Sep Vanmarcke was on the right side of a split in the finale of stage 3 of the Tour du Poitou-Charentes and this allowed him to take the leader's jersey before the afternoon time trial.

"I did not expect to take the leader's jersey. I thought Arnaud Gérard would stay ahead until the end. I did not see him in the last kilometer. I was very surprised to learn that I was taking the white jersey," he told Directvelo. "Unfortunately, I'm not going to wear it this afternoon. It's a shame but they did not make one for the TT and I prefer to wear the team suit. It would not be too aerodynamic to ride with the leader's jersey. I now have a few seconds in the GC, I will give everything. We will make the balance tonight."