Scott Davies moved into a top 10 place overall on the OVO Energy Tour of Britain as he retained his King of the Mountains jersey.
The Carmarthenshire rider moved up one place to 10th after finishing 27th on stage three in Bristol in the same time as stage winner Julian Alaphilippe.
Davies remains 22 secs down on the new leader – New Zealand’s Patrick Bevin who has the same time as second placed Cameron Meyer of Australia.
The 23-year-old said: “It was a tough day all day really, it never eased up with it being such a short stage. I managed to cling on in the end there. we have the position in the GC and I kept the jersey so that’s a bonus.
“I think for the rest of the week we’ll look to get stuck in and get in the breakaways. I think we’re keen to go stage hunting and (hopefully) come away with a victory.”
Wales’ Tour de France champ Geraint Thomas spent part of the hilly 77mile stage carrying water bottles from the Team Sky car to his team-mates.
Thomas is 59th overall one minute 23 secs adrift of Meyer five days of the eight stage race left..
Stevie Williams is in 32nd spot (+2:55) with Jon Mould 91st (+17:37)
France’s Alaphilippe won the sprint in Bristol to move into third place overall two seconds down.
Britain’s best placed overall rider is Hugh Carthy in ninth spot 19secs adrift and just three seconds ahead of Team Dimension Data rider Davies.
