DUNKERQUE, France (AP) – Belgian rider Tim Merlier won the third stage of the Tour de France in a photo finish and Mathieu Van der Poel kept the yellow jersey on Monday.
Tour de France: Belgian rider Merlier wins third stage, Pogačar finishes safely
DUNKERQUE, France (AP) – Belgian rider Tim Merlier won the third stage of the Tour de France in a photo finish and Mathieu Van der Poel kept the yellow jersey on Monday.
Defending champion Tadej Pogačar and two-time winner Jonas Vingegaard – the main contenders – finished safely as they rolled in together with the main pack.
When the sprinters turned for home into a strong headwind, several crashed near the line at top speeds of 65 kph (40 mph). Merlier just got the front of his wheel in front of Italian Jonathan Milan as they lunged to the line. German rider Phil Bauhaus was third.
It was Merlier’s second career stage win on the Tour, four years after his first, which also came on Stage 3.