MADRID (AFP) - Argentina's Juan Jose Haedo, of the CSC team, won the third stage of the Tour of Murcia on Thursday, a 146km run from Puerto Lumbreras to San Pedro del Pinatar.

Spain's Aitor Perez, of the Extremadura team, keeps the overall leader's yellow jersey.

The 27-year-old Haedo, a professional rider since 2003, came out on top in a sprint finish which involved Spain's Koldo Fernandez de Larrea and Australian rider Graeme Brown, the winner of Tuesday's first stage.

Alejandro Valverde, the Tour of Murcia winner in 2004 and 2007, slipped to ninth overall from fifth place but six seconds behind Perez.