Some days it pays to take chances and in the third stage of the Volta ComunidadValenciana on Thursday an early gamble paid off nicely for Kaiku’sAndoni Aranaga and David Blanco (Valencia-Kelme).Blanco charged out of the main field just 2.5km into the day’s stage. He was joined by Aranaga at 10km and the two set about building what turned into a solid 15-minute lead.Usually able to calculate precisely when to pull in a break, the FassaBortolo team of race leader Alessandro Petacchi waited just a little too long to begin its chase and the two escapees managed to reach the finish with a margin of 3:45 over the main field. Petacchi took the field sprint, adding a few precious bonus seconds to his grip on the overall lead and racking up sprinters points to add to those he earned winning the tour’s opening two stages.Petacchi held on to his overall lead, Thursday, as both of the day’sleaders had lost substantial time in the first two stages.Stage 3
1. Andoni Aranaga (Sp) Kaiku) 3:47:43
2. David Blanco (Sp) Valencia-Kelme, s.t.
3. Alessandro Petacchi (I) Fassa Bortolo, at 3:45
4. Luciano Pagliarini (Brz) Liquigas, s.t.
5. Francisco José Ventoso (Sp) Saunier Duval s.t.Overall after three stages
1. Alessandro Petacchi (I) Fassa Bortolo 12:05:27
2. Constantino Zaballa (Sp) Saunier Duval, at 0:13
3. Miguel Angel Perdiguero (Sp) Phonak, 0:20
4. Thomas Dekker (Nl) Rabobank, at 0:25
5. Antonio Colom (Sp) Illes Balears - Banesto  s.t.