Belgian rider Tim Merlier won stage three of the Tour de France, but his victory was overshadowed by a series of crashes that removed top sprinter Jasper Philipsen from the race. The crash occurred 60km from the finish line after French rider Bryan Coquard intentionally crashed into Philipsen’s path, causing him to abandon.
Merlier’s own celebrations were dampened when he suffered a minor crash 3km from the end, taking down his team leader Remco Evenepoel. Despite this, Merlier managed to remount and finish the stage.
The day was marked by a lackluster performance from many of the top riders, with the French team struggling to show any spirit. The absence of breakaway attempts only added to the soporific nature of the racing.
Meanwhile, defending champion Tadej Pogacar remained focused on his climbing position, as his teammate Tim Wellens briefly took the lead in the climber’s classification. Pogacar also got to enjoy wearing the polka dots jersey for a day, a novelty he has only experienced once in six editions of the Tour.
However, tensions are growing within Jonas Vingegaard’s team after his wife and personal manager expressed concerns that her husband is close to burnout. Trine Vingegaard Hansen said that Jonas needs to take care of himself, both physically and mentally, but his team management countered that the sacrifice he makes for the sport is necessary.
The Tour de France continues on Tuesday with a stage from Amiens to Rouen, which includes three climbs in the final 21km.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jul/07/points-leader-jasper-philipsen-crashes-out-of-tour-as-tim-merlier-wins-stage-three