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

Alpecin-Deceuninck co-manager Philip Roodhooft has stated that the group fears Jasper Philipsen suffered a damaged shoulder in that intermediate dash crash.

“We won’t say so much already, however at this second, he simply arrived within the hospital. Our physician and assistant director are there. It isn’t very clear if the collarbone or shoulder is damaged or not. That is what we concern. Apparently, there is not any concussion thus far, however we nonetheless have to attend for the result,” he stated.

Learn the complete up to date story on Jasper Philipsen’s Tour de France crash and abandon right here.

Davide Ballerini, Paul Penhoët, Arnaud De Lie and Danny van Poppel have been all caught up within the crash on the penultimate sweeping bend.

There was a domino impact across the outdoors of the bend after a tricky amongst riders. Bryan Coquard, approaching from behind, somersaulted excessive, too, after he was left with nowhere to go.

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

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

Milan could have misplaced the stage, in the meantime, however he ascends to the inexperienced jersey as factors classification chief.

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

This is what Merlier stated after the stage…

“It was a extremely onerous battle. It was tough to be in place. I misplaced Bert [Van Lerberghe] earlier than the final nook. The group did an unimaginable job till the final 5 however then the true chaos began and it was actually tough to search out place. I misplaced Bert after which within the final 2km I fought again to return in place. I used to be within the wind on a regular basis.

“With 500 metres to go, I discovered a little bit of slipstream. I do know that it is at all times tough to beat Milan, however I am joyful I can take my second win within the Tour de France

“I wasn’t certain. I put my palms within the air, I wasn’t certain anymore.

“A headwind is de facto tough. No group can take it in a single line. It at all times comes, comes, comes again, so you really want to make use of actually a whole lot of vitality to be in place. I do know already if I am in place I could make it, so I hoped on that ultimately.

“I used to be coming over right here to win a stage. After all, to win the yellow jersey was a objective, however I am joyful to win a stage.”

This is a have a look at the 2 males diving for the end line.

After Merlier and Milan crossed the road, star sprinter turned SBS commentator Caleb Ewan identified the Belgian’s aero place in distinction to Milan’s far more upright, uncontrolled sprinting.

Ewan stated that Milan would’ve expended “much more vitality” than his dash rival.

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

Milan had the within line on the curving run to the end however misplaced out within the bike throw!

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

End

Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) wins stage 3!

After which he got here via and nearly pipped the Italian.

Merlier had prime place behind Milan.

Milan launched the dash and Merlier got here up from behind.

It is Merlier vs Milan on the entrance…

A giant crash within the background because the dash is launched!

Groves is dropped off by Van der Poel however a good distance off the entrance.

1km to go

Tim Merlier strikes up.

Alpecin are nowhere!

Jasper Stuyven leads from Edward Theuns and Jonathan Milan.

Now Lidl-Trek take over!

2km to go

Yevgeniy Fedorov leads it for XDS-Astana.

Meeus’ teammate Primož Roglič checks on Evenepoel.

3km to go

It regarded like Remco Evenepoel additionally went down however he is again up and operating.

No dash for him right now. He was in good type heading into the race and now he is on the bottom and presumably out of the Tour.

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

A crash within the peloton as there is a contact of wheels close to the entrance…

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

Alpecin have dropped again slightly.

Lotto at the moment are main the peloton with two.

5km to go

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

Lidl, Alpecin, Picnic, Bahrain, Lotto up there

The dash squads are preventing for place up entrance.

We’re dashing up now inside the ultimate 10km!

The peloton unfold out throughout the highway on this run-in.

Lotto are additionally not near the entrance.

Some commotion on the entrance as groups combat for place.

Alpecin-Deceuninck have misplaced place after getting caught out heading round a rounabout.

It is getting nervous now.

12km to go

The peloton splits to manoeuvre round some highway furnishings earlier than coming collectively once more.

Lidl-Trek, Visma-Lease A Bike, and Arkéa-B&B Lodges are additionally up entrance now.

