Tim Merlier takes sprint victory after Jasper Philipsen abandons as crashes mar stage 3 of Tour de France - Merlier pounced after misfortune befell his former teammate and fellow Belgian on the road t

A three-week Grand Tour will always contain natural ebbs and flows, and, for much of Monday’s stage between Valenciennes and Dunkirk, it looked as if the peloton had declared an unofficial rest day, with the riders happy to cruise back towards the coast after a weekend of wind, rain and intensity.

Belgian cyclist Jasper Philipsen exited the Tour de France due to a crash in the third stage, requiring surgery for a collarbone fracture. Despite an early victory, his race ended with multiple crashes impacting fellow riders,