Mark Cavendish was edged out of a stage win for the second day in a row at the Ster ZLM Toer but the world champion retained the yellow jersey in his final race before the Tour de France.
Cavendish lost out to Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) yesterday and had to settle for the runners-up spot after Lars Boom (Rabobank) triumphed in the stage three trek from Hotel Verviers to La Gileppe.
The Manxman has now opened up an eight-second lead atop the overall standings - ahead of Boom - going into the final stage in Holland, with Mark Renshaw (Rabobank) and Greipel losing touch with the front group.
It was a good day for Team Sky as Cavendish's team-mate Juan Antonio Flecha finished third to move six seconds behind Boom in the standings.
The team's sports director Steven de Jongh told their official website: "It was an awesome ride by the whole team today, very impressive.
"It was a tough, tough finish but the guys did great and Mark now has eight seconds in hand of Boom going into what's a pan-flat final stage so that's good."
