A three-week Grand Tour will always contain natural ebbs and flows, and, for much of Monday’s stage between Valenciennes and Dunkirk, it looked as if the peloton had declared an unofficial rest day, with the riders happy to cruise back towards the coast after a weekend of wind, rain and intensity.

Deceuninck, crashed out of the Tour de France Monday just two days after taking the yellow jersey for the first time in his career.

Green-jersey wearer Jasper Philipsen was forced to abandon the third stage of the Tour de France after a spectacular crash left him needing medical help on the side of the road.