The third stage of the Tour de France heads north to Dunkerque, and while the terrain is pan-flat, the threat of crosswinds ensures no one can fully relax. For the pure sprinters, this is the best opportunity yet to open their account. For the GC teams, it’s another day of risk to be carefully managed.
After a chaotic start to the Tour, this 178km run from Valenciennes offers some welcome simplicity: one climb, no pavé, and a long, straight run-in. But Tour stages are rarely straightforward. The threat of crosswinds is real, particularly in the final 35km, and with a nervous peloton jostling for position, crashes could prove just as dangerous as splits.
Back to the north coast
The departure town of Valenciennes sits just a few kilometres from the famous Arenberg Forest, the legendary cobbled sector of Paris-Roubaix. That might suggest a day of carnage, but the race organisers have opted for a cleaner route: tarmac all the way, and only one categorised climb – Mont Cassel (2.3km at 3.8%) – with just 30km remaining.
From there, the race descends steadily towards the coast, reaching its northernmost point of the 2025 Tour with a finish in Dunkerque. Though it hasn’t hosted a Tour stage finish since 2001, the city is a staple on the French racing calendar, known for its role in the Four Days of Dunkerque and, of course, its history in World War II. A flat finale, a straight boulevard, and 10, 6, and 4 bonus seconds on the line all point to a classic bunch sprint.
Plenty to prove
Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Deceuninck leads the points classification and showed his strength on stage one. But while that win came from a reduced group, Dunkerque will be his first test against a full sprint field. His biggest rivals, Tim Merlier and Jonathan Milan, both missed the move on day one and will be eager to put things right.
Groenewegen, Meeus, Bauhaus and De Lie are all in the mix, while Arnaud Démare and Pascal Ackermann are searching for a breakthrough in 2025. Biniam Girmay’s condition is uncertain after a crash late on stage two, but if he’s recovered, he’s more than capable of challenging for the win. Wout van Aert remains a wildcard, though this finish likely favours the out-and-out sprinters.
What’s on offer
- Date: Monday, 7th July
- Distance: 178km
- Start/Finish: Valenciennes – Dunkerque
- Intermediate sprint: Isbergues (km 118.2)
- Climbs:
- Mont Cassel (cat. 4, km 147.4)
Prediction
European champion Tim Merlier is a good pick for the win in Dunkerque, his team will be fully focused on delivering their man to the line. He has the speed, the motivation, and a team hungry to make up for their mistakes on stage one.
