Charleville-Mezieres, July 09: The Tour de France leader's yellow jersey changed hands on Tuesday as the world's greatest cycling race got ready to change gear and test the strength of four-times champion Lance Armstrong. Frenchman Jean-Patrick Nazon grabbed a 14 seconds time bonus in the intermediate sprints during the 167.5-km third stage to St Dizier and ousted prologue winner Bradley McGee of Australia from top spot in the overall standings. Nazon became the first Frenchman to wear the yellow jersey since Francois Simon two years ago. The stage was won by Italian Alessandro Petacchi, who outsprinted his rivals again after winning Sunday's first stage in Meaux. Armstrong finished in 69th place. Winner of six stages on the Giro, Petacchi confirmed he was the fastest man in race finishes this season. With their eyes on Wednesday's stage, Armstrong and his team mates took it easy in one of the shortest rides of the Tour and let others take their share of glory. While the leading teams were gathering speed for the first crucial day, riders with more limited ambitions, perhaps inspired by poet Arthur Rimbaud, who was born in the starting town Charleville-Mezieres, dreamed of having their day in the spotlight.


Young Frenchmen Anthony Geslin, Maryan Hary and Carlos Da Cruz attempted romantic breakaways but were brought back to reality by the bunch.


Nazon was luckier. Dropped by FDJeux.com in the winter, he took his revenge by stealing the yellow jersey from former team mate McGee.


For the third straight day, sprinters had the final say and Petacchi beat two former world champions, Latvia's Romans Vainstein and Spain's Oscar Freire, just as he had humbled current world champion Mario Cipollini in the Giro.


Rene Haselbacher of Austria crashed in the final sprint, but got back on his bike and crossed the finish line.


Leading placings in the third stage of the Tour de France over 167.5 kms from Charleville-Mezieres to Saint-Dizier on Tuesday: 1. Alessandro Petacchi (Italy) Fassa Bortolo 3 hours 27 minutes 39 seconds 2. Romans Vainsteins (Latvia) Vini Caldirola 3. Oscar Freire (Spain) Rabobank 4. Erik Zabel (Germany) Team Telekom 5. Robbie McEwen (Australia) Lotto 6. Luca Paolini (Italy) Quick Step 7. Olaf Pollack (Germany) Gerolsteiner 8. Angelo Furlan (Italy) Alessio 9. Salvatore Commesso (Italy) Saeco 10. Stuart O'Grady (Australia) Credit Agricole 11. Thor Hushovd (Norway) Credit Agricole 12. Robert Hunter (South Africa) Rabobank 13. Bradley McGee (Australia) FDJeux.com 14. Jean-Patrick Nazon (France) Jean Delatour 15. Jerome Pineau (France) Brioches 16. Franck Renier (France) Brioches 17. Laurent Brochard (France) AG2R 18. Jan Ullrich (Germany) Team Bianchi 19. Aitor Gonzalez (Spain) Fassa Bortolo 20. Georg Totschnig (Austria) Gerolsteiner


Leading overall (yellow jersey) standings: 1. Jean-Patrick Nazon (France) Jean Delatour 12 hours 25 minutes 59 seconds 2. Bradley McGee (Australia) FDJeux.com 8 seconds behind 3. David Millar (Britain) Cofidis 12 4. Baden Cooke (Australia) FDJeux.com same time 5. Haimar Zubeldia (Spain) Euskaltel 14 6. Jan Ullrich (Germany) Team Bianchi same time 7. Jaan Kirsipuu (Estonia) AG2R 15 8. Robbie McEwen (Australia) Lotto 18 9. Victor Hugo Pena (Colombia) US Postal Service 10. Tyler Hamilton (U.S.) Team CSC


Bureau Report