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Tour de France: Belgian rider Merlier wins third stage, Pogačar finishes safely
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Belgium's Tim Merlier celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 178.3 kilometers (110.8 miles) with start in Valenciennes and finish in Dunkerque, France, Monday, July 7, 2025. - photo by AP Photo/Thibault Camus
DUNKERQUE, France (AP) — Belgian rider Tim Merlier won the third stage of the Tour de France in a photo finish and Mathieu Van der Poel kept the yellow jersey on Monday. Defending champion Tadej Pogačar and two-time winner Jonas Vingegaard — the main contenders — finished safely as they rolled in together with the main pack. When the sprinters turned for home into a strong headwind, several crashed near the line at top speeds of 65 kph (40 mph).