May 9, 2003 – Jaan Kirsipuu (Ag2r) redeemed himself from his Stage 2 defeat by taking today's sprint finish over kiwi Julian Dean (CSC) and Brit Jeremy Hunt (MBK-Oktos). Frédéric Finot (Jean Delatour) kept his leader's jersey, with three more stages to come, including the decisive double stages on sunday. Canada's Michael Barry finished 21st: “Again the stage went from the gun. The course today was undulating and went over many small roads. I think the field is getting tired after three near-200k days and relentless attacking.”

The climbs seemed to be even harder after the intense riding, as “when we hit the climbs riders were going backwards. Also the attacks today were not nearly as vicious and riders were attacking over top of the last attempt.” Barry figures tomorrow's stage will most like destroy the field. “It looks as though the current leader and second place will lose time as they were challenged already today when it got tough. Racing here is intense as riders are constantly fighting for position-bumping and pushing.” This kind of racing is wearing not only on the legs, but the mind, as it takes a lot of concentration to stay upright in such trying conditions, Barry said. “This is almost more tiring then the racing as we are constantly focussed on holding our positions. It is a bit like a video game.” he said after today's stage, “Here in Dunkerque there are obstacles in the road, barriers, round abouts and speed bumps so we always have out heads up and are consious to stay out of trouble. The race finished on a tough circuit with a few hills. The peloton split and then came back together for a field sprint.”

Stage 3: 200k

1. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Ag2r-Prevoyance 4.30.39 (42.43km/h)
2. Julian Dean (NZl) Team CSC
3. Jeremy Hunt (GBr) MBK-Oktos-Saint-Quentin
4. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Credit Agricole
5. Baden Cooke (Aus) FDJeux.com
6. Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Quick.Step-Davitamon
7. Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Credit Agricole
8. Bram Schmitz (Ned) BankGiroLoterij Cycling Team
9. Saulius Ruskys (Ltu) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf
10. Marlon Perez (Col) 05 Orbitel
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21. Michael Barry (Can) US Postal

Overall:

1. Frédéric Finot (Fra) Jean Delatour 13.22.52
2. Stéphane Berges (Fra) Ag2r-Prevoyance 0.06
3. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Ag2r-Prevoyance 2.05
4. Julian Dean (NZl) Team CSC 2.15
5. James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim 2.18
6. Michel Van Haecke (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
7. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Credit Agricole
8. Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Cofidis-Le Crédit par Téléphone 2.19
9. Benoît Joachim (Lux) US Postal presented by Berry Floor
10. Saulius Ruskys (Ltu) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf
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38. Michael Barry (Can) US Postal