The provisional top 5 is: 1. Steels (Mapei); 2. Zabel (Telekom); 3. Wust (Festina); 4. McEwen (Farm Frites); 5. O'Grady (CA).

16.16 Millar Okay

The fall in the last 1,500 meters included Millar, the yellow jersey holder, but he has crossed the line at the end of the lone line of riders. He is okay.

16.15 Steels Again!

Tom Steels has won again... He has beaten Zabel by centimeters!

16.14 Millar Falls

Millar is back on his bike at the back of the peloton. There is just 1km to race...

16.12 Fall

FDJ's Megin is at the front with 2km to go. He is closely followed by Fred Rodriguez of Mapei....a fall including the yellow jersey has just happened!

16.12 3km To Go

Place your bets for the sprint. 3km to go

16.09 Festina Also In The Running

Festina also has tabs on a sprint finish. Marcel Wust might be wearing the polka-dot jersey, but he was fifth in yesterday's dash to the line

16.08 Rabobank Join The Front

The Rabobank team has also come to the front of the race. Their sprinter is Leon van Bon. Other sprinters' teams, including Vini Cadirola (Romans Vainsteins) and Farm Frites (McEwen)are also coming to the front.

16.05 Sprint Teams Leading Race

AG2R, Francaise de Jeux, Mapei and Telekom jerseys now dominate the front of the race.

16.03 All Together Now

The two leaders have been absorbed by the chasing peloton. There are 10km still to race.

16.02 12" For Leading Duo

The sprinting teams' chase has brought the two leaders back quickly. The latest check is 12".

16.02 Sprinters Team Now Lead The Chase

Cofidis have handed the chasing duties over to the teams of the sprinters... La Francaise de Jeux for Nazon, Telekom for Zabel, AG2R for Krsipuu, now dominate the head of the peloton.

15.59 Lead Under One Minute Now

The chasing peloton has brought the lead of Voigt ad Blaudzun back under a minute. The latest time check is 50".

15.57 AG2R Riders Join The Front Of The Chase

Christophe Maignan and a few other AG2R team members are emerging near the front of the chasing peloton. Their sprinter, Jaan Kirsipuu has already picked up a few sprint points today (2pts at the 2nd intermeditate at 87.5km).

15.54 Postal Coming To The Front

With Cofidis dominatng the chase for most of the day, the US Postal team is now coming to the front to join in the pursuit of the leading duo, Voigt and Blaudzun. The latest time check is 1'20".

15.53 Fall In The Peloton

Mario Aerts (Lotto) has fallen in the peloton. The Belgian rider is already back on his bike at the back of the bunch.

15.51 125km Break So Far

There are 20km to race. The two leaders have been out in front for 125km so far today. The latest time check shows that the peloton is closing in fast: 1'55" is their lead over the Cofidis-led chase.

15.48 Lead Down To 2'05"

Voigt and Blaudzun are continuing to try and hold their advantage, but their efforts are being foiled by a fast-chasing pack. The latest time check has the leaders at 2'05".

15.44 25km To Go

The leading duo have just passed under the 25km to go kite. They have a lead of 2'20".

15.40 Perfect Sprint Conditions Today

If the two leaders are caught the conditions for a bunch sprint today are ideal. The course has had no climbs, the finishing straight is 980 meters long and the race to the line boasts a slight tailwind of about 10kph.

15.36 30km To Race

With 30km to race, the last time check has the two leaders 2'50" ahead of the field.

15.36 Standings From Bel-Air Sprint

The results of the third (and final) intermediate sprint today (at Bel-Air, 128.5km) are: 1. Micael Blaudzun (MCJ); 2. Jens Voigt (CA); 3. Cristophe Mengin (FDJ). Mengin was 2'30" behind the two leaders.

15.34 Blaudzun Wins Third Sprint

Michael Blaudzun has led Jens Voigt over the line at the third intermediate sprint of the day. The peloton has yet to arrive at the Bel-Air sprint (128.5km).

15.27 Chase Really Taking Effect

The peloton looks determined to bring back the break of Voigt and Blaudzun. The latest time check has them only 2'40" behind the leaders who attacked at the 27km mark.

15.24 Bonjour Joining In The Chase

The Cofidis train at the front of the peloton is now being littered with a few dark-blue jerseys from the Bonjour team. Pascal Derame has taken a turn at the front of the chasing peloton. The latest time check has the peloton 3'00" behind the two leaders.

