Merlier pips Milan in crash-marred stage three of Tour
Merlier pips. Milan in crash mod stage three of tour. Merllo pipped Jonathan Milan on the line in a sprint finish to win a crash mods stage three of the tour to France. The Belgian edged the Italian by the slenderest of margins with Germany’s Phil Bow House in third on a day when Mature Vanderpole retained the race leader yellow jersey and stage one winner Jasper Philipsson was forced to abandon. It was difficult to be in position in the battle before the last corner and I must say my team did an incredible job to the last five kills. Then the real battle started said Merier. I was able to get some slipstream next to Milan. It’s always difficult to beat him, but I’m happy I can take today my second win in the tour to France. At first, I was sure I had won and put my hands in the air, but then I was not sure anymore. So, I was waiting until I was. Belgian Philipsson who would almost certainly have contested the race to the finish line fell heavily around 60 km from the end of the 178.3 km route from Valencien to Dunkirk when Frenchman Brian Kart unintentionally diverted into his path. Philipsson’s team AlpeSin later said the 27year-old had sustained a fractured collarbone that will require surgery and had broken at least one rib. There were three more crashes including two in the final 5 km of the stage with Olympic champion Remco Evanapole and Gerant Thomas seemingly involved. moved.