Tour de France live: Stage 3 start time and route as sprinters set to battle in Dunkirk
There has been chaos aplenty through the opening two stages of this year's Tour, and Alpecin-Deceuninck have thrived amidst the carnage, the Belgian team two wins from two with Mathieu van der Poel taking the yellow jersey off the back of teammate Jasper Philipsen with his victory in Boulogne-sur-Mer yesterday. With the Dutchman and others providing such leadout strength, Philipsen will be the hot favourite to continue the winning streak today - though after missing the split in the crosswinds on Stage 1, fast-men like Jonathan Milan and Tim Merlier will be keen to hit back.
The 178.3km route from Valenciennes is pretty close to pan-flat, just a single categorised climb 40km from the finish unlikely to cause much disruption. It could, however, still be a tough day, with heavy rain falling at the start this morning and a strong headwind to be contended with on the run-in towards the port city near the Belgian border.
Start time
Stage three is set to start around 1.10pm local time (12.10pm BST) and finish at 5.20pm local time (4.20pm BST).
Callum Rice-Coates7 July 2025 11:24
Stage 2 report
If you missed yesterday's long and dramatic stage, read our report to get up to speed:
Van der Poel emerges victorious ahead of Pogacar in Tour de France stage 2
Van der Poel pipped the three-time Tour champion in a sprint finish
Callum Rice-Coates7 July 2025 11:04
Tour de France Stage 3
After two days of carnage and chaos on the roads of northern France, the Tour peloton might be hoping for slightly calmer proceedings as they negotiate a 178.3km route from Valenciennes to Dunkirk. It's been a perfect start for Alpecin-Deceuninck with Mathieu van der Poel securing victory yesterday to take the yellow jersey from teammate Jasper Philipsen - and the Belgian sprinter will again be among the favourites today with a fast finish expected in the Channel port city.
The forecast is, however, a little iffy - could rain and headwinds yet create more unpredictable racing?
Harry Latham-Coyle7 July 2025 08:51
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