Belgian rider Giani Meersman of the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling team used fresh legs to sprint pass a group of eight riders with 700 meters to go to win Stage Three of the 2007 Tour de Georgia. David Canada Gracia (Spain) of Prodir-Saunier Duval finished second and Meersman’s teammate Janez Brajkovic (Slovenia) finished third in the stage.

On the strength of his second place performance in Stage Three, Canada Gracia will take over as the General Classification leader and will wear the AT&T Overall Leader Jersey. Rounding out the Top Three in G.C. are Swiss rider Rubens Bertogliati of Prodir-Saunier Duval and American Christian VandeVelde of Team CSC. Many notable riders moved down in the G.C., and are over 29 minutes back after Stage Three: Levi Leipheimer (21st), Tom Danielson (22nd), David Zabriskie (24th), and George Hincapie (25th). Tinkoff Credit Systems’ Daniele Contrini, the former G.C. leader, dropped to 14th place.