Nonetheless a go-slow on the entrance with the groups on the entrance blocking the entrance of the highway.

A median pace of 41kph thus far right now, which is slower than even the slowest projection for the stage of 42kph.

18km to go

The scenario stays the identical at the moment. No nice rush to get to the end.

The riders are nonetheless racing right into a headwind right here, so the tempo stays low.

A number of groups have blocked it off on the entrance of the peloton. Intermarché-Wanty Israel-Premier Tech, Jayco-AlUla, Bahrain Victorious, Alpecin-Deceuninck, UAE Crew Emirates-XRG, Lotto, and Soudal-QuickStep are all there.

A have a look at Wellens happening the transfer earlier on.

The tempo hasn’t but been upped within the peloton forward of the dash end.

Wellens is now again within the peloton.

Kaden Groves may have Mathieu van der Poel main him out for the primary time right now.

The Australian joined Alpecin-Deceuninck in 2023, however the pair have solely raced collectively six occasions since then – at Paris-Roubaix and the Worlds in 2023, at Milan-San Remo earlier this season, and on the three opening phases of this Tour.

It is a good time, then, to take a look at our sprinters information – Who are the fastest sprinters of the 2025 Tour de France?

With Philipsen having crashed out earlier right now, it is now slightly old-fashioned, although as we famous in his part of textual content, “Kaden Groves – a high sprinter in his personal proper and a person who ought to be capable to step in simply ought to any mishap befall Philipsen – joins the crew.”

29km to go

We’re gearing up for the closing dash now.

Wellens excessive with 1:40 in hand and now he eases as much as look ahead to the peloton. He’ll take the polka dot jersey for the second time in his profession, having worn it for 15 days in 2019.

He additionally received the combativity prize twice that summer time. He may nicely repeat the feat right now because the day’s solely actual attacker.

Wellens is nearing the highest of the climb now. 300 metres to go and job executed, a wise transfer by UAE.

A pleasant shot of the peloton from slightly earlier on right now.

Wellens will take the jersey from his teammate Tadej Pogačar.

Meaning the Slovenian can keep away from the rostrum ceremony, the post-stage TV interviews, and any press conferences after the stage. He’ll even be in a group skinsuit for the stage 5 time trial in Caen.

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

34km to go

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

Tim Wellens goes on the assault. He is solo into the headwind however the peloton has let him go.

One other crash within the peloton as Aurélien Paret-Peintre (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) happening.

Girmay is in digital inexperienced for now on 63 factors, 12 up on Milan. Van der Poel is third on 50, a degree forward of Turgis, whereas Penhoët is fifth on 43 factors.

Listed here are the outcomes on the intermediate dash, which acquired forgotten within the chaos…

Milan crossed the road first for 20 factors. Behind him, there was an enormous hole to Penhoët in second for 17 factors. Groves took third for 15 factors, forward of Anthony Turgis (13) and Hugo Web page (11).

Girmay was seventh for 9 factors.

41km to go

All of it calmed down once more after Philipsen’s crash and the dash.

Alpecin-Deceuninck’s consideration will now flip to Kaden Groves, the two-time Vuelta factors champion.

It isn’t a foul ‘plan B’ for the Belgian group, particularly with Mathieu van der Poel because the lead-out man.

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

Inexperienced jersey-wearer went down on the intermediate dash after colliding with Bryan Coquard

Coquard did amazingly nicely to remain up. He moved to the appropriate slightly, going shoulder to shoulder with the Intermarché-Wanty rider who was developing alongside him.

He then nearly misplaced management, unclipping however staying on his bike. Sadly for Philipsen, he was left with nowhere to go and so went down onerous. He skidded throughout the tarmac on his again for an agonising period of time. Painful.

He is being tended to by race docs along side the highway.

Philipsen’s teammates have been waved to go on by the Alpecin-Deceuninck workers. It seems to be prefer it’s Tour over for the Belgian.

