Tour de France stage 3 Live – The sprinters’ first dance

1KM TO GO

Girmay in nice place! Cavendish, Ewan, Sagan, Philipsen, they’re all right here to struggle for this first bunch dash. 

hairpin taken with Quick Step nonetheless dominating the front- they’ve performed it completely to this point. Can they end the job?

Jakobsen is in prime place for now! There are shoulders being thrown all through the entrance of the bunch because the battle for place heats up much more. 

3KM TO GO

Bahrain Victorious are working effectively for Phil Bauhaus in his first Tour de France. He’s been profitable in chaotic sprints prior to now, so will fancy at this time’s technical run in. 

Some of the massive favourites’ groups are absent from the entrance of the peloton and have enormous quantities of labor to do. Uno-X, Arkéa-Samsic and Soudal-Quick Step are essentially the most outstanding on the entrance for now. 

5KM TO GO

INEOS have taken up place on the entrance alongside QuickStep and we’ll now have the large cost to make it to the 3km protected zone for the GC riders. Uno-X are making one other cost of their purple and yellow jerseys and they’re arrange completely for now. 

We’re on one of many rises now because the highway is not simply pan flat all the best way. We’re into the roundabouts. Who will survive the twists and turns within the highway finest?

Jumbo-Visma are maintaining Vingegaard protected and Van Aert in good place. Will the Belgian famous person go for the bunch dash? It would not be a shock after his rage-stuffed disappointment from yesterday. 

Mark Cavendish has two teammates with him for now and so they’ve manoeuvred effectively to hit the entrance on the left aspect of the highway as we take a look at it. 

Remi Cavagna (Soudal-Quick Step) is lighting issues up on the entrance for Jakobsen and so they Lotto Destiny are the one group capable of match the Frenchman for now. We’re seeing increasingly roundabouts squeezing the bunch down from six trains extensive to simply two. Nervous instances. 

Philipsen and his Alpecin-Deceuninck teammates are sat instantly behind the Jumbo-Visma practice for the second, however will need to transfer up as quickly as doable earlier than we enter the a number of roundabouts. 

10KM TO GO

Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-AlUla) is sitting comfortably in the midst of the bunch for now and his group are solely now simply shifting as much as the entrance. He’s one of many out and out quickest riders if given a shot on the line, so count on him to be proper amongst the motion. 

We’re getting our first style of roundabouts that characterise at this time’s end and we are able to already see the have an effect on it could possibly have on stringing out the bunch and pushing riders out of place. 

Jumbo-Visma have break up into two clusters of riders within the peloton. One aspect has Dylan van Baarle taking care of Jonas Vingegaard and the opposite has Christophe Laporte and Wout Van Aert collectively. As I kind, they’ve all joined collectively now, however Vingegaard’s security seems to be their no.1 precedence. 

De Buyst has understandably dropped off the again of the peloton so will not play any half in serving to Ewan. Florian Vermeersch and Victor Campenaerts will possible slot into that final-man function. 

15KM TO GO

Current line-up on the head of the race from left to proper is: Soudal-Quick Step, Groupama-FDJ, Intermarché-Circus-Wanty, Bahrain Victorious, Bora-hansgrohe, Alpecin Deceuninck and Jumbo-Visma.

Soudal-Quick Step are displaying all their expertise and dominating the left aspect of the highway. They’ll need to preserve Jakobsen protected with Mørkøv, which ought to enable the duo to get to work within the remaining kilometre. 

20KM TO GO

Can Mark Cavendish take the document for stage wins on the Tour de France?

He placed on a heroic efficiency, with the assistance of some outdated associates, to win the ultimate stage of the Giro d’Italia. He’s made sufficient historical past in his illustrious profession, however might make extra at this time with one other victory.

The Manx Missile shall be hoping to both work in tandem with Cees Bol, however might additionally latch onto one among his rivals’ wheels and attempt to launch out of their slipstream. 

Uno-X are displaying themselves properly on the appropriate-hand aspect of the highway. This is their debut Tour de France and so they have the skilled Alexander Kristoff to work for on at this time’s end. He’ll be led out by Classics specialist, Rasmus Tiller and U23 time trial World Champion, Søren Wærenskjold. 

The groups all know precisely what they’re stepping into at this time, a busy finale the place luck shall be essential. They’ll all be hoping to remain out of hassle and launch their sprinters on the line. Lotto may also have a lower than 100% Jasper De Buyst who crashed yesterday and had some critical points with tendons in his wrist. He fortunately, took the beginning at this time, however might not be capable to assist Ewan in pursuit of his sixth Tour de France stage win. 

