There was near perfection for Team Sky amid the chaos of a colossal crash as Chris Froome took the Tour de France yellow jersey yesterday.

The 2013 champion stole further valuable seconds from his rivals for overall glory by finishing second to Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) on the 159.5-kilometres third stage from Antwerp to the vicious, 1.3km sharp ascent of the concluding Mur de Huy.

"The strategy for this stage today played out perfectly - well, apart from he could've won it," Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford said.

"He's a little bit frustrated he didn't go sooner, because he wanted to win it."

Froome leads Tony Martin (Etixx-QuickStep) by one second after receiving a six-second time bonus for placing second to Rodriguez.

He may not keep the maillot jaune for long, but Froome's advantage over his three big rivals for victory in Paris on July 26 is significant.

Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo), defending champion Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar) trail by 36secs, 1min 38secs and 1:56, respectively.

"I really didn't expect it to be that significant to get into yellow," said Froome.

"Today was treacherous, lots of crashes again. I just couldn't be happier to be in yellow going into the cobbled stage tomorrow."

The day was marred by two high-speed crashes, the biggest of which taking out Fabian Cancellara (Trek), Froome's predecessor in the maillot jaune.

FDJ rider William Bonnet crossed wheels and tumbled over his handlebars and a domino effect followed, with numerous riders crashing to the Tarmac.

Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin), Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge) and Dmitry Kozontchuk (Katusha) joined Frenchman Bonnet in abandoning the race.

Confusion followed as race director Christian Prudhomme first neutralised the race, then waved the riders on.

Next Prudhomme appeared through his sunroof once again to stop the race as the race medics were occupied treating the wounded.

Brailsford does not believe it has set a precedent.

He said: "It was a decision based on safety. I don't think for one second you can go down the road of 'well, what happens if there's a crash tomorrow?' It just doesn't stack up."

Cancellara, meanwhile, was among the riders to leave for hospital for assessment of his wounds.

And later he announced his injuries would rule him out of the rest of the Tour.

He wrote on Twitter: "Just left the hospital with a huge disappointment. TDF2015 is over broke some bones on my back again as in spring."