Latest updates from stage 3 today as Mark Cavendish chases history

The Tour de France is off to an intriguing start with the Spanish Basque Country delivering action aplenty across a tough opening weekend.

After the Yates brothers duelled in Bilbao, the general classification battle threatened to ignite on the steep inclines around San Sebastian, with Tadej Pogacar already testing Jonas Vingegaard’s climbing legs and both overall favourites looking in good form. There was a surprise come the finish, though, as Victor Lafay caught Jumbo-Visma napping with a surprise attack to leave a furious Wout van Aert to sprint only for second, with the Frenchman holding off the chasers to secure Cofidis’ first win for 15 years.

Stage Three should be the first to interest the pure fast-men in the field as the race moves into France for the first time, with a gentler 184km run to Bayonne likely to end in a bunch sprint. That could mean Mark Cavendish is right in the mix, with the Astana rider seeking to surpass Eddy Merckx with a record 35th stage win as he prepares to bow out of cycling at the end of the season.

Follow all the latest updates from stage three below:

Tour de France 2023

• Stage 3 sees peloton enter France on 184km route from Amorebieta to Bayonne

• Sprinters get first chance to fight for stage as Adam Yates wears yellow jersey

• Mark Cavendish could get opportunity to fight for historic 35th Tour stage

• Stage scheduled to start around 12pm BST with expected finish at 4.30pm

Tour de France 2023

11:21 , Lawrence Ostlere

Follow all the latest from stage three of the Tour de France as the sprinters get their first chance in this year’s race.