Merlier masters mayhem

TIM MERLIER pipped Jonathan Milan to victory on a crash-strewn stage three of the Tour de France

- by IAN PARKER

TIM MERLIER pipped Jonathan Milan to victory on a crash-strewn stage three of the Tour de France that saw Saturday's stage winner Jasper Philipsen forced to abandon in the green jersey.

Soudal-QuickStep's Merlier had the power to come around Milan and take the win in a photo finish in Dunkirk, but it was a reduced sprint as two crashes in the final five kilometres split the peloton.