Belgian rider Tim Merlier has won the crash-marred third stage of the Tour de France in a photo finish and Mathieu Van der Poel has kept the yellow jersey.

"I am really trying to fight my way to win the green jersey, giving it my best shot. Today’s stage went great, as I won the intermediate sprint with a pretty go

Merlier, 32, grew up just over the border from Dunkirk and had been hoping to win the opening stage on Sunday. "That was a mess," Merlier said of the falls.

El ciclista belga Tim Merlier ganó la tercera etapa del Tour de Francia en un final de fotografía y Mathieu Van der Poel mantuvo el lunes el maillot

Belgium's Tim Merlier celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 178.3 kilometers (110.8 miles) with start in Valenciennes and finish ...

Out of the equation in the first sprint of the Tour de France 2025, Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) took the revenge the was aiming for as he powered to victory