Marcel Kittel made it three wins out of four in the 101st edition of the Tour De France with victory in Lille.
The riders flew from London City Airport to Le Touquet-Paris-Plage whilst the media, caravan and everything that goes to make up the Tour De France got across the channel by any means possible.
On a sunny day for this 163,5km stage to Lille Metropole, the stage started without Andy Schleck who was unable to continue following his crash yesterday.
Tommy Voeckler of Europcar and Luis Mate (Cofidis) got straight on the attack as soon as the flag dropped but three kilometres in, there was a touch of wheels in the peloton and Team Sky’s Chris Froome hit the deck. Froome was up straight away with a tear in this shorts on the left hand side.
The peloton, to its credit waited for Froome who received some medical attention. This allowed the gap to the front two to go out to 2.41 after eighteen kilometres.
Mate led the way over the Côte de Campagnette climb but his chain dropped and Voeckler took the sprint with 72.5kms left ahead of Mate on a new bike and points leader Peter Sagan.
Mate suffered more mechanical problems and was forced back into the peloton, leaving Voeckler up front on his own with 52kms to go with a lead of 1.15.
Nikki Terpstra crashed but was soon back on his way before Voeckler took the point on offer on the category four Mont Noir climb of 1.3kms at 5.7%.
As the riders chased down Voeckler. Greg Henderson of Lotto Belisol hit the deck. As one fan stole a bidon off his bike, Henderson was treated but was not fit enough to continue.
Voeckler was eventually caught with 16.3kms to go and on wetish roads in Lille, some 55 minutes from London via Eurostar, Garmin Sharp were on the front with the general classification favourites in Alberto Contador, race leader Vincenzo Nibali, Alejandro Valverde and Chris Froome.
There was no slowing down of the peloton as Omega Pharma Quick Step trying to give Mark Renshaw the win as the race headed into the city centre of Lille.
Tony Martin was on the front but up came Giant Shimano working for Marcel Kittel, who was followed by Peter Sagan.
Renshaw was in front of Kittel but the sprint started and Marcel Kittel took the win in 3.36.39.ahead of Kristoff.
Vincenzo Nibali remains as the race leader.
Picture copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS