Geraint Thomas lost time on two of his Tour de France rivals as France’s Julian Alaphilippe took the yellow jersey with a solo win on stage three.
Thomas lost five seconds to his Ineos co-leader Egan Bernal and France’s Thibaut Pinot at the finish in Epernay.
Alaphilippe’s late attack on the Cote de Mutigny saw him ride clear of the peloton to win by 26 seconds.
Australia’s Michael Matthews and Belgium’s Jasper Stuyven were second and third.
Defending champion Thomas stayed out of trouble on the 215km stage which travelled from Belgium into the heart of France’s champagne region.