LA TEIL, France (AP) — Niklas Arndt edged Kris Boeckmans in a sprint finish to win the third stage of the Criterium du Dauphine on Tuesday.
Chris Froome, who won the opening two stages, finished safely in the peloton to maintain his overall lead of 12 seconds over two-time Tour de France winner and main rival Alberto Contador.
Boeckmans nearly caught Arndt at the line, but the photo finish showed the German had won by the width of a bike tire.
Reinardt Janse van Rensburg was third at the end of the 194-kilometer (120.55-mile) leg from Ambert to La Teil.
British rider Froome won the Dauphine last year and went on to capture the Tour de France title a few weeks later.
