As it happened: Sprinters battle in Tour de France stage 3 photo finish after top favourite crashes out

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2025-07-07T16:54:29.593Z

We’ll have news coming in from our reporters on the ground throughout the evening, including stories on the crashes and chaos of stage 3, more reaction to Philipsen’s withdrawal, and some GC reaction, too.

2025-07-07T16:53:13.653Z

Meanwhile, the current GC standings at the Tour de France after stage 3 are here.

2025-07-07T16:52:35.568Z

Check out our full stage 3 report here.

Tour de France stage 3: Tim Merlier delivers win in Dunkerque on messy flat stage scattered with crashes

2025-07-07T16:51:05.559Z

Several riders, including Jordi Meeus, crossed the line battered and bruised. However, Philipsen is the only confirmed DNF so far. 181 riders still in the race at the moment.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-07T16:48:08.919Z

Kévin Vauquelin remains in white as best young rider. He leads Joseph Blackmore by 31 seconds.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

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Tim Wellens, meanwhile, is back in the polka dot jersey after a six-year wait. There are five classified climbs coming up on stage 4, however, so it may be his only day in the jersey.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-07T16:46:04.909Z

Jonathan Milan is in the green jersey for the first time in his career, though he’ll be wanting a stage win to go with it at some point.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-07T16:44:56.180Z

Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel remains in the race lead overnight. The Road to Rouen brings another possible chance for him tomorrow with plenty of hills packed into the closing 50km.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-07T16:43:38.756Z

Stage 3 winner Tim Merlier celebrates his victory on the podium today. With only Belgian and Dutch stage winners so far, will another nation break the Low Countries’ supremacy on stage 4?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-07T16:37:55.659Z

Alpecin-Deceuninck co-manager Philip Roodhooft has said that the team fears Jasper Philipsen suffered a broken shoulder in that intermediate sprint crash.

“We can’t say a lot already, but at this moment, he just arrived in the hospital. Our doctor and assistant director are there. It’s not very clear if the collarbone or shoulder is broken or not. That’s what we fear. Apparently, there’s no concussion so far, but we still have to wait for the outcome,” he said.

Read the full updated story on Jasper Philipsen’s Tour de France crash and abandon here.

2025-07-07T16:14:55.687Z

Davide Ballerini, Paul Penhoët, and Arnaud De Lie were all caught up in the crash on the penultimate sweeping bend.

There was a domino effect around the outside of the bend after a touch among riders, including Danny van Poppel, who was later relegated from eighth.

Bryan Coquard, approaching from behind, somersaulted over the top, too, after he was left with nowhere to go.

2025-07-07T16:13:06.557Z

Philipsen aside, a good day for Belgian racers as Merlier wins the stage and Wellens takes the polka dot jersey.

2025-07-07T16:11:10.248Z

Stage winner Tim Merlier celebrates with teammate Remco Evenepoel after the stage.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-07T16:10:12.312Z

Milan may have lost the stage, meanwhile, but he ascends to the green jersey as points classification leader.

He has 81 points to Girmay’s 77, while Merlier lies in third on 63 points.

2025-07-07T16:09:14.761Z

Here’s what Merlier said after the stage…

“It was a really hard battle. It was difficult to be in position. I lost Bert [Van Lerberghe] before the last corner. The team did an incredible job until the last five but then the real chaos started and it was really difficult to find position. I lost Bert and then in the last 2km I fought back to come in position. I was in the wind all the time.

“With 500 metres to go, I found a bit of slipstream. I know that it’s always difficult to beat Milan, but I’m happy I can take my second win in the Tour de France

“I wasn’t sure. I put my hands in the air, I wasn’t sure anymore.

“A headwind is really difficult. No team can take it in one line. It always comes, comes, comes back, so you really need to use really a lot of energy to be in position. I know already if I’m in position I can make it, so I was hoping on that in the end.

“I was coming over here to win a stage. Of course, to win the yellow jersey was a goal, but I’m happy to win a stage.”