15.18 Lead Now 3'23"

The two escapees have a lead of 3'23" with 42km still to race today.

15.14 3'43" With 48km To Go

The two leaders are yo-yoing their way along at the front of the race. Their lead is hovering around the 4'00" mark. The latest check, however, has them at 3'43" with 48km to go.

15.05 Lead Back Up To Four Minutes

With the peloton at the 105km mark, the two leaders have again pushed their advantage back up to 4'00".

15.03 Lead Grows Again

The two leaders have pushed their advantage back up to 3'50".

15.01 3'30" Vandenbroucke Hanging Out At Front of Peloton

After the feedzone, Frank Vandenbroucke of the Cofidis team, found himself at the front of the peloton. He didn't exactly attack, but the peloton took about three minutes to catch up with the Belgian star.

14.59 3'30" As Peloton Passes Through Feedzone

The peloton has just collected their food at the 99km mark. They are 3'30" behind the two race leaders, Voigt & Blaudzun.

14.56 Lead Now Under 4 Minutes

The lead of Voigt & Blaudzun has now dropped below 4 minutes. The latest check has the peloton 3'55" behind.

14.52 60km To Go

The lead of Voigt & Blaudzun is now 4'03". They have passed through the feedzone and now have less than 60km to race.

Jens Voigt

14.52 Two Leaders At The Feedzone

Jens Voigt and Michael Blaudzun have reached the feedzone at 99km. Their lead over the peloton is 4'05".

14.46 Advantage Decreasing

The latest time check has the two escapees 4'13" ahead of the Cofidis-led peloton.

14.44 Results Of Second Sprint

At the second intermediate sprint of the day (81km) the results are: 1. Jens Voigt (CA); 2. Michael Blaudzun (MCJ); 3. Jaan Kirsipuu (AG2). Kirsipuu led the peloton at 4'23" behind Voigt.

14.37 Voigt Takes Second Sprint Points

The two leaders contested the sprint in Jallais (87.5km). The 6pts were won by Voigt, with Blaudzun taking second place and four points.

14.35 Escapee's Lead Dropping

The two escapee's in today's 3rd stage, Jens Voigt & Michael Blaudzun, have dropped their advantage to 5'11" in the lead-up to the 2nd sprint of the day.

14.28 Millar Looking Relaxed In Yellow

With his whole team at the front of the chasing peloton, the race-leader, David Millar, looks relaxed in his yellow jersey (and yellow helmet & cycling shorts). His curret deficit to the two breakaway riders is 6'06".

14.24 Voigt & Blaudzun Maintain Pace

Voigt & Blaudzun's lead is still at 6'00" ahead of the Cofidis-led peloton.

14.24 Voigt On Aluminium Look Bike

Jens Voigt, one of the riders at the front of the race, is one of two Credit Agricole riders on an aluimnium bike (along with the heaviest rider in the Tour, Magnus Backstedt). The rest of the team ride carbon-fibre framed bikes.

14.16 Leaders' Lead Still At 6'00"

At the 69km mark, Voigt and Blaudzun still have a lead of 6'00".

14.16 Voigt's Third Tour

Jens Voigt, who turns 29 in September, is riding his third Tour de France. In his first Tour, he wore the polka-dot jersey briefly after an early attack during the Tour's visit to Ireland. He rides for the Credit Agricole team and lives in Toulouse.

14.13 Blaudzun's First Tour de France

The Danish rider in today's break, Michael Blaudzun, is riding his first Tour de France. The 27-year-old who rides for the Danish Memory Card Jack & Jones team began today's stage in 92nd place. This break has moved him to second overall 'on the road' behind his fellow escapee, Voigt.

14.07 Cofidis Chase Takes Effect

The peloton is now being led by the Cofidis team. They have began to reel in the two leaders, Voigt & Blaudzun, who are now 6'00" ahead of the peloton.

14.02 Cofidis Lift The Peloton's Tempo

With the two leaders' advantage now over 6 minutes - 6'10" to be precise - the Cofidis team of the Tour leader, David Millar, has come to the front of the chasing peloton to try and limit their losses to Jens Voigt who began the day only 46" off the yellow jersey's lead.

13.56 Lead Up to 6'00"

Voigt and Blaudzun's lead is 6'00" as the peloton pass the 54km mark.

13.48 Voigt and Blaudzun Increase Advantage

At the 48th kilometer, Voigt and Blaudzun have taken their lead to five minutes.

13.43 Lead Now Over 4 minutes

Voigt and Blaudzun have a lead of 4'25" at the 46km mark.

