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LONDON, Sept 9, 2008 (AFP) - France’s Emilien Berges won the third stage of the Tour of Britain on Tuesday, a victory which saw him take the overall leader’s yellow jersey from Alessandro Petacchi.

But Berges, who crossed the line just ahead of his Agritubel team-mate Geoffroy Lequarte, was under no illusions asbout the task in front of him as the race headed into the English Midlands.

“It was a really good day - I went off well and I was able to work well with my team-mate (Lequarte),” the 25-year-old said.

“Originally my plan was to lead out for the sprint and to help him get to the front but when I got up to the front the others just seemed to let me go.

“Time trialling is my specialty so once I was out in front I knew I had a good chance and once I saw that there were no motorbikes behind me I knew I’d done it and I just enjoyed the ride home.

“But the hard work starts now - it’s hard getting up there but it is even harder to stay out at the front.”