Thor Hushovd finished 8th in yesterday's third stage of the Paris-Nice to record his second straight top 10 finish. The pure bunch sprints may now be over in the French race but the Norwegian and his team are still hopeful that their will be a chance for their versatile sprinter to win a stage.

Thor Hushovd registered his second straight top 10 finish at Paris-Nice Tuesday with eighth place in the race's third straight bunch sprint.

Finishing on the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours – home of the French Grand Prix between 1991 and 2008 – the 180-kilometer race started in Toucy, gateway to the Puisaye region.

Romain Feillu (Bretagne-Seche Environnement), Julien Fouchard (Cofidis, Solutions Credits) and Perrig Quemeneur (Team Europcar) took off after 2.5 km and the last of them – Quemeneur – was not caught until two kilometers to go. John Degenkolb (Team Giant-Shimano) won the stage ahead of Matthew Goss (ORICA-GreenEDGE) and Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar Team). Hushovd's result added to a fifth-place finish on Monday.

On the strength of a time bonus, Degenkolb took the race lead from Stage 1 winner Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ.fr), who is eight seconds back. Moreno Hofland (Belkin Pro Cycling) is third, at 12 seconds. Greg Van Avermaet is best-placed for the BMC Racing Team in 14th, 25 seconds off the lead.

"It was quite a fast finish, with some tricky corners," Hushovd said. "You weren't sure if you could go fast through them or if you would have to brake. I tried to fight and stay up there. It was not easy. I think I came from too far behind out of the last corner. I tried in the bunch sprints, but at the moment, there are riders faster than me. Now I will take it day-by-day. If there is an opportunity, I will take it."

"It was the last stage for the sprinters," sports director Yvon Ledanois said. "Thor was top 10 today, but it is also possible for him to win a stage tomorrow or the next day. I am happy that it was a recovery day for Peter Stetina, for Peter Velits, for Steve Cummings and Greg Van Avermaet. Now the objective – the start of Paris-Nice – is tomorrow."

You can read our preview of today's stage here and follow our live coverage at 14.25 CET on CyclingQuotes.com/live.