Greipel, who also won stage two, expertly navigated a wet stage cluttered with crashes with the help of his Lotto-Soudal team mates before proving too strong in the bunch sprint finish.

He overhauled British rival Mark Cavendish and Norway's Alexander Kristoff before narrowly holding off fast-finishiing Slovakian Peter Sagen, who came second. 

’m happy that we can bring the Tour de France back to Germany,” said the winner afterwards.

“I have to thank my mother as I have some fast-twitching muscles."

Cavendish, the 25-time stage winner, continued to suffer a disappointing Tour, eventually crossing the line third today.

"He was faster," he said afterwards of Greipel.

"Today I was just beaten."

It continued a great Tour so far for Germany, with Tony Martin remaining overall leader ahead of Britain's 2013 champion Chris Froome.

Martin is not expected to figure in the overall standings once the mountain stages begin but Froome, 12 seconds behind, remains the best placed of the pre-race favourites. 

His three biggest rivals - Spain's Alberto Contador, Italy's Vincenzo Nibali and Colombia's Nairo Quintana - crossed the line in the same group.

There was a nervy moment today Frenchman Thibaut Pinot, who finished third last year but required his team mates to pace him back to the main group after being one of a number of riders to suffer a fall in treacherous conditions.

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