Going into the final kilometres in today's third stage of the Tour de France, all was looking good for Lotto Belisol but things unravelled when André Greipel lost the wheels of his teammates. Team manager Marc Sergeant claims that his star sprinter was afraid on the slick roads in the British capital.

There were 155 kilometers left to go on English soil today. Cambridge hosted the start of stage three. The finish line was drawn in front of Buckingham Palace, London.
 
A duo decided to attack. Jan Barta and Jean-Marc Bideau immediately got a lead of five minutes. Among other Lars Bak and Bart De Clercq kept the gap under control. But in the centre of London the escapees got caught. Because of the rain the last kilometers of the stage were chaotic. With two kilometers to go there was a crash in the middle of the peloton. Marcel Kittel won the royal sprint in the British capital. Sagan and Renshaw couldn't get in front of him.
 
"From the start on we were riding quite in front of the bunch," Jürgen Roelandts said. "Throughout the stage the peloton controlled the race. Also in the final everybody of the team was present. Only a pity we couldn't enter the last kilometer together.

"In the heat of the moment André Greipel lost the wheel and he couldn't take his chance. It rained at the end and that made the final more dangerous. Tomorrow we get a new chance in the stage to Lille. We will try to grab it with both hands.
 
"I'm glad I got out of this English start in one piece. Because of the massive crowds along the English roads it was dangerous these past days. Also today it was hectic again. You had to watch out and especially stay concentrated to avoid crashing. Spectators that take pictures on the middle of the road,  narrow roads and a deafening noise can give dangerous situations. Luckily the team got out undamaged."
 

"The rain and all the people... Andre was scared," manager Marc Sergeant told Sporza. "He always let the guys go, he braked in all the corners. Then you can't win anything in the Tour. This is a missed opportunity.

"But I have seen the sprint and I noticed that Kittel was still comfortable on Veelers' wheel. I think the strongest rider won. Whether he has become stronger? I hope not, but I'm afraid he has."