OPQS rider Mark Cavendish earned a 3rd place finish in the short, 111km Tour du Poitou-Charentes Stage 3 from Montmorillon to Jourdain on Thursday.
A four-rider escape group had 27" on the peloton with 7km to go, and with 3km to go they still had 12" on the bunch behind. However, inside the flamme rouge OPQS took control and it came down to a group arrival.
Nicola Ruffoni (Bardiani-CSF) won the stage, with Roy Jans (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) 2nd.
Cavendish, after winning the first two stages, remains the overall leader by 14", and also points leader with a 30-point advantage.
OPQS looks next to a 23.4km ITT.