Francaise des Jeux's Bradley McGee won the third stage of the Tour of Switzerland on Monday ahead of Italy's Mirko Celestino and Patrik Sinkewitz of Germany.

German star Jan Ullrich, who stayed tucked away in the peloton, kept hold of the yellow jersey after the end of the 154km stage from Abtwil to St. Anton.

The 29-year-old McGee, a member of the Australian Olympic team pursuit gold medal winning team in Athens in 2004, also gave his team its second win of this year's race following Austrian Bernhard Eisel's victory in the opening stage.

McGee said he was delighted with the way his preparation for the Tour de France was going.

"For the first time I started training for the Tour de France last October," he said. "I am continuing to make progress and in fact I think I am ahead of schedule."

Ullrich stays in yellow

Photo: Agence France Presse

Ullrich, who won Sunday's time-trial, said he had expected McGee to win the stage but had ensured he didn't lose the overall lead by finishing in the leadgroup.

"It is difficult to tell whether I am at a better level or not compared to last year," said Ullrich, the 1997 Tour de France winner and five-time runner-up. "We haven't climbed a tough mountain yet, but the most important thing is that my form progresses."