAVANEL Sylvain QUICK STEP 13:31:06
2. GARATE Juan Manuel RABOBANK + 00' 06"
3. FLECHA Juan Antonio RABOBANK + 00' 36"
4. CONTADOR Alberto ASTANA + 00' 36"
5. SEELDRAYERS Kevin QUICK STEP + 00' 37"
6. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon CAISSE D’EPARGNE + 00' 45"
7. MILLAR David GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM + 00' 50"
8. COLOM Antonio TEAM KATUSHA + 00' 55"
9. KARPETS Vladimir TEAM KATUSHA + 00' 57"
10. VOIGT Jens TEAM SAXO BANK + 01' 03"
11. MONFORT Maxime TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD + 01' 08"
12. SANCHEZ Samuel EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 01' 09"
13. NOCENTINI Rinaldo AG2R-LA MONDIALE + 01' 10"
14. SCHLECK Frank TEAM SAXO BANK + 01' 12"
15. TAARAMAE Reine COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE + 01' 17"
16. LORENZETTO Mirco LAMPRE - N.G.C + 01' 20"
17. HIVERT Jonathan SKIL-SHIMANO + 01' 21"
18. HAUSSLER Heinrich CERVELO TEST TEAM + 01' 23"
19. TROFIMOV Yury BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM + 01' 33"
20. OROZ Juan José EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 01' 51"
21. TANKINK Bram RABOBANK + 01' 53"
22. LE MEVEL Christophe FRANCAISE DES JEUX + 01' 56"
23. LEQUATRE Geoffroy AGRITUBEL + 02' 06"
24. BARREDO Carlos QUICK STEP + 02' 12"
25. KNEES Christian TEAM MILRAM + 02' 17"
26. BURGHARDT Marcus TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD + 02' 20"
27. DE KORT Koen SKIL-SHIMANO + 02' 29"
28. TIMMER Albert SKIL-SHIMANO + 02' 41"
29. GAVAZZI Francesco LAMPRE - N.G.C + 02' 42"
30. FUGLSANG Jakob TEAM SAXO BANK + 02' 48"
31. KREUZIGER Roman LIQUIGAS + 02' 51"
32. ISASI Inaki EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 02' 51"
33. MOREAU Christophe AGRITUBEL + 02' 58"
34. VANDEVELDE Christian GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM + 03' 02"
35. SPILAK Simon LAMPRE - N.G.C + 03' 07"
36. VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen SILENCE - LOTTO + 03' 07"
37. MOINARD Amaël COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE + 03' 10"
38. POPOVYCH Yaroslav ASTANA + 03' 15"
39. CASAR Sandy FRANCAISE DES JEUX + 03' 25"
40. FOTHEN Markus TEAM MILRAM + 03' 29"
41. ROHREGGER Thomas TEAM MILRAM + 03' 35"
42. FISCHER Murilo Antoniobil LIQUIGAS + 03' 40"
43. ROULSTON Hayden CERVELO TEST TEAM + 03' 56"
44. VOECKLER Thomas BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM + 03' 59"
45. VERDUGO Gorka EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 04' 03"
46. LEMOINE Cyril SKIL-SHIMANO + 04' 03"
47. HUGUET Yann AGRITUBEL + 04' 07"
48. HUNT Jérémy CERVELO TEST TEAM + 04' 08"
49. LADAGNOUS Matthieu FRANCAISE DES JEUX + 04' 10"
50. PETROV Evgeni TEAM KATUSHA + 04' 17"
51. ZUBELDIA Haimar ASTANA + 04' 17"
52. BUFFAZ Mickaël COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE + 04' 18"
53. ERVITI Imanol CAISSE D’EPARGNE + 04' 20"
54. EFIMKIN Vladimir AG2R-LA MONDIALE + 04' 21"
55. NUYENS Nick RABOBANK + 04' 28"
56. TURGOT Sébastien BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM + 04' 32"
57. WILLEMS Frederik LIQUIGAS + 04' 34"
58. PETERSON Thomas GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM + 04' 38"
59. HORRACH Joan TEAM KATUSHA + 04' 38"
60. MORI Manuele LAMPRE - N.G.C + 04' 40"
61. ELTINK Theo SKIL-SHIMANO + 04' 43"
62. PINEAU Jérôme QUICK STEP + 05' 35"
63. REDA Francisco QUICK STEP + 05' 47"
64. KROON Karsten TEAM SAXO BANK + 05' 49"
65. GILBERT Philippe SILENCE - LOTTO + 05' 55"
66. TJALLINGII Maarten RABOBANK + 05' 55"
67. HINAULT Sébastien AG2R-LA MONDIALE + 06' 05"
68. AMADOR Andreï CAISSE D’EPARGNE + 06' 16"
69. ROLLAND Pierre BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM + 06' 28"
70. KUSCHYNSKI Aleksandr LIQUIGAS + 06' 37"
71. CHEREL Mickael FRANCAISE DES JEUX + 06' 45"
72. SIEBERG Marcel TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD + 06' 52"
73. KOLOBNEV Alexandr TEAM SAXO BANK + 07' 43"
74. HAYMAN Mathew RABOBANK + 07' 51"
75. LOOSLI David LAMPRE - N.G.C + 08' 03"