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-07T15:58:48.021Z

Here’s a look at the two men diving for the finish line.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-07T15:57:47.466Z

After Merlier and Milan crossed the line, star sprinter turned SBS commentator Caleb Ewan pointed out the Belgian’s aero position in contrast to Milan’s much more upright, uncontrolled sprinting.

Ewan said that Milan would’ve expended “a lot more energy” than his sprint rival.

(Image credit: France TV)

2025-07-07T15:52:42.382Z

There’s barely the depth of a tyre between the front two..

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Milan had the inside line on the curving run to the finish but lost out in the bike throw!

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Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious) took third behind the big two.

2025-07-07T15:51:32.914Z
Finish

Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) wins stage 3!

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And then he came through and just about pipped the Italian.

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Merlier had prime position behind Milan.

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Milan launched the sprint and Merlier came up from behind.

2025-07-07T15:50:35.411Z

It’s Merlier vs Milan at the front…

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A big crash in the background as the sprint is launched!

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Groves is dropped off by Van der Poel but a long way off the front.

2025-07-07T15:50:05.968Z
1km to go

Tim Merlier moves up.

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Alpecin are nowhere!

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Jasper Stuyven leads from Edward Theuns and Jonathan Milan.

2025-07-07T15:49:34.408Z

Now Lidl-Trek take over!

2025-07-07T15:49:28.020Z
2km to go

Yevgeniy Fedorov leads it for XDS-Astana.

2025-07-07T15:49:12.772Z

Meeus’ teammate Primož Roglič checks on Evenepoel.

2025-07-07T15:48:48.164Z
3km to go

It looked like Remco Evenepoel also went down but he’s back up and running.

2025-07-07T15:48:27.880Z

No sprint for him today. He was in good form heading into the race and now he’s on the ground and possibly out of the Tour.

2025-07-07T15:48:05.295Z

There was a squeeze in the middle of the peloton and Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) went down.

2025-07-07T15:47:29.026Z

A crash in the peloton as there’s a touch of wheels near the front…

2025-07-07T15:47:11.030Z

De Lie’s Lotto squad is lined up alongside Jayco-AlUla of Dylan Groenewegen.

2025-07-07T15:46:47.261Z

Alpecin have dropped back a little.

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Lotto are now leading the peloton with two.

2025-07-07T15:46:23.332Z
5km to go

Past the 5km mark and the new ‘5km rule’ applies.

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Lidl, Alpecin, Picnic, Bahrain, Lotto up there

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The sprint squads are fighting for position up front.

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We’re speeding up now inside the final 10km!

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

The peloton spread out across the road on this run-in.

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Lotto are also not close to the front.

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Some commotion at the front as teams fight for position.

Alpecin-Deceuninck have lost position after getting caught out heading around a rounabout.

2025-07-07T15:37:55.983Z

It’s getting nervous now.

2025-07-07T15:37:43.294Z
12km to go

The peloton splits to manoeuvre around some road furniture before coming together again.

2025-07-07T15:35:34.491Z

Lidl-Trek, Visma-Lease A Bike, and Arkéa-B&B Hotels are also up front now.

2025-07-07T15:35:08.117Z

Still a go-slow at the front with the teams at the front blocking the front of the road.

2025-07-07T15:33:50.591Z

An average speed of 41kph so far today, which is slower than even the slowest projection for the stage of 42kph.

2025-07-07T15:28:49.777Z
18km to go

The situation remains the same currently. No great rush to get to the finish.

2025-07-07T15:23:52.212Z

The riders are still racing into a headwind here, so the pace remains low.

2025-07-07T15:23:18.077Z

Several teams have blocked it off at the front of the peloton. Intermarché-Wanty Israel-Premier Tech, Jayco-AlUla, Bahrain Victorious, Alpecin-Deceuninck, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, Lotto, and Soudal-QuickStep are all there.

2025-07-07T15:22:12.156Z

A look at Wellens going on the move earlier on.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-07T15:21:28.508Z

The pace hasn’t yet been upped in the peloton ahead of the sprint finish.