A lead-out rider for Girmay collided with Bryan Coquard (Cofidis), each staying upright, with Coquard barely preserving it collectively however inadvertently taking out Philipsen behind him.

Philipsen’s jersey is completely torn. It seems to be like he is hit the bottom on his again.

A giant crash for the inexperienced jersey in the midst of the dash.

60km to go

CRASH!

Philipsen has gone down.

Milan, Girmay, and Philipsen will probably be aiming for the massive factors right here.

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

It is all dashing up once more because the riders shut in on the intermediate dash!

66km to go

Issues have calmed down as soon as once more now.

Rex is now again within the peloton.

No splits for the time being and it seems to be as if the tempo is not absolutely turned on for now.

Flags on the roadside are blowing onerous proper to left for the time being.

Laurenz Rex (Intermarché-Wanty) will get a puncture simply as issues appear to be kicking off.

76km to go

The pace going up now and the riders on the entrance possibly odor an opportunity to create splits within the peloton!

The typical pace for the day is as much as simply over 39kph.

A number of different groups are flowing to the entrance at the moment, with Bahrain Victorious additionally up there. Nonetheless no strikes, nonetheless.

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The day’s intermediate dash is in Isbergues, simply over 30km up the highway.

93km to go

Nonetheless no breakaway right now. Perhaps we’ll get one – or at the very least an assault – for that hill earlier than the end.

This is the yellow jersey Mathieu van der Poel sharing fun with Pascal Eenkhoorn on the head of the race, too.

Alpecin-Deceuninck working for Jasper Philipsen throughout the stage.

100km to go

We have reached the vital 100km to go mark. Nonetheless a bit to go earlier than the midway level of the stage, nonetheless.

Remco Evenepoel has been topic to switch hypothesis in every of the previous two summers. That is not altering this yr, with Cyclingnews sources on the Tour de France saying {that a} deal is probably going.

Each Purple Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and Ineos Grenadiers – the 2 groups beforehand linked together with his signature – are again within the body.

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

112km to go

Alpecin-Deceuninck and Soudal-QuickStep proceed on the entrance. No signal of Lidl-Trek.

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

Stage 2 of the Giro d’Italia Ladies, the race’s first mountainous check as much as Aprica, completed a short time in the past.

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

120km to go

Nonetheless no change within the scenario on the bottom on the Tour, in the meantime. The peloton rolls on as one.

One massive piece of reports from this morning is the report that Decathlon are officially taking over at Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale. The sporting items retailer is taking full management of the group’s governance from the outgoing AG2R insurance coverage firm.

A brand new sponsor is predicted to be introduced earlier than the top of the Tour de France, whereas the group’s funds is growing to the €40 million mark. The group want to make their roster extra worldwide going ahead and help their 18-year-old sensation Paul Seixas going ahead.

Nonetheless no breakaway, and there is not any rain right here both.

An extended view of the peloton driving alongside in direction of Dunkerque.

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

Alpecin-Deceuninck are at the moment lined out on the entrance of the peloton. Soudal-QuickStep have a number of riders up there, too.

The riders move the 50km mark however nonetheless a protracted technique to go.

A joke from the UAE Crew Emirates-XRG group automotive to their riders. They acquired on the radio to say, “When you want one thing, inform us, as a result of Tadej is with us.”

Crew chief Tadej Pogačar is not prone to be ferrying bidons backwards and forwards, in fact.

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Pogačar claims the polka dot jersey, UAE joyful to tick off one other day with out incident

135km to go

There’s nonetheless no motion on the entrance because the peloton rolls alongside all nonetheless collectively.

It is all flat right now till the riders attain the two.3km Mont Cassel at 31km from the end line.

Alpecin-Deceuninck are among the many groups massed on the entrance for the time being.

Not a lot motion thus far right now. This is a shot of the peloton rolling alongside throughout the early kilometres of the stage.

145km to go

A 35.5kph common pace thus far.

No riders are off the entrance at the moment, although.

The pace has upped now with the dash groups taking up on the head of the peloton.