26KM TO GO

The nerves are excessive within the bunch because the washing-machine impact is going on in full pressure. It’s so troublesome to remain up in the direction of the entrance of the peloton, and all of the groups are working so exhausting to maintain their sprinters and leaders protected from any hazard. 

Today’s end location, Bayonne, is on the confluence of the Nive and Adour rivers and is the capital of the French Basque nation. It could appear a comparatively easy end on paper with a bunch dash on the playing cards, however the riders have gotten a really difficult end on their arms.

There are 4 roundabouts between 5km to 3km to go which shall be furiously fought for by the GC groups and the dash lead-outs.

Following this, at 2km to go, there’s a u-flip to sort out which might trigger riders to lose their trains or fall again a number of positions which might put them out of the dash. The first bunch dash of the Tour de France is at all times hectic, however at this time’s might be absolute chaos. 

The stress has constructed with a change in wind course and it’s totally troublesome to maneuver up any positions within the bunch. 

Pichon’s journey out within the day’s break is over and full focus will now flip to the dash lead-outs.

While you continue to have an opportunity, ensure to learn Cyclingnews’ article with perception from lead-out consultants Michael Mørkøv (Soudal-Quick Step) and Mark Renshaw. Renshaw lengthy acted as Cavendish’s final lea-out rider and was employed as a dash advisor for Astana Qazaqstan earlier than the Tour.

Tour de France sprinters able to take over after ‘hardest begin in 20 years’

There’s now solely 39 seconds separating our lone chief, Pichon, and the peloton. He’ll be reeled in rapidly, however who will take up the mantle of main the peloton as soon as he’s again within the bunch? 

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) are each making their approach again into the bunch. 

50KM TO GO

Felix Großschartner (UAE Team Emirates) is the subsequent to undergo a puncture in the back of the bunch.

Simmons has been doing his fair proportion of labor in help of the sprinters at this time, alongside Declercq who you may see within the background of the picture. Stars and Stripes in full flight for Lidl-Trek. 

Pichon’s benefit on the head of the race is melting away because the peloton begins to wind it up behind. His hole is now 1:10.

Pichon continues to be pushing on, however is displaying simply how tight a few of the corners are in these first few kilometres of French roads. Hopefully everybody stays protected. Barring some unimaginable injustice, the Frenchman ought to absolutely have secured at this time’s combatively prize. 

60KM TO GO

The Spanish Basque Country is saying goodbye as Laurent Pichon is about to say bonjour and cross again into France, the motherland. The peloton will cross the river Bidasoa as they enter the French Basque Country and proceed their journey in the direction of Bayonne. 

Declercq is again on the entrance in full tractor mode. 

I seem to have cursed Sam Welsford by speaking about him, as he is been pressured to alter one other wheel on his bike. Hopefully his final challenge of the day. 

We’re simply concerning the head into France throughout the border in Irun with Simmons using on the entrance in his American nationwide champion’s jersey for Lidl-Trek. 

It’s puncture-metropolis out right here with Alexey Lutsenko (Asian Qazaqstan) and Rui Costa (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) the subsequent to require a again-wheel change.

Lutsenko was pointing at his again wheel to some followers on the aspect of the highway, suggesting we might have extra tacks being, very sadly, thrown onto the course.

Read the complete Cyclingnews piece which exhibits a few of the tacks in rider’s wheels after the stage 2 end yesterday beneath.

Tacks within the highway spark mass punctures in finale of Tour de France stage 2

Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Dstny) is the subsequent to alter his bike at this time and is now using with Welsford and a teammate to make his approach again to the bunch. Pascal Eenkhorn has dropped again to deliver the Australian again to the peloton.

Neilson Powless has returned to the peloton and is assured to put on the polka-dot jersey once more tomorrow’s stage. 

76KM TO GO

Make positive to learn Simone Giuliani’s characteristic on one of many massive contenders for the day, Sam Welsford (dsm-firmenich), who’s on Tour de France debut. As I write this, he is really stopped together with the highway to get some changes made to his stem, however he ought to characteristic prominently in at this time’s end.

Sam Welsford – Time cuts, debut objectives and a Tour de France stage win dream

Here’s a take a look at our two escapees from the day on the ultimate climb. 

Powless has sat up after finishing his KOM cost for the day and has allowed Pichon to go off on his lonesome up the highway. He’s taking his musette and getting some lunch into his system.

Pichon has the crowds all to himself and he shall be roared on for each single pedal stroke from now till he’s caught by the peloton. 

We’re getting a second take a look at San Sebastián throughout this Tour because the riders are about to cross by the attractive coastal metropolis. Powless and Pichon are nonetheless main and are loving the large crowds that line the entry to the town. They’ve shared a fist-bump on the entrance after a profitable days using. 