2025-07-07T15:16:07.876Z

Wellens is now back in the peloton.

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Kaden Groves will have Mathieu van der Poel leading him out for the first time today.

The Australian joined Alpecin-Deceuninck in 2023, but the pair have only raced together six times since then – at Paris-Roubaix and the Worlds in 2023, at Milan-San Remo earlier this season, and at the three opening stages of this Tour.

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It’s a good time, then, to check out our sprinters guide – Who are the fastest sprinters of the 2025 Tour de France?

With Philipsen having crashed out earlier today, it’s now a little out of date, though as we noted in his section of text, “Kaden Groves – a top sprinter in his own right and a man who should be able to step in easily should any mishap befall Philipsen – joins the crew.”

2025-07-07T15:12:30.517Z
29km to go

We’re gearing up for the closing sprint now.

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Wellens over the top with 1:40 in hand and now he eases up to wait for the peloton. He’ll take the polka dot jersey for the second time in his career, having worn it for 15 days in 2019.

He also won the combativity prize twice that summer. He could well repeat the feat today as the day’s only real attacker.

2025-07-07T15:08:54.821Z

Wellens is nearing the top of the climb now. 300 metres to go and job done, a smart move by UAE.

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A nice shot of the peloton from a little earlier on today.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-07T15:06:53.989Z

Wellens will take the jersey from his teammate Tadej Pogačar.

That means the Slovenian can avoid the podium ceremony, the post-stage TV interviews, and any press conferences after the stage. He’ll also be in a team skinsuit for the stage 5 time trial in Caen.

2025-07-07T15:04:52.134Z

A radio message from UAE informs Wellens that he’ll take the polka dot jersey if he leads the race over Mont Cassel.

2025-07-07T15:04:09.033Z
34km to go

The Belgian champion is 1:15 up the road already!

2025-07-07T15:03:50.240Z

Tim Wellens goes on the attack. He’s solo into the headwind but the peloton has let him go.

2025-07-07T15:02:46.530Z

Another crash in the peloton as Aurélien Paret-Peintre (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) going down.

2025-07-07T14:57:51.630Z

Girmay is in virtual green for now on 63 points, 12 up on Milan. Van der Poel is third on 50, a point ahead of Turgis, while Penhoët is fifth on 43 points.

2025-07-07T14:57:15.319Z

Here are the results at the intermediate sprint, which got forgotten in the chaos…

Milan crossed the line first for 20 points. Behind him, there was a big gap to Penhoët in second for 17 points. Groves took third for 15 points, ahead of Anthony Turgis (13) and Hugo Page (11).

Girmay was seventh for 9 points.

2025-07-07T14:53:22.302Z
41km to go

It all calmed down again after Philipsen’s crash and the sprint.

2025-07-07T14:43:47.040Z

Alpecin-Deceuninck’s attention will now turn to Kaden Groves, the two-time Vuelta points champion.

It’s not a bad ‘plan B’ for the Belgian team, especially with Mathieu van der Poel as the lead-out man.

2025-07-07T14:42:51.743Z

Jasper Philipsen out of Tour de France after heavy sprint crash during stage 3

Green jersey-wearer went down at the intermediate sprint after colliding with Bryan Coquard

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-07T14:29:12.373Z

Coquard did amazingly well to stay up. He moved to the right a little, going shoulder to shoulder with the Intermarché-Wanty rider who was coming up alongside him.

He then almost lost control, unclipping but staying on his bike. Unfortunately for Philipsen, he was left with nowhere to go and so went down hard. He skidded across the tarmac on his back for an agonising amount of time. Painful.

2025-07-07T14:27:13.904Z

He’s being tended to by race doctors at the side of the road.

2025-07-07T14:26:59.380Z

Philipsen’s teammates have been waved to go on by the Alpecin-Deceuninck staff. It looks like it’s Tour over for the Belgian.

