Tim Merlier wins a 3rd stage in the sprint marked by the falls

In Dunkirk, the Belgian won his second victory over the Grande Boucle, four years after his success in Pontivy in 2021.

Everything was played at the photo-finish in Dunkirk. Tim Merlier (Sudal Quick-Step) deprived Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) of his first victory on the Tour de France, Monday July 7. The Belgian, reigning European champion, dominated the Italian in a final sprint enamelled by several violent falls. The German Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious) completes the podium, while the three French Emilien Jeannière (Totalenergies), Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) and Paul Penhoët (Groupama-FDJ) finished their race in the barriers.

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A few times earlier, another fall made damage in the middle of the peloton, eliminating the German sprinter Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and bringing up Remco Evenepoel (Sudal Quick-Step) from its mount. The Belgian was able to leave and will not waste time on the rest of the competition thanks to the neutralization applied in the last five kilometers.

Even earlier, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) saw his dream of second victory over this edition fly away. The man with 10 successes on the big loop fell heavily during the intermediate sprint after a collision with the French Bryan Coquard (Cofidis). Fallen at full speed on the collarbone, the tunic torn in the back, the wearer of the green jersey remained sitting on the side of the road and was forced to abandon.

Unfortunately, all of his falls will remain the only memory of this soporific stage on the sporting level. The very flat route did not invite the runners to take the breakaway and the peloton remained grouped for 140 km, until Tim Wellens (UAE-XRG), the Tadej Pogacar teammate, escapes a few moments to take the only point of the mountain of the day in the rise of Cassel. The Belgian took the opportunity to recover the polka dot jersey and relieve his Slovenian teammate from the end -of -stage protocols, sometimes used when we aim for the general classification on a three -week race. An effort he did not continue, getting up to let the sprinters argue the bouquet.

Mathieu Van der Poel, he quietly kept his yellow jersey thanks to his four small seconds ahead of Tadej Pogacar. French Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B & B Hotels) is still wearing the white jersey. On the other hand, the abandonment of Philipsen allows Jonathan Milan to put on the green jersey.