Cycling: Roulston helps teammate to second place

New Zealand cyclist Hayden Roulston continues to ride above his weight in the Tour de France, almost helping his team's sprints contender, Thor Hushovd, win this morning's (NZtime) third stage.

Nearly all of the favourites were surprised when all nine of the Columbia team put in a sudden burst of acceleration in strong crosswinds to split the main pack with 30km to go.

But Roulston was at Hushovd's wheel as the Cervelo riders sneaked into the 28-rider breakaway that pulled clear in the flat but very windy 196.5km stage from Marseille to La Grande-Motte.

Fellow-Kiwi Julian Dean had performed the same job in yesterday's second stage for his Garmin team's sprinter Tyler Farrar, but it was again Columbia's sprinter Mark Cavendish who took the line honours for the second day in a row with a big kick.

Briton Cavendish timed five hours one minute 24 seconds with Hushovd second among the lead group of 25, all credited with Cavendish's time of five hours one minute 24 seconds.

Roulston, having led Hushovd out to 1km from the finish before releasing the big Norwegian, came home 11 seconds behind with Dean another 30sec behind his countryman in 136th.

The win strengthened Cavendish's points classification leader's green jersey and his teammate, German Tony Martin, climbed to second in the overall standings, 33 seconds behind Swiss Fabian Cancellara.

Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong was the big mover today, with the American star's stage placing of 19th seeing him improve to third on general classification, 40sec behind Cancellara.

Cancellara leads with a time of 9hr 50min 58sec, while Roulston is 2min 28sec back in 46th and Dean is at 2min 52sec in 125th.

"Everybody knew the wind was going to play a factor today," Roulston said.

"Columbia moved to the front and as soon as they turned a right corner they turned on the gas."

When the break happened, Roulston found himself unsure whether he should stay with Hushovd or go back to look after team leader Carlos Sastre, the defending tour champion.

He was told to stay with the break and helped Hushovd to the back of Cavendish's wheel as the countdown to the final sprint built up before sitting up and cruising home to conserve his energy for tomorrow's vital team time trial.

"It was good that I was there with Thor. It was good that Thor was second, but we have to say that Cavendish was just faster. You have to be smart to beat him."

- NZPA