In the normal application of the 3 km rule, if there are riders ahead of the crash affected group, then at least one rider from the crash affected group needs to get to the finish quickly to keep the gap within reason. They crossed the line at 4:29, and no-one crossed between Van Avermaet and the Maté-led group, but now recorded as 3:37, so has not happened today: they have been allocated at time equal to their gap at 3 km to Cummings.
Not only that, but so have riders unaffected by the crash. Nibali finished @ 2:14, but allocated 1:58, Van Avermaet finished @3:04, but now listed as 2:57.
And what about the times behind? Was Pinot, for example, given his gap at 3km to go, or at the line?
ASO are very lucky that the last 600m kicker had not been deemed to be enough to not categorise it as a flat finish, they would not have had 3km timing equipment.
And I bet they are glad that Impey and Navarro didn't catch up with and pass Cummings in the last 3 km, or they would have to give 1st place a slower time than 3rd place.
Won't make a lot of difference in Paris, but what a farce.