Hello and welcome to live coverage of stage 3 of the Tour de France - a long and largely flat 223.5-kilometre schlep from Granville to Angers, and a chance for the pure sprinters to battle it out for a stage victory.

The photo finish made it look a bit more conclusive.

And the moment Cavendish learned that he had won...

Here's the top ten as Sagan finishes fourth to retain the yellow jersey.

This is how close it was...

It's official: Mark Cavendish is the winner! That's 28 wins for the Manxman on the Tour as the Dimension Data rider draws level with Bernard Hinault in the all-time stage win roll of honour.

Still awaiting confirmation... they both thought they won and both celebrated accordingly... Replays suggest it's Cav but it's too close to call.

Cavendish has Greipel's wheel and the two power through... they both think they've won - but that's Cavendish for sure!

The road swept uphill after the gantry and it's all opening up with Lotto prepping themselves for Greipel...

Etixx now lead the pack approaching the flamme rouge with Dimension Data behind.

Orica-BikeExchange edging up - and one of them goes into the barriers on a tight left-hand bend. He avoids crashing though. Phew, that was tense...

Direct Energie still on the front for Coquard but Etixx and Lotto have come through on the other side of the road. And now Trek and Dimension Data pull up.

After today's slow pace there are a lot of fresh legs. Cannondale currently ride on the front with Dimension Data behind. Cofidis are in the mix despite their man Bouhanni not being on the Tour. Direct Energie look eager too.

Lots of jostling for position and there's some dangerous road furniture... Sagan shoulders another rider, while a Katusha man is forced to bunny hop over a central reservation...

That's it - all over for Voeckler and Fonseca. Now how much time will they lose over the closing eight kilometres? Trek, Direct Energie and Dimension Data are readying themselves...

Ten to go and Orica-BikeExchange have come to the front for their man Michael Matthews, and so too have LottoNL-Jumbo for Dylan Groenewegen. The gap is in single figures now...

Team Sky are still riding near the front alongside Greipel's Lotto train. Britain's Steve Cummings (Dimension Data) is on the back - his favoured position - so won't be helping out Cavendish's train today. And still Voeckler digs deep, gurns, tongues the air and gives it his all. Fonseca still pulling as well - pretty impressive given the ride he's already had.

Some riders have been distanced, including Katusha's Michael Morkov, the Dane who crashed heavily in the stage one finale. Very fast pace now as the leading duo see their advantage slashed to 18 seconds.

After the intermediate sprint the green jersey standings are: Sagan 98pts, Cavendish 73pts, and Kittel 65pts. This will all change after the final sprint today, mind.

Just 35 seconds now as Etixx (for Kittel) and Lotto (for Greipel) really open it up on the front of the pack. Surely the combativity award will go to Armindo Fonseca, the man who has been out since the outset. Unless, of course, Voeckler attacks now and goes on to win the stage...

Not long to go for these two out ahead...