Kamiel Bonneu bags stage three on Tour of Britain

Belgian Kamiel Bonneu produced a late attack to claim victory after a four-man breakaway on stage three of the Tour of Britain in Sunderland.

Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise rider Bonneu, 23, made his move over the final kilometre to beat Ben Perry (Wiv SunGod), Alexandar Richardson (Saint Piran) and Mathijs Paasschens (Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB) at Keel Square.

Starting at Durham and running over 163.6km via Chapel Fell in the northern Pennines, including a category three climb at High Moorsley, Tuesday's course was expected to present a first conventional bunch sprint finish.

However, after breaking clear on the approach to Tow Law, the four-man group took a three-and-a-half-minute lead over the peloton into the closing stages through heavy rain.

Although that was down to around a minute when heading into the final kilometre, the breakaway were not able to be pulled back in as Bonneau sprinted clear, with Perry just taking second in front of Richardson.

Corbin Strong (Israel Premier Tech) retained the overall general classification lead, although now only ahead of Canadian Perry – who is on the same time – through bonus points.

Ireland's Matthew Teggart (Wiv SunGod) finished 71st on the stage, six places ahead of compatriot and team-mate Rory Townsend.

Teggart still leads the sprint classification and remarkably occupies fourth spot in the race to be crowned King of the Mountains.