13.42 Average Speed For First Hour

The rapid pace of the start is evident in the average speed of the first hour: 44.90kph.

13.41 Lead 3'25" At 42km

Voigt and Blaudzun's lead is now 3'25" at the 42km mark.

13.37 Lead Growing Quickly

Voigt and Blaudzun have taken their advantage over the peloton to 3'00". Voigt began the day at 46" in 12th place. Blaudzun was 92nd at the start of the day 1'48" behind Millar's overall lead.

13.34 Voigt Leads, Virtually

Jens Voigt - one of two early escapees today - began today's stage in 12th position overall. He was 46" behind the lead of Scotland's David Millar. Voigt's current lead of 1'45" means the German Credit Agricole rider is the virtual race leader at the moment.

13.31 Lead Up To 1'45"

Voigt and Blaudzun have taken their advantage over the peloton to 1'45".

13.26 Voigt & Blaudzun Go Further Ahead

The two escapees - Jens Voigt and Michael Blaudzun - have taken their advantage to 1'20".

13.24 50 Second Advantage For Two Leaders

Voigt and Blaudzun have a lead of 50 seconds on the peloton. This time check was at the 32nd kilometer.

13.22 Results of First Sprint

The first intermediate sprint has been contested. The results of the Argenton-l'Eglise sprint (31km) are: 1. Jens Voigt (CA); 2. Michael Blaudzun (Mcj); 3. Stuart O'Grady (CA). O'Grady was 37 seconds behind the two leaders.

13.21 Voigt & Blaudzun Increase Lead

Jens Voigt (Credit Agricole) and Michael Blaudzun (Memory Card) now have a lead of 30 seconds.

13.19 Two Riders Clear

The first successful attack of the day has come from Michael Blaudzun and Jens Voigt. They attacked at the 27th kilometer and they now have a 23 second lead on the peloton.

13.15 Riders Maintain Rapid Pace

The third stage is being raced at an early rapid pace. The riders have already covered 26km - and there has been no successful attack yet.

13.07 Riders Still Bunched Together

The race is now at the 20th kilometer. The peloton is still all together.

13.05 Quick Pace In Today's Stage

By the 17th kilometer there had been no successful attacks thanks mainly to the rapid pace of the race early today.

12.58 Attack Over

The four French riders have already been caught by the peloton.

12.58 Four French Riders Attack

Spurred on by France's win in the European soccer championships last night, four French riders have gone on the attack. They are: Christophe Agnolutto, Anthony Langella, Pascal Derame and Frederic Guesdon.

12.56 The Local Boys

The Bonjour team boasts two local riders today. Both Jean-Cyril Robin - the bronze medallist at last year's world championships - and Frack Bouyer live in Nantes.

12.55 First Attack Amounts To Nothing

Pascal Derame is the first rider to attack today. He is from the Bonjour team which is based in the Vendee region just south of today's stage. His surge lasted only a few hundred meters. The rider was then reeled in by the peloton.

12.49 Weather Conditions

A mild day greets the riders for this third stage. Conditions are slightly overcast, but there is no forecast for rain. The predicted highest temperature in the Loire-Atlantique is 23 degrees (C).

12.47 All Still Together

At the fifth kilometer, the peloton is still together.

12.44 28th Tour Finish In Nantes Today

The site of today's finish, Nantes in the Loire-Atlantique region, has been visited 27 times before in the 87 year history of the Tour de France. The last time was in 1990 when 1986 world champion Moreno Argentin was the stage winner.

12.39 No Withdrawals

The race began with 177 riders still in the race. There were no overnight withdrawals.

12.38 Racing

The riders are through the neutral zone and are now racing in stage three of the 2000 Tour de France.

12.33 Stage Three Rolling In Neutral Zone

Stage three of the Tour de France is about to get underway. The riders are currently in the neutral-zone before the scheduled start-proper at 12.37pm.

12.21 The Sprints Today

The three intermediate sprints today are evenly spaced over the 161.5km course. The 1st is due at Argenton-l'Eglise (31km); the 2nd at Jallais 87.5km) and the 3rd at Bel-Air (128.5km). As always there are six, four and two points on offer for the first three riders across the line.

12.04 Stage Three Commences Shortly

The 161.5km third stage of the Tour de France from Loudun to Nantes is scheduled to start at 12.37pm today. The stage is essentially flat with no climbing points on offer there are, however, three intermediate sprints.