Out of the equation in the first sprint of the Tour de France 2025, Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) took the revenge the was aiming for as he powered to victory in Dunkirk, on day 3. The Belgian sprinter managed to edge Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) right on the line, after a fast and tight sprint. Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious) completes the podium of the day after Jasper Philipsen was forced to retire after a high speed crash in the intermediate sprint. His teammate Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) survived the day to retain the Maillot Jaune. This is Merlier’s second win in the Tour. Back in 2021, he had already won stage 3 on the day after MVDP took his first stage win. At the time, they were teammates.
All 182 riders who finished the stage in Boulogne-sur-Mer are present at the start in Valenciennes. The day's route discourages the usual breakaway contenders.
Alpecin-Deceuninck in control
Without much conviction, Jonas Rickaert (Alpecin-Deceuninck) moves to the front, accompanied by Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious), but they end their breakaway themselves after less than 10 kilometres in the lead. Nils Politt and Tim Wellens (UAE Emirates XRG) also spent a few kilometres at the front in an equally unconvincing breakaway, which ended in the same way at km 21.
From then on, Mathieu Van der Poel's teammates took the lead of the peloton and maintained a modest pace, with the support of Max Schachmann (Soudal-Quick Step).
Philipsen on the ground
Van der Poel gets to enjoy his day as the race travels through places associated with Paris-Roubaix - Orchies, Templeuve, Mons-en-Pévèle - and with his father, Adrie Van der Poel, who took the Maillot Jaune in Béthune (km 95.3) in 1984.
The intensity picks up at the exit of Béthune, as the peloton reach wind-exposed sections and get close to the intermediate sprint in Isbergues (km 95.3). As Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) steps on his pedals to defend his green jersey, a contact with Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) sends him to the ground at high speed. The Belgian star, winner of stage 1, is forced to retire.
Merlier edges Milan
Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) attacks ahead of Mont Cassel (summit at km 147.4) to chase the KOM point that would earn him the polka-dot jersey. Over the top, the gap to the bunch is up to 1’45’’. The Belgian national champion is then caught with 27-km to go.
As the peloton reach Dunkirk, a fierce battle for the position unleashes against the headwind. Lidl-Trek take the reins for Jonathan Milan into the last kilometre. But Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) displays his pure speed to edge the Italian powerhouse and claim his second Tour win, four years after his maiden triumph in Pontivy.
It was already stage 3, and it was on the day after Mathieu Van der Poel won stage 2 in Mûr-de-Bretagne. Merlier had also already won in Dunkirk, at the end of the 4 Jours de Dunkerque 2023.