2025-07-07T14:26:37.467Z

A lead-out rider for Girmay collided with Bryan Coquard (Cofidis), both staying upright, with Coquard barely keeping it together but inadvertently taking out Philipsen behind him.

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Philipsen’s jersey is totally torn. It looks like he’s hit the ground on his back.

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A big crash for the green jersey in the middle of the sprint.

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60km to go

CRASH!

Philipsen has gone down.

2025-07-07T14:24:45.168Z

Milan, Girmay, and Philipsen will be aiming for the big points here.

2025-07-07T14:24:32.154Z

Lidl-Trek, Intermarché-Wanty, and Alpecin-Deceunick are all going for it.

2025-07-07T14:24:10.973Z

It’s all speeding up again as the riders close in on the intermediate sprint!

2025-07-07T14:16:14.282Z
66km to go

Things have calmed down once again now.

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Rex is now back in the peloton.

2025-07-07T14:07:23.902Z

No splits at the moment and it looks as though the pace isn’t fully turned on for now.

2025-07-07T14:07:02.126Z

Flags at the roadside are blowing hard right to left at the moment.

2025-07-07T14:06:02.522Z

Laurenz Rex (Intermarché-Wanty) gets a puncture just as things seem to be kicking off.

2025-07-07T14:03:59.610Z
76km to go

The speed going up now and the riders at the front maybe smell a chance to create splits in the peloton!

2025-07-07T13:58:46.788Z

The average speed for the day is up to just over 39kph.

2025-07-07T13:58:29.164Z

Several other teams are flowing to the front currently, with Bahrain Victorious also up there. Still no moves, however.

2025-07-07T13:51:44.486Z

‘Certainly an organised gang’ – Cofidis boss speaks out following mass theft of team’s bikes at the Tour de France

Journalists staying in the same hotel as the French team were also targeted by thieves

2025-07-07T13:40:43.044Z

The day’s intermediate sprint is in Isbergues, just over 30km up the road.

2025-07-07T13:40:21.291Z
93km to go

Still no breakaway today. Maybe we’ll get one – or at least an attack – for that hill before the finish.

2025-07-07T13:39:43.041Z

Here’s the yellow jersey Mathieu van der Poel sharing a laugh with Pascal Eenkhoorn at the head of the race, too.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-07T13:30:01.968Z

Alpecin-Deceuninck working for Jasper Philipsen during the stage.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-07T13:28:52.389Z
100km to go

We’ve reached the important 100km to go mark. Still a bit to go before the halfway point of the stage, however.

2025-07-07T13:17:56.364Z

Remco Evenepoel has been subject to transfer speculation in each of the past two summers. That isn’t changing this year, with Cyclingnews sources at the Tour de France saying that a deal is likely.

Both Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and Ineos Grenadiers – the two teams previously linked with his signature – are back in the frame.

Red Bull or Ineos? Talk of Remco Evenepoel’s early exit from Soudal-QuickStep resurfaces at Tour de France

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-07T13:14:15.633Z
112km to go

Alpecin-Deceuninck and Soudal-QuickStep continue at the front. No sign of Lidl-Trek.

2025-07-07T13:13:41.288Z

We’re coming ever closer to the 100km to go marker.

2025-07-07T13:05:23.492Z

Stage 2 of the Giro d’Italia Women, the race’s first mountainous test up to Aprica, finished a short while ago.

Check out our race report, with one rider claiming her maiden WorldTour victory and the pink jersey on the 92km stage.

2025-07-07T13:01:49.294Z
120km to go

Still no change in the situation on the ground at the Tour, meanwhile. The peloton rolls on as one.

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One big piece of news from this morning is the report that Decathlon are officially taking over at Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale. The sporting goods retailer is taking full control of the team’s governance from the outgoing AG2R insurance company.

A new sponsor is expected to be announced before the end of the Tour de France, while the team’s budget is increasing to the €40 million mark. The team are looking to make their roster more international going forward and support their 18-year-old sensation Paul Seixas going forward.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-07T12:57:42.844Z

Still no breakaway, and there’s no rain here either.

