Lampre’s Daniele Bennati won the 227.3-kilometer third stage of the Tour of Germany from Bodenmais to the Austrian city of Kufstein on Wednesday.

A frantic sprint at the end of the Tour’s longest stage saw the 24-year-old Bennati triumph ahead of compatriot and QuickStep rider Filippo Pozatto who had won Tuesday's second stage.

Pozatto’s QuickStep teammate Bram Tankink of the Netherlands retains the yellow jersey he has held since winning the opening stage. T-Mobile captain Jan Ullrich lies 23 seconds behind Tankink after finishing amongst the main group of riders.

American Bobby Julich (CSC) has quietly moved into fifth place overall and could be poised to repeat his recent final-day victory at the Tour de Benelux.

The mountainous 171.6km fourth stage from Kufstein to Solden on Thursday is widely regarded as the German Tour’s make or break stage and is bound to shake up the overall standings.

Tankink remains in yellow for another day, but what's that looming over his shoulder?

Photo: AFP

Stage Results
1. Daniele Bennati, Lampre, 05:12:04
2. Filippo Pozzato, Quickstep
3. Sebastian Siedler, Team Wiesenhof
4. Luciano André Pagliarini, Liquigas-Bianchi
5. Baden Cooke, Francaise des Jeux
6. Roger Hammond, Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
7. Sébastien Hinault, Credit Agricole
8. Philippe Gilbert, Francaise des Jeux
9. Rony Martias, Bouygues Telecom
10. Enrico Grigoli, Domina Vacanze
FullResults

Overall, after three stages
1. Bram Tankink, Quickstep, 14:04:53
2. Filippo Pozzato, Quickstep, at 0:07
3. Jörg Jaksche, Liberty Seguros, at 0:17
4. Mauricio Ardila Cano A., Davitamon-Lotto, at 0:19
5. Bobby Julich, CSC, at 0:21
6. Alexandre Moos, Phonak, at 0:22
7. Philippe Gilbert, Francaise des Jeux, at 0:23
8. Christopher Horner, Saunier Duval, at 0:23
9. Jan Ullrich, T-Mobile, at 0:23
10. Iker Camano Ortuzar, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 0:23
FullResults