Alberto Contador recovers to keep yellow as Fabio Aru wins Criterium stage

Alberto Contador made light of a late mechanical to retain the overall lead at the Criterium du Dauphine as an audacious late attack from Fabio Aru was awarded with victory on stage three.

Alberto Contador made light of a late mechanical to retain the overall lead at the Criterium du Dauphine as an audacious late attack from Fabio Aru was awarded with victory on stage three.

Aru (Astana) attacked alone with 12km to go after Tony Martin (Etixx-QuickStep) had already launched an escape attempt before being reeled in to form a select eight-man group.

Italy's Aru, who had also attacked on the category two Cote de Secheras, kept his slim margin and held off the charging sprinters' teams to win.

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Norway's Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) was two seconds behind in second place and Niccolo Bonifazio (Trek-Segafredo) was third.

Ireland's Sam Bennett (Bora-Argon) was sixth and Briton Chris Froome (Team Sky) finished in the bunch in 23rd place.

Aru wins stage, Contador still in yellow at Criterium Dauphine

Contador (Tinkoff) had to make a late bike change, swapping with a team-mate, before returning to the peloton and finished in 39th place, also two seconds behind Aru.

Spain's Contador still leads by six seconds from Australia's Richie Porte (BMC), with Froome third, seven seconds further back.

Dan Martin (Etixx-QuickStep) is fourth, 21 seconds behind, while Aru sits 27th overall, 1min 15secs behind.

Aru, who won the 2015 Vuelta a Espana, is targeting the Tour de France this summer and was trying to make amends after losing one minute 27 seconds to Contador in the opening three days.

Thursday's 176km fourth stage from Tain-l'Hermitage to Belley is another one for the sprinters, before three mountain stages to the race's conclusion on Sunday.

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