The 26-year-old took the 190-kilometre third stage from Chablis to Chalons-sur-Saone in a time of 4 hours 31min 14sec, ending a long wait since Stephen Roche's victory in French mountain pass Col d’Eze in 1989.

Bennett, riding for German team Bora-Hansgrohe, held off Norway’s Alexander Kristoff and Germany’s John Degenkolb to seal his triumph.

Degenkolb's compatriot Marcel Kittel led with 300 metres remaining but ended up fourth.

"I had a lot of confidence coming into this just from the feeling in my legs," Bennett said.

"I've had good form recently, at the Tour Down Under I had the speed but I didn't get the opportunities.

"I knew with a bit of luck today and the support of my team something was possible."

Australia's Michael Matthews finished fifth, while France’s Arnaud Demare came sixth to retain the overall lead heading into tomorrow's time-trial.

The closet challenger to Demare’s time of 12:14:42 is fellow home favourite Julian Alaphilippe, who is six seconds back.

Kristoff is a further seven seconds off the pace in third.