Sam Bennett romps in on uphill finish for fourth win of season | Video | Sticky Bottle

*Sam Bennett may have been gasping on the ground after the stage, but the Irishman stood up strongly today, after being attacked repeatedly on lumpy terrain, and won the day*

Sam Bennett (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) has withstood a flurry of attacks aimed at dropping him on stage 3 at Région Pays de la Loire Tour (2.1) on his way to his fourth victory of the campaign.

The Irish rider was impressive in the final of stage 3 today, proving strongest on what was a hard uphill finish that split the race, but proved no problem for Bennett.

Indeed, though he came under attack from Arkéa-B&B Hotels, whose Victor Guernalec started the stage equal on time with Bennett, the Irish man in the yellow jersey was able to defend; keeping his place in the front group before pulling the trigger to win again.

Indeed, as gaps opened in the field on the uphill kick to the line in Hambers after 166km of racing, and Bennett took a time bonus for winning, he has now extended his overall lead.

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He now has yellow, with just one stage remaining, by 14 seconds from today's runner-up, German 23-year-old Henri Uhlig (Alpecin-Deceuninck) with Ewen Costiou (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) in 3rd at 16 seconds; the French 22-year-old finishing 3rd today after going early on the climb in pursuit of the stage win.

More to come.