Image source, Reuters

Tim Wellens, speaking about his curious move to win the sole KOM point and take the polka dot jersey: "Last night, Tadej Pogacar and I talked about the possibility of me taking the polka dot jersey. He told me he was happy to have it, but as he's a generous person, he doesn't mind sharing.

I've worn the polka dot jersey before and I know it's an honour in the Tour de France, so I'm very happy.

"Of course, I'm here to help Tadej, but my legs felt really good anyway and it didn't take that much energy to go for the point."

Tim Merlier speaking after winning stage three: "It was difficult to be in position in the battle before the last corner and I must say, my team did an incredible job to the last 5km and then the real battle started," said Merlier.

"I was able to get some slipstream next to Milan. It's always difficult to beat him but I'm happy I can take today my second win in the Tour de France.

"At first I was sure (I had won) and put my hands in the air but then I was not sure anymore so I was waiting until I was."

1. Mathieu Van der Poel (Ned - Alpecin-Deceuninck) 12hrs 55mins 37secs

2. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), +4secs

3. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), +6secs

4. Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), +10secs

5. Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike), Same time

6. Enric Mas (Spa-Movistar) Same time

7. Joseph Blackmore (GB - Israel - Premier Tech) +41secs

8. Tobias Halland Johannessen (Nor - Uno-X Mobility) Same time

9. Ben O'Connor (Aus - Jayco AlUla) "

10. Emanuel Buchmann (Ger/Cofidis) +49secs

1. Tim Merlier (Bel/Soudal Quick-Step) 4hrs 16mins 55secs

2. Jonathan Milan (Ita/Lidl-Trek) Same time

3. Phil Bauhaus (Ger/Bahrain Victorious) "

4. Soren Waerenskjold (Nor/Uno-X Mobility) "

5. Pavel Bittner (Cze/Picnic PostNL) "

6. Biniam Girmay (Eri/Intermarche-Wanty) "

7. Kaden Groves (Aus/Alpecin - Deceuninck) "

8. Danny van Poppel (Ned/Red Bull - Bora - hansgrohe) "

9. Pascal Ackermann (Ger/Israel - Premier Tech) "

10. Amaury Capiot (Bel/Arkwa - B&B Hotels) "

Image source, Reuters

There was absolutely nothing in that finish at all. Barely the width of a cigarette paper in fact.

Jonathan Milan had a top speed of almost 44m/ph there and still didn't win.

It is Tim Merlier v Jonathan Milan.....this is close.

Merlier gets there in photo-finish territory.

Ouch!published at 500m to go

500m to go

Huge crash with 500m to go...

Complete chaos.

Tim Merlier is moving up...

Lidl-Trek are going to try and lead out Jonathan Milan.

Ouch!published at 3km to go

3km to go

There is a crash at the back of the bunch...Remco Eevenpoel is down. Geraint Thomas is involved and Primoz Roglic is back there.

Jordi Meeus is down.

Arnaud de Lie has three Lotto team-mates with him for company...

Mattia Cattaneo has been on the front of the Soudal-Quick Step train for some time.

It is a superb effort from the Italian.

The jury has decided that there will be no combativity award today, which is not a huge surprise.

The race is beginning to get ragged as Dunkirk and the English Channel come into view.

The peloton is driving into a headwind at a very brisk 53km/h.

Riders are starting to burn out like matches at present.

Remco Evenepoel is up near the front now pulling for his Soudal-Quick-Step colleague Tim Merlier, who did not contest the intermediate sprint.

The pace is ramping up and it looks a little nervy out on the road. There will be a lot of riders here just anxious to get to the extended safety zone at 5km.

Intermarche-Wanty, are up front now along with Alpecin-Deceuninck.

Jasper Philipsen's withdrawal means that 2024 winner, Biniam Girmay is in pole position in the green jersey race.

Tim Wellens sits up. His work for the day is done and he has relieved Tadej Pogacar of around 45-60 minutes of additional media duties at the end of the stage.

Image source, Getty Images

Tim Wellens, who is wearing the jersey of Belgium's national champion, has opened up nearly two minutes as he heads up the cobbled climb to Cassel, one KOM point and the polka dot jersey..

Tim Wellens is currently a point behind Tadej Pogacar in the King of the Mountains classification and according to UAE Team Emirates the stategy here is for him to pick up the point and take the polka dot jersey from his team-mate.

The Belgian is told that his team has checked but I had thought that Pogacar would keep the jersey baced on taking points on a higher categorised climb.