153km to go

The group that went off the entrance is now again with the peloton. Nonetheless no breakaway.

A number of extra riders have gone off the entrance with them, together with three from Alpecin-Deceuninck.

It isn’t a severe transfer although as they’re laughing with one another.

Belgian champion Tim Wellens now jumps off the entrance alongside together with his UAE Crew Emirates-XRG teammates Nils Politt.

It isn’t raining on the race at the moment however riders are nonetheless of their rain jackets.

The riders are averaging round 33kph thus far, 13km into right now’s stage.

Nonetheless no motion for the time being.

164km to go

There weren’t every other takers to affix the two-man transfer and now the peloton is all again collectively.

Rickaert drops again to the peloton. Mohorič follows. No extra breakaway.

169km to go

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

Lidl-Trek are on the entrance of the peloton now. If they convey again Rickaert, they will be forcing Alpecin-Deceuninck to assist them out in setting the pacemaking right now.

Alpecin-Deceuninck maintain each the yellow and inexperienced jerseys, and in Philipsen they’ve one of many favourites for the stage win.

Nonetheless, if Rickaert stays out entrance and makes the break of the day they will not should do a lick of labor.

Two males off the entrance now, round 10 seconds up on the peloton.

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

Jonas Rickaert (Alpecin-Deceuninck) rides off the entrance however it’s not an assault. He is simply rolling alongside relatively than flying away from the group.

No assaults at first. There’s not a lot incentive for anybody to get within the break right now, with only one fourth-category climb and a nailed-on dash on the end.

We misplaced 3km of the stage following that delayed begin.

175km to go

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

We’re nonetheless ready for the beginning…

The Frenchman will get a rear wheel change so the beginning is delayed additional.

Axel Laurance is now drifting off the again.

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

A delay in the true begin as riders return to the rear of the peloton.

3.2km to go of the impartial begin. No incident but, simply rain.

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

Polka dot jersey holder Tadej Pogačar at first right now.

It is raining at first in Valenciennes. A lot of riders in jackets because the countdown to the beginning begins.

If all goes to plan, Van der Poel will probably be main out stage 1 winner and inexperienced jersey holder Jasper Philipsen on the end right now.

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

With the motion quickly to start for stage 3, this is a reminder of how to watch the 2025 Tour de France.

13 minutes till the riders roll out for the 6.6km impartial begin.

The opening weekend of the Tour fortunately did not function any yellow card infractions, however the commissaires did nonetheless have some fines handy out. Try all the yellow cards, fines, and penalties at the Tour de France right here.

In the meantime, Jonathan Milan lost his cool with Biniam Girmay on stage 2. The pair prevented any penalty-worthy incident, nonetheless, with the Italian later apologising to the inexperienced jersey champion.

And Tour organisers ASO should want they might hand out a yellow card to a number of spectators after the flares and smoke bombs made an unwelcome return.

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‘When you suppose right now was unhealthy, wait till you see stage 4’ warns Jayco-AlUla DS Matthew Hayman

50 minutes to the stage begin now.

‘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 4 years in Boulogne-sur-Mer forward of Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard

This is our look again at stage 2 through our complete race report.

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

Sunday’s stage 2 introduced a hilly end in Boulogne-sur-Mer. 26 riders completed collectively on the entrance, led house by Mathieu van der Poel – forward of GC males Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard and the uphill end.

In the present day’s stage kicks off with the impartial roll-out at 13:10 native time, just below an hour away.

The flag drops for the true begin quarter-hour later, at 13:25.

Alpecin-Deceuninck have triumphed on every of the 2 phases which opened the Tour on the weekend, with Jasper Philipsen and Mathieu van der Poel popping out on high.

Can they make it three in a row in Dunkerque?

And this is the map of the stage. It is a race to the North Sea on day three of the 2025 Tour.

This is a have a look at right now’s stage profile.

Good day and welcome to Cyclingnews‘ stay protection of stage 3 of the 2025 Tour de France. It is one other day for the sprinters on the highway to Dunkerque right now!