German Matthias Kessler won the 216.5-km third stage of the Tour de France on Tuesday while Belgium's world champion Tom Boonen took the race leader's yellow jersey.

T-Mobile's Kessler, who was overtaken shortly before the finish line and missed out on the victory at Monday's stage, finished five seconds ahead of his Australian teammate Michael Rogers. Italy's Daniele Bennati of the Lampre team came in third.

Boonen ended up fourth, a result helping him regain the race leader's yellow jersey from fellow sprinter Thor Hushovd of Norway.

The third stage covers a 216.5-kilometer distance from Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg to Valkenburg, Netherlands.

(Xinhua News Agency July 5, 2006)