Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara has regained the Tour de France yellow jersey that he ceded on Monday to France’s Sylvain Chavanel.

Cancellara, who finished the bumpy third stage over cobblestones in a five-man group behind Thor Hushovd of Norway, was delighted to retrieve the leader's jersey.

"Yesterday I gave it up, today I took it," he said. "We can call it a good day for Saxo Bank despite the loss of Frank, a great friend."

Frank Schleck of Luxembourg, who won the Tour of Switzerland last month, crashed on the fourth of seven sectors of cobbles. His Saxo Bank team said he was out of the race and taken to a hospital.

Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong was held up by a flat tire and lost time to other title contenders.

Chavanel wore the yellow jersey for Tuesday's 213-kilometre ride as the race headed from Wanze, Belgium, to Arenberg Porte du Hainaut in France. But the Frenchman had to cope with two flat tires, along with a mechanical problem, and lost time on Cancellara.

In the overall standings, Cancellara leads second-place Geraint Thomas by 23 seconds and two-time Tour runner-up Cadel Evans by 39. Defending Tour champion Alberto Contador is ninth, 1:40 back, and Armstrong tumbled to 18th, 2:30 back.

The three-week race ends in Paris on July 25.

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