Ivan Garcia Cortina of Spain managed a surprise win on the third stage of the Paris-Nice ©Getty Images

Ivan Garcia Cortina of Spain managed a surprise win on the third stage of the Paris-Nice, an International Cycling Union WorldTour race.

The 24-year-old earned only his second professional victory on the third stage, a 214 kilometres course from Chalette-sur-Loing to La Châtre.

He took advantage of a crash between Caleb Ewan of Australia and Ireland's Sam Bennett, both of whom were in the lead in the finishing lead.

Garcia Cortina took the lead, holding off a challenge from Slovakian three-time world champion Peter Sagan to cross the line in 5 hours 49min 55sec. 

Sagan took second place, while Andrea Pasqualon of Italy finished third. 

Garcia Cortina's first victory came during a stage of last year's Tour of California. 

Ivan Garcia Cortina of Spain earned his second professional victory on the Paris-Nice third stage ©Getty Images
Ivan Garcia Cortina of Spain earned his second professional victory on the Paris-Nice third stage ©Getty Images

Germany's Max Schachmann, winner of the first stage, kept the leader's jersey with a total time of 13:12:01.

Stage two winner Giacomo Nizzolo of Italy is second, with Jonathan Hivert of France in third. 

Competition is due to continue tomorrow with the fourth stage, a 15.1km individual time trial in Saint-Amand-Montrond.

The race has been impacted by the outbreak of coronavirus, with organisers introducing measures to comply with the French Government's ban on gatherings of more than 1,000 people.

Public access is being restricted at the start and end of each stage.