The race from Saint-Paulien to Chastriex-Sancy was won by Frenchman David Gaudu in the final few metres, nudging ahead of an already-celebrating Van Aert to clinch the gruelling 169-kilometre stage with a time of 4 hours 9 min 38 sec.

It leaves Gaudu, riding for Groupama-FDJ, second in the overall standings after his first-ever stage win in the competition, six seconds behind Van Aert's leading time of 12 hours 50min 32sec.

The sprint finish was far more congested than yesterday's race with 27 riders crossing within a second of Gaudu.

Van Aert's position at the front of the bundle meant that, despite his last-gasp defeat, he built a sizeable lead for the first time in the competition and took back the yellow jersey that he wore on the second stage.

"I was a bit far behind for the final stretch, I thought I couldn’t do it", Gaudu said. 

"Then Kevin Geniets arrived and I followed his wheel. 

"I felt I had strength, I saw Van Aert was going well but I told myself I was gonna get him. 

"And I did it."

France's Alexis Vuillermoz, the winner of stage two yesterday, was unable to keep pace with the leading group with a few kilometres to go and ended up finishing back in 43rd place. 

The green jersey was awarded to Great Britain's Ethan Hayter, riding for Ineos Grenadiers, whilst the USA's Matteo Jorgenson, who rode to ninth on the day and represents Movistar Team, assumed the white jersey as the competition's best young rider. 

For the third stage running, B&B Hotels p/b KTM's Pierre Rolland of France kept the blue, dotted best climber jersey.

Tomorrow's fourth stage of the 74th Critérium du Dauphiné, which departs from Montbrison and ends in La Bâtie d'Urfé, is an individual time trial of 31.9 km, by far the shortest stage of the whole event.

Totalling 1,194.4 km and running until Sunday (June 12), the Dauphiné represents an important warm-up for the Tour de France, which is scheduled to begin on July 1.