British duo Simon Yates (Orica-GreenEDGE) and Ben Swift (Team Sky) had earlier been part of a large breakaway which formed early in the race.

Both were back in the peloton by the time the race was abandoned, however – Yates’ having only been 37 seconds behind team-mate and race leader Michael Matthews when the stage began.

Así estaban las condiciones en #ParisNice al neutralizar la carrera (vía @juanjolobato, hoy en el coche de equipo). pic.twitter.com/YCBMmtDDFP

— Movistar Team (@Movistar_Team) March 9, 2016

Matthews had suffered an earlier scare too, when Movistar ramped the pace up and successfully split the peloton in two – the yellow jersey caught in the second group.

That too had regrouped, however, and with the decision taken to abandon the stage the race situation is ‘as you were’ ahead of an expected sprint finish on stage four.

Paris-Nice 2016: general classification after stage three

1) Michael Matthews (AUS) – Orica-GreenEDGE – 9.41.46hrs
2) Tom Dumoulin (NED) – Giant-Alpecin +14”
3) Patrick Bevin (NZL) – Cannondale +19”
4) Ion Izagirre (ESP) – Movistar – ST
5) Geraint Thomas (GBR)
6) Lieuwe Westra (NED) – Astana +24”
7) Dries Devenyns (BEL) – IAM Cycling +25”
8) Arnaud Demare (FRA) – FDJ – ST
9) Rafal Majka (POL) – Tinkoff +27”
10) Richie Porte (AUS) – BMC Racing – ST