Ben Healy within striking distance ahead of crucial Bessèges finish | Video

Mads Pedersen wins stage 3 at Etoile de Bessèges and takes the race lead ahead of the crucial finish tomorrow, which should put order on the general classification

Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) remains within striking distance of an overall result, even the leader's jersey, ahead of the decisive finish to tomorrow's stage 4 at Etoile de Bessèges, when order will be put on the general classification.

While there have been plenty of climbs so far, none of them has split the field significantly, though that may change tomorrow as the finish climb is longer.

Healy, who is riding his first race of the season, is back in 17th place, but is just 31 seconds down. And with the final climb to the line in Méjannes-le-Clap tomorrow a 4.4km incline, it should result in some of the in-form sprinters finally being distanced.

If Healy can muster a strong finishing effort he would move up the general classification ahead of the final 10.645km TT in Alès on Sunday. It includes a 2.8km climb to the line, which is a course that could see Healy make more gains if he has the legs.

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On today's stage 3 - some 161km starting and finishing in Bessèges - the field was trimmed back after the riders tackled five categorised climbs, though many of the powerful sprinters survived to fight it out at the finish.

Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) went early in the kick to the line to win after holding off Milan Menten (Lotto Dstny) and Rasmus Tiller (Uno-X Mobility).

Darren Rafferty, the 20-year-old Irish neo pro with EF Education-EasyPost, was once again in action on the front of the bunch helping to bring back the early breakaway.

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Compatriot Dillon Corkery (St Michel-Mavic-Auber 93) also put in a very strong ride, not only surviving in the reduced bunch on a tough day but getting up to contest the finish and placing 22nd.

Rafferty and Healy were 51st and 56th, both on the same time as winner Pedersen. And though Healy lost time on the uphill finish yesterday, if the field splits on the final climb tomorrow, many of those ahead of him on the GC should lose time.

The remaining stages will also be a useful exercise for Rafferty and Corkery, especially Sunday's TT, where Irish U23 champion Rafferty will get to test his level against the professional riders for the first time.

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