Image source, AP

So Marcel Kittel becomes the first rider in nearly 40 years to win three of the four stages. Good effort.

That's all from me for today, but the good news is we will have live text commentary of every single one of the remaining 17 stages.

Tomorrow stage sees a 155km jaunt from Ypres to Arenberg Porte du Hainaut.

I'll be back around midday to begin building up to the start. With nine sections of cobbles, tomorrow "could be carnage". Those are Geraint Thomas's words, not mine.

Until then, it's goodbye from me.

Rob Hatch
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

"The big news for the Brits today was the crash of Chris Froome after about five kilometres. It's his wrist that you really do worry about. One thing is certain - he'll be sleeping on his right-hand side tonight."

Rob Hayles
Former Great Britain cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"Kristoff hit his handlebars in despair - that was a tough race. Kittel has won three of the four stages but he looked absolutely exhausted, spent, at the finish."

Britain's defending champion Chris Froome did not lose any time today and is seventh in the general classification.

The Team Sky rider will be assessed by the medical team after falling very early in today's stage and looked to have a sore wrist and grazed left hip.

Yellow Jersey
Classification

Italy's Vincenzo Nibali retains the yellow jersey with a two-second lead over Peter Sagan. Here's the top eight in the general classification.

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Astana) 13hrs 31mins 13secs

2. Peter Sagan (Svk/Cannondale) +2secs

3. Michael Albasini (Swi/Orica GreenEdge) - same time

4. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel/BMC Racing)

5. Alberto Contador (Spa/Tinkoff - Saxo)

6. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar)

7. Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky)

8. Jurgen Van den Broeck (Bel/Lotto)

1. Marcel Kittel (Giant-Shamano) 3hrs 36mins 39secs

2. Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) - same time

3. Arnaud Demare (FDJ.fr)

4. Peter Sagan (Cannondale)

5. Bryan Coquard (Europcar)

6. Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol)

7. Mark Renshaw (Omega Pharma - Quick-Step)

8. Danny van Poppel (Trek)

9. Davide Cimolai (Lampre)

10. Daniel Oss (BMC Racing)

"I am still pretty tired, it was really exhausting," says Marcel Kittel. "The last 30km, we rode with high speed. It was really fast and difficult to stay together with the team at the end.

"The boys delivered me to the front. Everything I was thinking about was the last corner, just before the finish. I was tempted to go at 500m, but then I sat down again. It was everything I had at the end.

"Today showed we are not unbeatable. It was close today."

Image source, EPA

It was so close at the finish, but Marcel Kittel edged it by half a wheel to secure his third stage win of the 2014 race.

Alexander Kristoff crossed second with Arnaud Demare third and green jersey holder Peter Sagan recovering from a fall with 8km to go to take fourth.

Marcel Kittel wins stage four of the Tour de France.

Alexander Kristoff has been released in the rundown to the finish line, but Peter Sagan and Marcel Kittel are very much in striking distance.

Lots of jostling for position here, with Mark Cavendish's Omega Pharma - Quick-Step now leading the way with 3.8km to go. Such a shame Cavendish is out of the race otherwise he'd have had a great chance in this situation.

Alberto Contador's Saxo-Tinkoff team hits the front of the peloton, with Orica GreenEdge starting a train to the left alongside the barriers.

Orders are being issued as the teams get set for a sprint finish. Not long to go now, folks.

Green jersey holder Peter Sagan has hit the deck and is now 50m behind the peloton. Just 8.8km to go.

Thomas Voeckler has been gobbled up by the peloton. Good effort from the Frenchman, but it was just a little too much of an ask to stick it out alone.

Thomas Voeckler has worked his socks off at the front, but he's about to get caught by the peloton with 18km to go. His lead is down to a meagre 10 seconds.

Kiwi Greg Henderson, 37 - who hit the ground quite heavily - has withdrawn from the race.

Image source, AFP

Thomas Voeckler's time at the front is nearing the end as the peloton close to within 20 seconds of the Frenchman. There are still 24km remaining.

Rob Hayles
Former Great Britain cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"Henderson's wheel just went from underneath him and he went down extremely heavily and took one of his team-mates with him."

Lotto-Belisol rider Greg Henderson falls as the peloton round a roundabout. A couple of his team-mates go down too. That's bad news for sprinter Andre Greipel who is targeting the stage win.