Another day in yellow for Veilleux

Canadian David Veilleux’s adventure in the Critérium Dauphiné’s yellow and blue leader’s jersey will continue for a least one more day, as the Europcar rider kept top spot after the third stage. Sky’s Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen took the day’s spoils, surging past Michael Matthews (Australia/Orica-GreenEdge) and second-on-GC Gianni Meersman (Belgium/Omega Pharma-QuickStep) at the line in Tarare.

Once more a four-man break provided the early dynamics, but the splintering quartet was gradually reabsorbed before the second of two Cat. 3 climb near the end of a flat parcours. Belgian Bart De Clerq (Lotto-Belisol) attacked over the summit, with Michael Kwiatkowski (Poland/Omega-Pharma) joining him on the descent, but the two were pulled back by a reduced peloton.

The victory was Boasson Hagen’s second of the season after a stage victory in his home tour, in which he took overall honours as well.

Veilleux keeps a 1:56 advantage over Meersman and 1:57 over Tony Gallopin (France/RadioShack) and a host of others.