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A long view of the peloton riding along towards Dunkerque.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-07T12:53:49.352Z

Tudor sprinter Alberto Dainese, a stage winner at the Giro and Vuelta, stops for a wheel change.

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Alpecin-Deceuninck are currently lined out at the front of the peloton. Soudal-QuickStep have several riders up there, too.

2025-07-07T12:51:16.168Z

The riders pass the 50km mark but still a long way to go.

2025-07-07T12:49:28.337Z

A joke from the UAE Team Emirates-XRG team car to their riders. They got on the radio to say, “If you need something, tell us, because Tadej is with us.”

Team leader Tadej Pogačar isn’t likely to be ferrying bidons back and forth, of course.

2025-07-07T12:41:20.707Z

‘Just like a Classic’ – Tadej Pogačar misses out on Tour de France lead but makes slender gain on Jonas Vingegaard in fraught stage finale

Pogačar claims the polka dot jersey, UAE happy to tick off another day without incident

2025-07-07T12:40:21.197Z
135km to go

There’s still no movement at the front as the peloton rolls along all still together.

2025-07-07T12:30:28.412Z

It’s all flat today until the riders reach the 2.3km Mont Cassel at 31km from the finish line.

2025-07-07T12:27:37.137Z

Alpecin-Deceuninck are among the teams massed on the front at the moment.

2025-07-07T12:27:20.926Z

Not much action so far today. Here’s a shot of the peloton rolling along during the early kilometres of the stage.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-07T12:23:38.586Z
145km to go

A 35.5kph average speed so far.

2025-07-07T12:19:41.899Z

No riders are off the front currently, though.

2025-07-07T12:19:34.324Z

The speed has upped now with the sprint teams taking over at the head of the peloton.

2025-07-07T12:12:36.143Z
153km to go

The group that went off the front is now back with the peloton. Still no breakaway.

2025-07-07T12:02:22.490Z

Several more riders have gone off the front with them, including three from Alpecin-Deceuninck.

2025-07-07T12:02:05.554Z

It’s not a serious move though as they’re laughing with each other.

2025-07-07T12:01:42.460Z

Belgian champion Tim Wellens now jumps off the front along with his UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammates Nils Politt.

2025-07-07T12:01:07.304Z

It’s not raining on the race currently but riders are still in their rain jackets.

2025-07-07T11:58:58.385Z

The riders are averaging around 33kph so far, 13km into today’s stage.

2025-07-07T11:56:58.279Z

Still no action at the moment.

2025-07-07T11:53:42.622Z
164km to go

There weren’t any other takers to join the two-man move and now the peloton is all back together.

2025-07-07T11:53:17.821Z

Rickaert drops back to the peloton. Mohorič follows. No more breakaway.

2025-07-07T11:42:49.514Z
169km to go

Mohorič and Rickaert are 30 seconds up on the peloton now.

2025-07-07T11:40:01.751Z

Lidl-Trek are at the front of the peloton now. If they bring back Rickaert, they’ll be forcing Alpecin-Deceuninck to help them out in setting the pacemaking today.

2025-07-07T11:39:28.024Z

Alpecin-Deceuninck hold both the yellow and green jerseys, and in Philipsen they have one of the favourites for the stage win.

However, if Rickaert stays out front and makes the break of the day they won’t have to do a lick of work.

2025-07-07T11:36:33.353Z

Two men off the front now, around 10 seconds up on the peloton.

2025-07-07T11:36:10.462Z

Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious) jumps from the peloton and bridges across.

2025-07-07T11:35:50.308Z

Jonas Rickaert (Alpecin-Deceuninck) rides off the front but it’s not an attack. He’s just rolling along rather than flying away from the group.

2025-07-07T11:34:54.623Z

No attacks at the start. There’s not much incentive for anyone to get in the break today, with just one fourth-category climb and a nailed-on sprint at the finish.

2025-07-07T11:34:16.953Z

We lost 3km of the stage following that delayed start.

