Matthews seals Paris-Nice stage three win - and overall lead

The Australian was delivered to the front in the final two corners after a perfect lead-out from his Orica-GreenEdge team, who drove the peloton.

Flanked by the Lampre-Merida team, Orica-GreenEdge took up the push in the final five kilometres and, despite a late attack in the final 500 metres, held firm with four riders sitting at the front.

Philippe Gilbert (BMC) and Florian Vachon (Bretagne Seche-Environment) had formed the first attack of the day after nine kilometres.

Team Sky rider Bradley Wiggins and Antoine Duchesne (Europcar) had set off in chase of the leading pair but Wiggins dropped back to the peloton not long after, leaving Duchesne alone in his pursuit – before Matthews made his move. Wiggins eventually finished 48 seconds off the pace in 137th place.

After two top-ten finishes in the previous two stages, Matthews was able to convert the fantastic efforts of his team into a stage win - and claims the yellow jersey.