Intro:

Chris Froome took a huge stride towards retaining his Tour de Romandie title by finishing second behind Slovenia’s Simon Špilak on stage three in Aigle, Switzerland, on Friday. Froome is one second behind Špilak in second place but is now firm favourite to win the race for the second year in succession given that he should fare far better than the Katusha rider in Sunday’s race-ending time trial.

Script:

The crucial third stage of the Tour de Romandie got underway in Aigle in Switzerland on Friday.

Vincenzo Nibali of Astana was the first man to make a move with an attack on the lower slopes, 26km out.

But it proved to be a tactical oversight, as Britain Chris Froome made light work of following the Italian and then countering with a far more meaningful attack 25km from home.

Katusha rider Simon Špilak set off in pursuit of the Team Sky rider and bridged across to the 28-year-old with 24km to go.

Špilak outsprinted Froome by half a wheel’s length to take the stage win and ten bonus seconds, which sees him move into the overall race lead, with Froome one second further back in second place.

Špilak -- who likes motor racing -- can expect another sprint finish in Saturday's fourth stage.