Rodriguez wins Tour third stage, Froome in yellow

Briton Chris Froome, who took the overall leader's yellow jersey, was second in the same time and France's Alexis Vuillermoz finished third four seconds behind at the top of the punishing Mur de Huy.

American Tejay van Garderen was sixth 11 seconds off the pace.

Swiss Fabian Cancellara, in yellow at the start, was caught in a massive crash that triggered organisers to neutralise the race for about 10 minutes.

Defending champion Vincenzo Nibali of Italy was seventh also 11 seconds behind Rodriguez, just like Colombian Nairo Quintana, who finished ninth, with Spaniard Alberto Contador in 12th place seven seconds further back.

Frenchman Thibaut Pinot's hopes of a podium finish in Paris took a major blow when he finished one minute 32 seconds behind.