Tim Merlier took stage three of the Tour de France here in Dunkirk, after the peloton’s top sprinter and points leader Jasper Philipsen, crashed out of the race 60km from the finish.
Merlier’s own celebrations were muted because of another crash 3km from the end that took down his Soudal Quick-Step team leader, Remco Evenepoel, although the frustrated Olympic road race champion was able to remount and finish the stage.
