After its triumphant start in Yorkshire, the Tour de France continued to make its way through the UK on Monday.
Stage 3 took the riders on a 155km route from Cambridge to London.
Vincenzo Nibali started the day overall leader and the Italian rider was probably hoping to avoid this kind of embarrassment again if he remained in first place.
Defending champion Chris Froome appeared relaxed on Monday morning, clearly happy with his current 5th place.
Froome stays cool before the start.
The stage was lined with messages of support for fellow British rider Mark Cavendish who was ruled out of the Tour after crashing near the end of stage one at the weekend.
The get well soon messages in Essex for Mark Cavendish
The action got off to a rather inconspicuous start in Cambridge.
The houses by the start of the Tour in Cambridge have really knocked themselves out with banners & decorations!
But the crowds soon started to gather and cheer on the riders at the start of the stage.
Was lucky enough to see the Peloton in #Cambridge today with @toricmorris today, incredible atmosphere #TourDeFrance
C'est parti pour 155 km / Let's go for 155kms #TDF
People tried to get the best vantage points possible.
Every rooftop, no matter how precarious, is pressed into use as a vantage point of the #TdF
The sun even came out.
Some cyclists. Normal for Cambridge, nothing to see here. #TdF
The riders were greeted by large crowds in Finchingfield.
La tête de la course, 3eme étape
In Epping.
And rather odd decorations in Felstead.
People insisted on still taking selfies, despite Team Sky cyclist Geraint Thomas calling them a "pain in the arse".
@BBCCambsSport dangerous selfie #hse guidelines followed ..well sort of #eventphotography #TDF2014 #tourdefrance
Some preferred artistic shots.
As the stage neared London, the jokes began.
The Tour de France passes through East London today. Beware of hipsters.
So exciting to see the Tour de France getting a true London welcome of abuse from a taxi driver and a shove off the road from a bus.
Gallows humour on the Essex roadside #TdF14 @cyclingweekly
BREAKING: More scandal from the Tour de France, with suspicion of foul play from the surprise leader in London.
"Jokes".
Wish I could share everyone's excitement about the Tour de France. But a bunch of blokes cycling in lycra just doesn't do it for me. #zzzzz
But the capital looked rather splendid as it prepared to welcome the Tour.
Unfortunately the weather had other ideas.
Somehow rain adds to the atmosphere #bbccycling #letourdewoodford
Pendant ce temps là, les bus arrivent à Londres / Meanwhile, buses are arriving in London. @BMCProTeam #TDF
The crowds didn't seem to care though.
People did seem rather bemused/excited by the caravan that preceded the riders into the capital.
#tourdefrance in #Essex x :)
Tour de France caravan. Where the sponsors throw stuff they don't want at the faces of cycling nerds.
FREE STUFF!!! Ahem... I mean, #tourdefrance caravan going past the @PopcornLondon office
Le Caravan comes through Walthamstow #tourdefrance
As the Tour neared the centre of the capital former winner Andy Schleck crashed out, while a spectator was also knocked to the ground.
Tour de France: David Lopez percute un spectateur - http://t.co/VqZ9tFj2xZ - via @Sport_buzz_fr
Footage appeared to show Team Sky rider David Lopez clipping the spectator as they took a picture in the middle of the road.
don't get in the way of david lopez.
Work stopped momentarily as the peloton made its way through the Olympic Park in Stratford.
Peloton swings into Olympic Park. #LeTourdeFrance #LeTourdeFrance
And in the City.
The whole City has turned out for the Tour de France!!
Everywhere along the route in London really.
Lots of people but where are the bicycles?? #tourdefrance #london
#TDF riders flash past #5News towers
As the riders zipped through Westminster, Labour leader Ed Miliband took time out of his day to record a Vine of the race.
Tour de France just passed the Houses of Parliament and will soon be at the finish on The Mall #tdf
The general reaction of everyone was "wow, they're fast".
Thousands lined the Mall as the riders raced towards the finish line after 155km.
And Marcel Kittel from Germany finally out-sprinted Peter Sagan to claim victory.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was at the finish line to witness the final dash. It's hard to know if he was happy with the result.
Jose Mourinho at the Tour De France in London right now.
Congratulations Kittel @letour ... where are you @Tyler_GT ??
Overall, Nibali managed to retain the yellow jersey and Froome stayed in fifth overall.
The London sprint was the last action in the UK. On Tuesday the Tour de France finally heads to France for the start of the fourth stage.
