Caleb Ewan produces late surge to clinch Stage 3 of the Tour de France – in pictures

Australian rider beats Bennett to the line as Alaphilippe retained the overall leader's yellow jersey

Lotto Soudal rider Caleb Ewan wins stage 3 of the Tour de France, ahead of Deceuninck-Quick Step's Sam Bennett, on Monday August 31. Reuters

Australian rider Caleb Ewan celebrates his win. EPA

Australian rider Caleb Ewan celebrates victory. Reuters

French rider Julian Alaphilippe retained the yellow jersey. EPA

Julian Alaphilippe, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, during Stage 3. PA

The peloton during Stage 3 of the Tour de France. AFP

Escapee Team Total Direct Energie rider Jerome Cousin during stage 3. AFP

The peloton during Stage 3 of the Tour de France. AFP

France's Julian Alaphilippe, right, during Stage 3. AFP

Julian Alaphillippe, in the yellow jersey, in the peloton during Stage 3. AFP

The peloton during Stage 3 of the Tour de France. AFP

French rider Anthony Perez after a crash. PA

The peloton during Stage 3 of the Tour de France. AP

A spectator watches the peloton pass. AFP

Yellow jersey holder Julian Alaphilippe with the peolton on Stage 3. AFP

The peloton during Stage 3 of the Tour de France. AP

UAE Team Emirates rider Alexander Kristoff, in green jersey, during Stage 3. EPA

The peloton during Stage 3 of the Tour de France. PA

The peloton during Stage 3 of the Tour de France. Reuters

The peloton during Stage 3 of the Tour de France. Reuters

Australian Caleb Ewan timed his effort to perfection to win the Stage 3 of the Tour de France in a bunch sprint at the end of a 198-km hilly ride through the Alpine foothills on Monday.

Sam Bennett looked in control but the Irishman had probably underestimated the headwind and settled for second place as he watched Lotto-Soudal fastman Ewan whizz around him to snatch his fourth stage win on the Tour.

Italian Giacomo Nizzolo took third place, while France's Julian Alaphilippe retained the overall leader's yellow jersey.

"In the last kilometre I was a little bit too far forward so I dropped back a bit into the wheels then that gave me a bit of time just to rest the legs a little bit," Ewan said.

"In the end it worked perfectly. Coming from behind is a bit of a risk but I found my way through the barrier and I came with a lot of speed."

Tuesday's fourth stage is a 160.5-km effort from Sisteron to Orcieres-Merlette for the first summit finish of the race, with Briton Adam Yates, who trails Alaphilippe by four seconds overall, eyeing the yellow jersey.