Belgian rider Tim Merlier has won the third stage of the Tour de France in a photo finish and Mathieu Van der Poel has kept the yellow jersey.

Van der Poel in the leader's yellow jersey is the grandson of French cycling legend Raymond Poulidor, who came second in the Tour de France seven times, but never won and never got to don the yellow tunic.

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.