I'm reading this as though you were in the winning break with others and took 3rd, no shame in that. The winner utilized your efforts and used you for a leadout, which is simply racing smarter than you. Learn from it, and use it in your future races.
A thing about breakaways (I've been guilty of many times) is that participants often have a tendancy to work too hard in an effort to make a break stick, then get dropped, swallowed by the field or a chase, or punked in the last 200M by other breakaway group members that utilized their energy more efficiently. When in a break, do your share, but that doesnt mean you should do more than anyone else. (Lots of exceptions depending on circumstance).