Chris Froome maintains Tour de Romandie lead after stage three

Team Sky's Chris Froome finished safely within the peloton on stage three of the Tour de Romandie to maintain his six-second overall lead.

There were several attempted breakaways during three climbs in the final 40km of the stage, but Froome and his team-mates worked hard to close the gaps.

Omega Pharma-Quick-Step's Gianni Meersman moved into third overall after claiming his second stage win.

Garmin's Andrew Galansky remains second after finishing in the peloton.

Froome, who has led at the end of each stage since winning the prologue, told Team Sky's website: "I've had the luxury of just sitting on the wheels for the past three days. And I have literally had a wheel to sit on all day, every day. The only time I was in the wind was in the prologue.

"It's been good for me but obviously there's no such thing as an easy day here. The other teams have been attacking us and the guys have really dug deep every day. They've been fantastic.

"The guys are tired but I'd like to think everyone is pretty tired at this point in the race."

After three testing circuits around Payerne over 181km, Meersman saw off Francesco Gavazzi and Michael Albasini on the line to claim the stage win.

On Saturday, the riders will take on the mountainous stage from Marly to Les Diablerets which features four category one climbs.

Froome added: "With Saturday being the queen stage it means it's all to be decided, I think, especially with bad weather moving in and up at those altitudes of around 2,000m. We're going up some pretty big climbs."

Tour de Romandie classification (after stage two):

1. Chris Froome (Britain/Team Sky) 13:53:16"

2. Andrew Talansky (US/ Garmin) +6"

3. Gianni Meersman (Belgium/Omega Pharma-Quick Step) +9"

4. Robert Kiserlovski (Croatia/RadioShack) +13"

5. Richie Porte (Australia/Team Sky) +15"

6. Rui Costa (Portugal/Movistar) +16"

7. Thibaut Pinot (France/FDJ) +17"

8. Stef Clement (Netherlands/Blanco)

9. Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar)

10. Tom Danielson (US/Garmin)