Reynes wins third Paris-Nice stage
 |  Reynes celebrates after sprinting clear to take the third stage |
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CRAPONNE-SUR-ARZON, France -- Spaniard Vicente Reynes won the third stage of the Paris to Nice cycle race with Belgium's Tom Boonen retaining the overall lead.
Reynes clinched victory in a sprint, after bad weather had forced organizers to shorten the distance to 118 kilometres.
He nudged over the line ahead of Italy's Guido Trenti and U.S. champion Fred Rodriguez.
The 23-year-old Spaniard from Majorca turned pro in 2003 and won his first senior victory after a series of promising results in February.
"I want to dedicate my win to my father," said Reynes.
"Winning a stage in such a big race like Paris-Nice is like a dream come true.
"I never thought I could do it. It's going to boost my morale and it will give me extra motivation to help (Iles Baleares teammate) Alejandro Valverde win the race."
The field was due to ride 180 kilometers from Thiers to the mountainous village of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, but the stage was reduced to 118 kilometers because of snow.
"It is impossible to reach Le Chambon, so we decided to move the finish line to Craponne-sur-Auzon," said race director Jean-Francois Pescheux.
"The starting line is still at Thiers where we arrived yesterday."
The change means the start of the Thursday's fourth stage, scheduled to take place at Le Chambon, will also be moved.
On Tuesday, Paris-Nice officials decided to cut down the second stage from 191 to 46.5 kilometers for the same reasons.
Petacchi wins Tirreno-Adriatico stage
Italy's Alessandro Petacchi won the first stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico cycle race on Wednesday, a 160-km test around Civitavecchia.
Petacchi beat Bernhard Eisel of Austria, Robbie McEwen of Australia and world champion Oscar Freire of Spain in a mass sprint finish
It was Petacchi's ninth win of the 2005 season. Petacchi will wear the race leader's jersey going into Thursday's second stage from Civitavecchia to Tivoli.
