Frenchman David Gaudu upset a field of top climbers to secure the biggest victory of his career ©Getty Images

Frenchman David Gaudu upset a field of top climbers to secure the biggest victory of his career as he won the third stage of the Tour de Romandie.

The Groupama rider timed his surge for the line on the uphill finish to perfection and crossed in front of Portugal's Rui Costa and general classification leader Primož Roglič.

Gaudu completed the 160 kilometres stage in Romont in a time of 3hr 50min 53sec to seal his first win at an International Cycling Union WorldTour race.

He trails race leader Roglič, who rides for the Jumbo-Visma team, heading into tomorrow's fourth stage, a 176km trek from Lucens to Torgon.

"At the foot of the final climb I was up in the first positions and as we went up I was feeling pretty strong," Gaudu said.

“When they came out of the final bend, I went for it.

“I looked up and said to myself: ‘All the way to the line’.”

Gaudu had earlier survived an early breakaway from seven riders but they were caught and surpassed by the chasing pack with 20km to go.

He avoided a collision in the bunch and attacked 100 metres from the line, leaving Costa and Roglič to battle it out for second and third.