76. PICHOT Alexandre BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM + 08' 03"
77. SORENSEN Nicki TEAM SAXO BANK + 08' 45"
78. PATE Danny GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM + 09' 50"
79. STEEGMANS Gert TEAM KATUSHA + 10' 03"
80. LOPEZ GARCIA David CAISSE D’EPARGNE + 10' 38"
81. ROELANDTS Jürgen SILENCE - LOTTO + 11' 08"
82. VAN IMPE Kévin QUICK STEP + 11' 16"
83. TERPSTRA Niki TEAM MILRAM + 11' 21"
84. EVANS Cadel SILENCE - LOTTO + 11' 27"
85. DE WEERT Kevin QUICK STEP + 11' 31"
86. AUGE Stéphane COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE + 11' 42"
87. BOTCHAROV Alexandre TEAM KATUSHA + 11' 53"
88. JOLY Sébastien FRANCAISE DES JEUX + 11' 54"
89. BOUET Maxime AGRITUBEL + 12' 25"
90. DUPONT Hubert AG2R-LA MONDIALE + 12' 33"
91. PERGET Mathieu CAISSE D’EPARGNE + 12' 37"
92. FEILLU Romain AGRITUBEL + 12' 41"
93. BANDIERA Marco LAMPRE - N.G.C + 12' 57"
94. NAVARRO Daniel ASTANA + 13' 02"
95. VEELERS Tom SKIL-SHIMANO + 13' 03"
96. MÜLLER Martin TEAM MILRAM + 13' 10"
97. IRIZAR Markel EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 13' 48"
98. BARRY Michaël TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD + 14' 04"
99. MONCOUTIE David COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE + 14' 05"
100. ROY Jérémy FRANCAISE DES JEUX + 14' 11"
101. VANENDERT Jelle SILENCE - LOTTO + 14' 22"
102. BODNAR Maciej LIQUIGAS + 14' 34"
103. MONIER Damien COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE + 14' 41"
104. GOESINNEN Floris SKIL-SHIMANO + 14' 54"
105. NOVAL GONZALEZ Benjamin ASTANA + 15' 56"
106. ROCHE Nicolas AG2R-LA MONDIALE + 15' 58"
107. PAULINHO Sergio ASTANA + 16' 00"
108. FLORENCIO Xavier CERVELO TEST TEAM + 16' 00"
109. SANTAROMITA Ivan LIQUIGAS + 16' 03"
110. SORENSEN Chris TEAM SAXO BANK + 16' 05"
111. HERNANDEZ Aitor EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 16' 10"
112. VOGONDY Nicolas AGRITUBEL + 16' 13"
113. GAUTIER Cyril BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM + 16' 22"
114. CRETSKENS Wilfried SILENCE - LOTTO + 16' 29"
115. DELAGE Mickaël SILENCE - LOTTO + 16' 32"
116. GOUBERT Stephane AG2R-LA MONDIALE + 16' 33"
117. SCHÄR Michael ASTANA + 16' 33"
118. PAUWELS Serge CERVELO TEST TEAM + 16' 38"
119. PEREIRO SIO Oscar CAISSE D’EPARGNE + 17' 22"
120. LAURENT Christophe AGRITUBEL + 17' 25"
121. CHAVANEL Sébastien FRANCAISE DES JEUX + 18' 06"
122. CAUCCHIOLI Pietro LAMPRE - N.G.C + 18' 34"
123. RENSHAW Mark TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD + 19' 05"
124. MARTIN Tony TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD + 19' 12"
125. VANDBORG Brian LIQUIGAS + 19' 28"
126. LLOYD Matthew SILENCE - LOTTO + 19' 29"
127. DUMOULIN Samuel COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE + 19' 41"
128. ARRIETA Jose Luis AG2R-LA MONDIALE + 19' 45"
129. ESKOV Nikita TEAM KATUSHA + 19' 58"
130. MORENO FERNANDEZ Daniel CAISSE D’EPARGNE + 20' 14"
131. FOTHEN Thomas TEAM MILRAM + 20' 27"
132. LARSSON Gustav TEAM SAXO BANK + 20' 30"
133. ROOIJAKKERS Piet SKIL-SHIMANO + 20' 55"
134. RIBLON Christophe AG2R-LA MONDIALE + 21' 03"
135. VELITS Martin TEAM MILRAM + 21' 04"
136. PEREZ Alan EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 21' 22"
137. LANGEVELD Sebastian RABOBANK + 21' 25"
138. FRANZOI Enrico LIQUIGAS + 21' 36"
139. ARAMENDIA Javier EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 21' 51"
140. VANDENBERGH Styn TEAM KATUSHA + 22' 09"
141. PINOTTI Marco TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD + 22' 25"
142. COZZA Steven GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM + 22' 38"
143. VAN DE WALLE Jurgen QUICK STEP + 23' 02"
144. GENE Yohann BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM + 23' 02"
145. FLEEMAN Daniel CERVELO TEST TEAM + 23' 14"
146. BONNAIRE Olivier BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM + 23' 24"
147. CUESTA Inigo CERVELO TEST TEAM + 30' 32"
148. RUSS Matthias TEAM MILRAM + 32' 03"
149. LOWE Trent GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM + 32' 43"
150. DYACHENKO Alexandr ASTANA + 37' 25"