Levi Leipheimer bumped wheels with Lance Armstrong, but recovered to maintain his lead after Thor Hushovd won the third stage on Tuesday in the rain-soaked Tour of California.

Hushovd claimed the 163-kilometre stage from San Jose to Modesto in 4 hours, 28 minutes and 12 seconds, after which two-time winner Leipheimer of the United States was still 24 seconds ahead of Australian Michael Rogers.

Oscar Freire of Spain was second in the stage and Mark Renshaw of Australia was third in the same time.

Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, who began the day fourth overall, finished in the main group with Leipheimer. Armstrong remained 30 seconds behind his teammate Leipheimer.

Armstrong wasn't available after the stage, but Astana team spokesman Phillipe Maertens said Armstrong spent the day "working for Levi. There was nothing special today."

Race organizers shortened the stage for safety reasons by eliminating the second of two finishing circuits and reducing the length of the neutralized stage start.

For the third straight day, strong rain fell throughout the stage, and it took its toll. American riders Ted King, Omer Kim and Ian Macgregor individually crashed during the stage and abandoned the race.

Leipheimer and numerous other riders crashed when Leipheimer and Armstrong bumped wheels, but Leipheimer received a new bike and quickly returned to the field.

"It was my fault," Leipheimer said. "Usually, you can put your foot down, but not today. I just didn't concentrate for a second. I landed on my butt. It hurts, but nothing's broken, so it's no big deal. It's racing etiquette not to attack when the race leader crashes, so I just took my time."

Rogers, a three-time world time-trial titlist, also finished in the main field and has five stages of the nine-stage race remaining to reduce his deficit.

American David Zabriskie is third overall, trailing by 28 seconds.

Hushovd, a six-time stage winner on the Tour de France, jumped to the front of the large pack with about 150 metres left.