Tour de France Tour de France 2025, Stage 3: Valenciennes – Dunkerque (173.8k)

[ontheroad]

Big Johnny Power will kill someone on the Lidl team bus this evening. He did very little wrong but that was insane power shown by Merlier to get up on the line without a lead out.

 

[Peyroteo94]

What was predicted, did happen. Congratulations to the organizers.

And this massacre on organization continue while reckless sprinters are out there doing stupid things in wide roads.

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

Apart from the narrowing of the road where the Remco incident happened, I don't see much wrong with the finish.
People complain about curves but straight wide road finishes often result in even more crashes (see the hectic in UAE tour), these curves weren't steep, I think the finish was fine.

 

[Unchained]

Officials have printer going to get yellow cards for the first 30-35 riders!!!

 

[titan31]

Looks like Pogacar in 19th has now changed to Niklas Markl.

Understandable confusion tbh

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I feel terribly for Phillipsen. Again, not my favorite rider, but I would not wish such a crash on any rider.
Not even Milan.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Merlier is pure horsemeat

Alistair Overeem has entered the chat!

 

[awavey]

Or the run in is 8 lanes wide, completely straight.

Nah I've seen worse sprint crashes on stupidly wide boulevards, as they tend to be faster and you get everyone going for gaps that aren't there because they all think the can win it on a throw.

A narrower road at least forces a selection of sorts

 

[Tim Cahill]

Merlier like Sagan when it comes to these messy sprints with no leadouts

 

[ppanther92]

Apart from the narrowing of the road where the Remco incident happened, I don't see much wrong with the finish.
People complain about curves but straight wide road finishes often result in even more crashes (see the hectic in UAE tour), these curves weren't steep, I think the finish was fine.

Totally but the peloton was quite hectic. There were a lot of close calls.

 

[Red Rick]

You jokers

70	Vingegaard Jonas	Team Visma | Lease a Bike				,,
71	Pogačar Tadej	UAE Team Emirates - XRG				,,

 

[Peyroteo94]

Soudal radio congratuled the team because Merlier won but Remco must be fuming.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Have you seen Merlier sprint this year?

And tbf, it was really close in the end.

 

[titan31]

Think that was Jeanniere who went flying in the crash

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Apart from the narrowing of the road where the Remco incident happened, I don't see much wrong with the finish.
People complain about curves but straight wide road finishes often result in even more crashes (see the hectic in UAE tour), these curves weren't steep, I think the finish was fine.

Straight wide road until 2k to go today, big factor in the Meeus/Evenepoel crash.

And even for the final 2k, you should have curves that string out the peloton, not whatever the *** this was. Also impossible to sprint in a straight line here, the only reason that didn't cause major issues is because we were down to like 15 riders by that point.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Pogačar is leading Vingegaard 91 against 93 on stage placings. BFFs. Trine and Urška are getting jealous.

 

[Samamba]

Van Poppel caused last crash. Bumping riders left and ride like he always does

 

[ppanther92]

So guys crashing in the end were Pithie, Penhoët, Jeanniere, and?

 

[Didinho]

Was it Jeannière who went into the barriers over the pair of them?

Looks like it. Went flying. Did ride over the finish line, as did Meeus.

 

[Tommy Gun]

What wrong about wanting them to be in breaks? I also thought that was the idea to get TV time (brand exposure) for their corporate sponsors, and at an individual level, to at least try to animate a race?

Sorry if I was not clear enough: some here were complaining that Coquard had nothing to do in a sprint and even that Cofidis should be sent home.
Absolutely nothing wrong with breakaways!

 

[ppanther92]

Was it Jeannière who went into the barriers over the pair of them?

Yes

 

[titan31]

So guys crashing in the end were Pithie, Penhoët, Jeanniere, and?

Think it was Renard.

Also thought Pithie was in the Meeus crash and last crash was Penhoet, Jeanniere, Renard and Ballerini

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Jeannière crossed the finish line, 9 minutes after flying into the barriers. Remains to be seen whether he can start tomorrow but even if not his injuries could have been a lot worse.

 

[Didinho]

Merlier incredibly impressive effort.

That effort before the sprint to Milan’s wheel was incredible. He even had to brake.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Think it was Renard

It was Coquard (what a day for him...), Renard had a flat late on.