Geraint Thomas second at Volta ao Algarve as Tony Martin takes lead

Britain's Geraint Thomas stayed second at the Volta ao Algarve in Portugal after finishing third on stage three's individual time trial, as Tony Martin took the overall race lead.

Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo) claimed victory on the day by stopping the clock on a flat, 18km course starting and ending in Sagres in 20min 57sec, which was five seconds faster than runner-up Martin (Etixx - Quick-Step) and 28 seconds ahead of Thomas (Team Sky).

The result moved Martin to the top of the general classification, three seconds ahead of Thomas and 20 seconds in front of third-placed Ion Izagirre (Movistar).

Cancellara said: "I just powered everything out. I was going 70kmh on certain parts of the course back to the finish. I don't know if you can say I calculated the pace; I knew it was going to be a 21-minute race and I just gave it all knowing what the effort would be."

Former race leader Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) crashed in the closing kilometres of the course and had to be taken to hospital.

A tweet from his Astana team said: "Luis Leon Sanchez is now at the hospital and he is ok, apart from the cut on his chin. Waiting for the examinations."

Thomas' closest pre-race rivals for overall victory suffered another difficult day. Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) finished 1min 3sec down in 13th and is now 1min 7sec back overall, while Fabio Aru (Astana) finished 1min 47sec adrift in 47th and is now 1min 42sec off the lead.

There were two Britons in the top 10 on the day, after Alex Dowsett (Movistar) finished seventh, 40 seconds down on Cancellara.

The five-day race continues on Saturday with a flat, 194km fourth stage ending in Tavira.

Stage three result

1 Fabian Cancellara (Sui) Trek-Segafredo, 20:57

2 Tony Martin (Ger) Etixx - Quick-Step, +5sec

3 Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky, +28

4 Ion Izagirre (Esp) Movistar, +37

5 Nelson Oliveira (Por) Movistar, st

General classification

1 Tony Martin (Ger) Etixx - Quick-Step, 9:22:17

2 Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky, +3

3 Ion Izagirre (Esp) Movistar, +20

4 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto Soudal, +46

5 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ.fr, +47

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