03/07/2023

Jasper Philipsen sprints to the win in chaotic finale to stage 3 of the Tour de France

Jasper Philipsen has taken the win on stage 3 of the 2023 Tour de France in the first bunch sprint finish seen at this year's edition of the race.

The opening weekend of the Tour de France has seen quite a lot of spectacle, but as the race finally calms down, stage 3 will be the first day where the sprinters can fight for the win, as the race enters France.

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Just two riders in the breakaway of the day today, with most saving their legs for a day where the peloton isn't as keen on taking the stage win. Laurent Pichon (Team Arkéa Samsic) and the King of the Mountains, Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) were the men up front.

Powless took the maximum points on both of the first two climbs unchallenged. As the peloton approached the intermediate sprint, the new Green Jersey and stage 2 winner Victor Lafay attacked clear of the bunch to try and catch the pure sprinters out.

It was Powless again who took the points at the next two climbs, giving it large to the adoring crowd as he crossed the line each time.

With just over 81km to go though, Powless decided to save his legs and wait up for the peloton leaving only Pichon up front.

As the race headed into France, Pichon's advantage at the head of the race had dropped to just 1:20.

With 44km to go, Pichon was swallowed up by the peloton and the attention began to turn towards the sprint finish.

The battle for position at the front was incredibly fierce. Almost all of the world's top sprinters are here this year and they all wanted to be best positioned.

In a technical finale full of roundabouts, the peloton became incredibly stretched out. All the general classification riders safely came through the 3km to go banner.

Into the final kilometre and it was mayhem at the front of the peloton. Mathieu van der Poel was doing a brilliant lead out for Jasper Philipsen.

When the Alpecin-Deceuninck sprinter fired there was no stopping him as he powered his way to victory. Phil Bauhaus was a narrow second with Caleb Ewan coming home third.