MONT BROUILLY, France (AP) Heavy snow and cold temperatures forced the third stage of the Paris-Nice cycling race to be cancelled on Wednesday.
Organizers said the front-runners were on the day's third climb when the race jury decided it was too dangerous to continue the hilly 168-kilometer (104-mile) stage from Cusset to Mont Brouilly in the Beaujolais wine region.
Television images showed concerned riders talking to each other as the snow fell on them, before heading back to their team cars with about 70 kilometers (43 miles) remaining.
Overnight leader Michael Matthews of Australia, who won Tuesday's second stage to go with Sunday's prologue, led Tom Dumoulin of the Netherlands by 14 seconds, with Patrick Bevin of New Zealand in third place, 19 seconds off the pace.
The race ends on Sunday in Nice.