2025-07-07T11:34:02.410Z
175km to go

Christian Prudhomme waves the flag and the stage is finally underway!

2025-07-07T11:30:56.093Z

We’re still waiting for the start…

2025-07-07T11:29:13.771Z

The Frenchman gets a rear wheel change so the start is delayed further.

2025-07-07T11:28:44.746Z

Axel Laurance is now drifting off the back.

2025-07-07T11:28:19.553Z

Aleksandr Vlasov, Davide Ballerini, and Lenny Martinez are getting back on.

2025-07-07T11:28:03.285Z

A delay in the real start as riders return to the rear of the peloton.

2025-07-07T11:19:33.263Z

3.2km to go of the neutral start. No incident yet, just rain.

2025-07-07T11:13:13.670Z

The riders have just rolled out to begin stage 3 and the 6.6km neutralised start has begun.

2025-07-07T11:12:44.397Z

Polka dot jersey holder Tadej Pogačar at the start today.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-07T11:11:07.346Z

It’s raining at the start in Valenciennes. Lots of riders in jackets as the countdown to the start begins.

2025-07-07T11:10:23.559Z

If all goes to plan, Van der Poel will be leading out stage 1 winner and green jersey holder Jasper Philipsen at the finish today.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-07T11:08:38.623Z

Mathieu van der Poel rides to the presentation at the start in Valenciennes clad in his new yellow jersey.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-07T11:06:25.387Z

With the action soon to begin for stage 3, here’s a reminder of how to watch the 2025 Tour de France.

2025-07-07T10:57:39.369Z

13 minutes until the riders roll out for the 6.6km neutral start.

2025-07-07T10:49:22.830Z

The opening weekend of the Tour thankfully didn’t feature any yellow card infractions, but the commissaires did still have some fines to hand out. Check out all the yellow cards, fines, and penalties at the Tour de France here.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Milan lost his cool with Biniam Girmay on stage 2. The pair avoided any penalty-worthy incident, however, with the Italian later apologising to the green jersey champion.

And Tour organisers ASO must wish they could hand out a yellow card to several spectators after the flares and smoke bombs made an unwelcome return.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-07T10:42:21.227Z

Is it April or July? Classics-style racing and early GC tension delivers thrilling Tour de France opening weekend – Analysis

‘If you think today was bad, wait until you see stage 4’ warns Jayco-AlUla DS Matthew Hayman

2025-07-07T10:35:00.051Z

50 minutes to the stage start now.

2025-07-07T10:33:22.075Z

‘I’ve struggled the last few years’ – New approach and Classics-style racing see Mathieu van der Poel back in Tour de France yellow jersey

Dutchman wins first stage for four years in Boulogne-sur-Mer ahead of Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-07T10:27:45.196Z

Here’s our look back at stage 2 via our comprehensive race report.

Tour de France stage 2: Mathieu van der Poel holds off Tadej Pogačar to win in Boulogne-sur-Mer

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-07T10:26:12.256Z

Sunday’s stage 2 brought a hilly finish in Boulogne-sur-Mer. 26 riders finished together at the front, led home by Mathieu van der Poel – ahead of GC men Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard and the uphill finish.

2025-07-07T10:16:45.931Z

Today’s stage kicks off with the neutral roll-out at 13:10 local time, just under an hour away.

The flag drops for the real start 15 minutes later, at 13:25.

2025-07-07T10:10:56.392Z

Alpecin-Deceuninck have triumphed on each of the two stages which opened the Tour at the weekend, with Jasper Philipsen and Mathieu van der Poel coming out on top.

Can they make it three in a row in Dunkerque?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-07T10:08:41.702Z

And here’s the map of the stage. It’s a race to the North Sea on day three of the 2025 Tour.

(Image credit: Geoatlas)

2025-07-07T10:07:46.409Z

Here’s a look at today’s stage profile.

(Image credit: ASO)

2025-07-04T15:10:20.794Z

Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews’ live coverage of stage 3 of the 2025 Tour de France. It’s another day for the sprinters on the road to Dunkerque today!