BMC win Dauphine TTT

Montagny - American world champions BMC won Tuesday's team time-trial third stage of the Criterium du Dauphine, edging the riders from rivals Astana in the 24.5km ride from Roanne to Montagny. 

Australian BMC rider Rohan Dennis becomes the new race leader and takes the yellow jersey following a stage similiar to that scheduled for day nine of the Tour de France in July.

Defending Tour de France champion Vincenzo Nibali and his Astana team finished just four seconds back while the Movistar team led by Spaniard Alejandro Valverde were at 5 seconds. 

British team Sky and their leader Chris Froome could only manage sixth place at 35 seconds on a rolling route that included a slight climb to the finish. 

In the overall standings, the 25-year-old Dennis leads American team-mate Tejay Van Garderen, with both riders having the same time, while Ukrainian Andriy Grivko is third and Nibali fourth, both in a group of five cyclists at 4 seconds. 

Wednesday's fourth stage will see the peloton encounter their longest day in the saddle as they ride 228km from Anneyron to Sisteron.

Results from the third stage of the Criterium du Dauphine on Tuesday, a 24.5km team time-trial from Roanne to Montagny:

Stage

1. BMC 29min 58sec, 2. Astana at 04sec, 3. Movistar 05, 4. Etixx 18, 5. Orica 23, 6. Sky 35, 7. Cannondale 43, 8. Lampre 47, 9. IAM 50, 10. Lotto NL 54, 11. Bora 54, 12. Lotto 59, 13. AG2R La Mondiale 1:00, 14. Katusha 1:05, 15. MTN-Qhubeka 1:07, 16. Europcar 1:08, 17. Trek 1:14, 18. Giant 1:18, 19. Tinkoff 1:30, 20. FDJ 1:36, 21. Cofidis 1:49

Overall

1. Rohan Dennis (AUS/BMC) 8hr 00min 37sec, 2. Tejay Van Garderen (USA/BMC) same time, 3. Andriy Grivko (UKR/AST) at 04sec, 4. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/AST) 04, 5. Lieuwe Westra (NED/AST) 04, 6. Rein Taaramae (EST/AST) 04, 7. Michele Scarponi (ITA/AST) 04, 8. Gorka Izagirre (ESP/MOV) 05, 9. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) 05, 10. John Gadret (FRA/MOV) 05