Armstrong strikes while Contador snoozes - Armstrong up to 3rd

SHOOT: Brilliant move from Columbia, and great that Lance was alert to the opportunity. Armstrong now leads his Astana teammate by 19 seconds. Kloden is 6th.

Plus: How Lance escapedtoday and why he'll be in yellow tomorrow

clipped from ca.reuters.com LA GRANDE MOTTE, France (Reuters) - Briton Mark Cavendish won the Tour de France third stage while seven-times champion Lance Armstrong climbed up to third overall in the standings on Monday. Cavendish, who also won the stage on Sunday, outsprinted Norway's Thor Hushovd after 196.5 kms from Marseille to La Grande Motte, with France's Cyril Lemoine coming home third. Hot favorite Alberto Contador, who was trapped behind after a sharp acceleration by Cavendish's Team Columbia by the end of the stage, dropped to fourth overall, 59 seconds off the pace. The peloton split into two parts some 40 kms from the finish after a sudden acceleration by Team Columbia that surprised almost all the favorites, including Contador. Among top contenders, only Armstrong, back on the saddle after 3-1/2 years in retirement, was in the front group of some 25 riders who caught four early fugitives. Popovych and Zubeldia started to work with Columbia as the gap finally reached 41 seconds on the finish line.