The Belgian corridor conquered his second triumph in the Tour de France after an agonized sprint decided by photo Finish against Jonathan Milan. The day, with endkerque ending, was marked by falls, but Mathieu van der Poel retained the yellow jersey.
Foto: Efe – Christophe Petit Tesson
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On a day of general truce and tired rhythm, the sprint was the only incentive of the third stage of the Tour de France, played between Valenciennes and Dunkerque, of 178.3 km, in which he won in the 'Arrival Photo' the Belgian European champion Tim Merlier (soudal), while the Dutch Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin) kept the Jersey yellow.
The boredom and the low average speed, 41.6 km/hour, was revolutionized at the end for the stage victory, where reserves never fit. Tim Merlier (Wortegem Petegem, 32 years old) won the duel for millimeters to Italian Jonathan Milan (Lidl), with the third place for the German of Bahrain Phil Bauhaus.
The arrival photo was needed to check the Belgian triumph in Dunkerque. The European champion raised an arm as a winner for the second time on the Tour. In the turn it has four successes, over a total of 61 victories, 11 of them achieved this year.
The falls marked, however, the stage. Philipsen, the first 2025 Tour leader, had to retire, Evenepoel landed without consequences at 3 km of finish, in the security zone, and in the last curve several cyclists went against the fences.
The favorites fought and the general did not undergo changes. Van der Poel lost Philipsen, but not the yellow jersey, which retained more 'classic' with 4 seconds about Tadej Pogacar and 6 with respect to Jonas Vingegaard. Enric Mas is the first Spanish, sixth to 10, and Carlos Rodríguez is in 25 to 1.20 minutes.
Calm in the platoon, nobody is encouraged to the getaway
Plain stage, initial rain and then sun to dry the back of the runners. Against the usual norm, the most modest teams, especially the guests, were not offered to form any getaway. The squad, delighted to roll at less than 40 per hour by flat zone, only altered by a fourth tachuela in km 147, Mont Cassel (2.3 km to 3.8).
Non -aggression pact, tranquility after two days of nerves, falls and differences between significant favorites. The squad passed near Orchies, where the yellow jersey van der Poel launched the decisive attack that would allow him to win his second Paris Roubaix in 2024. The leader's alpecin took the baton for that of carrying the yellow jersey, and for the options to the Philipsen sprint.
Philipsen, fall and withdrawal; WELLENS QUITA WORK TO POZACAR
70 km from the finish line began to change the decoration. The comfortable march, relaxed, agreed, altered in the vicinity of the Isbergues sprint. A strange maneuver from the French Bryan Cocquard demolished the green jersey and first leader of the tour, Jasper Philpsen, eliminated with the bruised right shoulder.
Alpecin ran out of one of the candidates for Dunkerque sprint and Jonathan Milan looked, noting the intermediate points with authority. The accident calmed down to the platoon, determined to take the day as active rest.
In full pilgrimage from the squad, Belgium champion Tim Wellens jumped. Of course, requested permission, and laid 36 km from the goal with a goal. Score in Mont Cassel's level and ensure the mountain jersey. In this way I was going to save Pogacar, bearer of the red dotted jersey, the podium ceremony.
Merlier beats Milan's stage on the line
The joke gave Wellens a 1.42 -minute rent, but lifted his foot to wait for the platoon. You have to thank the favors. More calm Dunkerque on the way. As Paso by Bergues, a town where 'Welcome to the North' was shot, a comedy in which a mailman finds happiness in a 'hell', the group with the teams of the sprinters was already taking positions.
The serious began after the organization left the usual daily combativity award. In the Esprint, madness and chaos reigned. A first fall involved Evenepoel and half a dozen runners in the last curve.
In the middle of the chaos, the Lidl placed Jonathan Milan in unbeatable conditions, but Merlier's reaction was impressive and put the wheel on the same line to the Italian. A photo victory.
Another 'classic' interesting arrives
This Tuesday the fourth stage has a classic aroma again on the 174.2 km route between Amiens and Rouen, since five dimensions are chained in the last third, that of Jacques Anquetil (4th, 3.5 km at 3.6), Belbeuf (3a, 1.3 km at 9.1), Bonsecours (4a, 900 meters at 7.2), Grand Mare (4a, 4 km to 5).
The last the ramp will be in the Saint Hilaire level (3rd, 800 meters to 10.6), with the top 5 km from the finish line. Explosive end, classications and favorites again on the scene.
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