ARLESHEIM, Switzerland (AFP) -- Belgium's Nick Nuyens of Quick Step won the third stage of the Tour of Switzerland at Arlesheim on Monday and also claimed the leader's jersey.

Nuyens beat fellow escapees Koldo Gil of Spain and Germans Linus Gerdemann and Jorg Jakshe in a sprint finish.

The peloton, led home by Spaniard Oscar Freire, crossed the line 11 seconds behind the lead breakaway.

Thanks to bonus seconds for winning the stage, Nuyens did just enough to overhaul Italy's Daniele Bennati to claim the leader's jersey.

The breakaway group made their move with 20km to race of the 187.5km stage during a mountainous part of the course.

Until then, Tour de France hopeful Jan Ullrich had been riding well at the head of the pack alongside Luxembourg's Frank Schleck.

Nuyens, whose team leader is Belgian sprint king Tom Boonen, barely contributed to the breakaway and thus benefited from the freshest legs in the sprint finish.

The 26-year-old has already won several classics during his career including Paris-Brussels in 2004 and Het Volk last year.