Galvez grabs photo-finish verdict
MONTCADA I REIXAC, Spain -- Spaniard Isaac Galvez handed his Baleares team victory on the third stage of the Catalan cycling race after shading German sprinter Erik Zabel on the line.
After two days of Swiss domination, Galvez finally handed the hosts a victory following the 159.5km stage from Castello d'Empuries to here.
Spanish compatriot Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero, of the Saunier Duval team, took the overall race lead after finishing third.
Galvez meanwhile had to wait for a photo finish decision before being told he had beat T-Mobile veteran Zabel, who finished second for the third time in less than a week.
Zabel was sensationally pipped by Oscar Freire for victory in the World Cup-opening Milan-San Remo last Saturday and two days later Fabian Cancellara beat him to claim stage one here.
The final sprint at the finish, however, was marred by a crash which took down American Levi Leipheimer and Denmark's Michael Rasmussen.
Thursday's fourth and penultimate stage is over 179.5 km from Palau Solita i Plegamans to the category one, summit finish of El Port del Comte - a stage which is likely to determine the overall winner.
