Stage three
The riders are now edging towards Cote de Cassel, the only categorised climb of the day as Tim Wellens sticks his nose into the wind and heads off up the road.
The UAE Team Emirates man is a Classics specialist and has eked out 30 seconds.
Alpecin-Deceuninck look pretty upset by the events that took Jasper Philipsen out of the race but the only consolation at present is that they do have a rider, in Kaden Groves, who could step into that breach.
Australia's Groves is a Tour de France debutant but has won seven stages in the Vuelta a Espana and two in the Giro d'Italia
1. Jonathan Milan, 20 pts2. Paul Penhoët, 17 pts3. Kaden Groves, 15 pts4. Anthony Turgis, 13 pts5. Hugo Page, 11 pts6. Simone Consonni, 10 pts7. Biniam Girmay, nine pts8. Soren Waerenskjold, eight pts9. Laurenz Rex, seven pts10. Tim Wellens, six pts
The Belgian sprinter is being attended to by the race doctor on the side of the road and he looks in a bad way.
Jasper Philipsen has abandoned. He hit the tarmac hard and slammed right down on his right shoulder.
Bryan Coquard made contact with Laurenz Rex and it sent him right into the path of the Belgian who had nowhere to go.
Jasper Philipsen is down. That was a violent crash and it was through no fault of his own.
Jonathan Milan wins the sprint unopposed.
Jasper Philipsen and Biniam Girmay are shadowing each other.
There are 20 points up for grabs in the battle for the green jersey when we hit Isbergues.
Right on cue the sprint teams assemble at the front of the peloton.
Image source, ReutersThe sun is shining, crowds are lining the roads and there is blur of colour and movement as the peloton sweeps along.
The sounds and sights of the summer eh.
The tempo and winds have upped a bit and the intermediate sprint is now not far off.
Laurenz Rez, the Intermarche-Wanty rider, drops off the back of the peloton and then stops for a wheel change.
He loooked so laid back there as the main bunch scoot off into the distance.
One or two shots of Tadej Pogacar acting as a domestique and sharing a joke back at the UAE Team Emirates car as the riders take food and energy gels on.
Image source, Getty ImagesNo real changes on the ground as the peloton trundles on as one.
Everyone seems pretty content for this to be a big sprint showdown in Dunkirk.
And after a couple of taxing early stages, a chance for some respite, especially as there is no rest day until 15 July.
Is it me but are the bidon requests growing this year? Probably easier to catch and not damage than a hat or pair of shades.
The rainjackets came off a while ago and there are a few smiles in the peloton but still a couple of hours until we get anywhere near a sprint finish.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe average speed of racing in the first hour today is 36.2km/h, which is not excatly full gas is it?
Still another 65km until we hit the intermediate sprint at Isbergues.
Matt Warwick
BBC Sport in Valenciennes
Image source, BBC SportTadej Pogacar was probably merely stretching his legs (and also Jonas Vingegaard’s) yesterday, but there’s a chance flying Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel could be in the yellow jersey for the best part of a week and Alpecin-Deceuninck the winners of several stages.
Jasper Philipsen could win his second stage on today’s flat charge back to the sea in Dunkirk.
He told me before the Grand Depart that the most important team member to him was his suave-looking boss Christoph Roodhooft, who has headed an amazing journey for the team from relative second-tier obscurity, to taking over Soudal-Quick Step’s mantle as the Belgian one-day race specialists.
Whilst much of that is down to Van der Poel’s historic rise, Roodhooft is one who showed faith in a rider once known as ‘Jasper disaster’, but has since won the green jersey, and may do so again this year.
Image source, BBC SportIn case you missed it, French team, Cofidis, said that 11 bikes were stolen from their team truck before strage two.
In a statement, the team said that the door of their equipment truck was forced open, and their Look bikes were taken "despite the security measures put in place".
Each bike stolen is estimated to be worth around 13,000 euros (£11,200).
Thankfully their team car looked well stocked this morning.
Image source, Getty ImagesAlpecin-Deceuninck, aka Mathieu van der Poel and friends are driving the peloton at present.
There's probably more to see at the side of the road than on it at present.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesMatt Warwick
BBC Sport in Valenciennes
Following the glorious seaside sprint between Messi and Ronaldo (you choose who’s who), the Tour moved on to Valenciennes, where organisers were putting up barriers long into the night under the beautiful deep blue lights of the city’s old town.
Like yesterday, it was absolutely hosing down this morning as the teams made their way to the startline. It’s expected to clear up, but there could be a few thunderstorms to throw into the mix later.
Image source, BBC Sport
Image source, BBC SportBarring a rider crashing or suffering some other unfortunate incident I would be amazed if anything changes too much at the top of the GC standings later in Dunkirk.
1. Mathieu Van der Poel (Ned - Alpecin-Deceuninck) 8hrs 38mins 42secs
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)
7.Jasper Philipsen (Bel - Alpecin - Deceuninck) +31secs
8. Joseph Blackmore (GB - Israel - Premier Tech) +41secs
9. Tobias Halland Johannessen (Nor - Uno-X Mobility) Same time
10. Ben O'Connor (Aus - Jayco AlUla)
Image source, ASOStage three is a flat 178.3km run from Valenciennes to Dunkirk.
A late cobbled climb to Cassel and the potential for crosswinds and echelons to form in the final 35km could make things interesting but on paper this should definitely be a day for the Tour's fast men to shine.
If you need to catch up on the first couple of days or look forward to what's coming next feel free to read our stage guide which is updated with results each day.