Mark Cavendish beaten by team-mate Edvald Boasson Hagen

Mark Cavendish was outshone by his Team Sky team-mate on the third stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico as Edvald Boasson Hagen sprinted to victory.

Cavendish, who won the previous day's stage, picked up a two-second bonus by winning an intermediary sprint, but did not feature in the day's finale.

"I was supposed to be his leadout man but he wasn't feeling so great," said Boasson Hagen.

Germany's Andre Greipel was second with Matthew Goss still in the overall lead.

Cavendish, who switched to Sky from the now-disbanded HTC-Highroad team in October, said Boasson Hagen could also be a contender for the season's opening single-day classic - the Milan-San Remo - on 17 March.

"It was better for Boasson Hagen today. The team is strong. It could be me or it could be him,'' he said.

The Tirreno-Adriatico ends on Tuesday with a 5.78-mile individual time trial in San Benedetto del Tronto, on the Adriatic coast.

Stage results:

1. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Norway / Team Sky) 4hrs 45mins 31secs

2. Andre Greipel (Germany / Lotto) same time

3. Peter Sagan (Slovakia / Liquigas)

4. Tyler Farrar (U.S. / Garmin)

5. Manuel Belletti (Italy / AG2R)

6. Matthew Goss (Australia / GreenEdge)

7. Kenny van Hummel (Netherlands / Vacansoleil)

8. Francisco Ventoso (Spain / Movistar)

9. Elia Favilli (Italy / Farnese Vini)

10. Wout Poels (Netherlands / Vacansoleil) +3secs

Overall standings

1. Matthew Goss (Australia / GreenEdge) 11hrs 36 mins 44 secs

2. Stuart O'Grady (Australia / GreenEdge) +3"

3. Cameron Meyer (Australia / GreenEdge)

4. Sebastian Langeveld (Netherlands / GreenEdge)

5. Tyler Farrar (U.S. / Garmin) +13"

6. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Norway / Team Sky)

7. Mark Cavendish (Britain / Team Sky) +14"

8. Chris Horner (U.S. / RadioShack) +20"

9. Daniele Bennati (Italy / RadioShack)

10. Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland / RadioShack)