The peloton have as soon as once more slowed massively in the back of the bunch, and we are able to see British nationwide champion Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious) is bleeding from his left elbow and should’ve been down. He’s chasing again onto the peloton now. 

90KM TO GO

We’ve received a visitors jam on the backside of the climb as a result of narrowing of the highway. It’s helped Wout Van Aert simply make it again to the peloton. Riders had been stood because the inclines had been so steep and there merely wasn’t sufficient room for all of the riders to suit. 

Powless takes one other KOM dash and the ultimate one of many day that completes his profitable day of using within the breakaway. Job completed from the American who has clearly discovered effectively from teammate Magnus Cort who entertained the crowds at every KOM dash in Denmark final 12 months. 

Van Aert stopped as I used to be writing that for what gave the impression to be a re-lubing of the cleat on the underside of his shoe. He’ll chase again on simply as they full the climb. 

Here’s a ravishing view of the Atlantic shoreline handed by the riders on at this time’s stage.

There’s nonetheless nice vibes within the entrance group as Powless and Pichon share one other joke as soon as they hit the underside of the ultimate categorised climb of the day, the Côte d’Orioko Benta (4.6km at 6.3%). The sprinters behind must be effective because the tempo has been so low all day.

Juan Pedro López is main the peloton up the climb behind with ‘El Tractor’ Tim Declercq alongside him. Slightly contrasting frames on the 2 domestiques working for his or her respective sprinters at this time. 

100KM TO GO

We’ve gone at a comparatively gradual tempo all through the opening 93.5km, however we’re now coming into the ultimate half of the race. There’s a protracted solution to go, however as soon as the dash groups get , the tempo will speed up in a short time. 

Ben O’Connor is having chain points off the again of the peloton and has needed to change his bike twice. There’s nonetheless nothing to fret about, however he’ll hope for some higher luck because the stage enters the ultimate 100km of racing.

Read Cyclingnews’ latest information piece on the Australian that particulars how his ambitions are nonetheless excessive regardless of having a troublesome opening two phases.

Ben O’Connor – ‘The simple matter is I’m not ok in the meanwhile, weirdly’

Declercq is again on the entrance for Soudal-Quick Step and is probably going settling in for a really lengthy activate the entrance. All the sprinters are sat very calmly within the bunch for now with no actual urgency or stress required for the present, calm race state of affairs. 

We’ve received a established order within the peloton once more because the hole to the duo out in entrance has been allowed to exit to 2:33. We’re nonetheless going up the Bay of Biscay shoreline with our one categorised climb remaining earlier than we cross again by San Sebastián and method the French border.

120KM TO GO

Lafay has now been re-absorbed and the hole to the main duo has been lowered to solely 1:50 with Alpecin-Deceuninck and Jayco-AlUla sitting on the entrance.

Powless has taken two extra KOM Points atop the Col d’Itziar (5.1km at 4.6%) and he’ll solely need to repeat that on the ultimate categorised climb of the day, the Côte d’Orioko Benta (4.6km at 6.3%), earlier than he knocks off his effort. 

It’s job completed for Lafay who has prolonged his factors whole to 80. There are solely three sprinters who might overtake or equal that whole ought to they win at this time and take the complete 50 level haul: Van Aert (36), Pedersen (31) and Philipsen (30).

Lidl-Trek nail the lead-out for the intermediate dash once more with Mads Pedersen taking the remaining prime prize of 13 factors. Quinn Simmons, Jasper Stuyven and Alex Kirsch was the order and so they look a effectively-oiled machine to this point. We’ll see how they go within the remaining bunch dash later at this time, if there may be one.

Jordi Meeus (Bora-hansgrohe) crossed the road subsequent after Pedersen with Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) the subsequent finest and taking the 10 factors.

Pichon takes the intermediate dash with Powless in second. They take 20 and 17 factors respectively and Lafay is ready to achieve 15 extra factors for crossing the road into Deba in third. 

130KM TO GO

Lafay is in time trial mode and is making brief work of the main duo’s benefit. He’s already gained a minute on them and is now 1:36 away from the breakaway. 

Lafay has simply made his approach off the entrance of the peloton in his new inexperienced jersey. He’ll be on the lookout for extra factors within the inexperienced classification on the intermediate dash into Deba. He is aware of he in all probability will not characteristic within the bunch dash at this time, so that is his finest likelihood to mop up extra factors. 

Here’s Victor Lafay trying nice within the inexperienced jersey, which he earned after his heroic victory on stage 2 yesterday. His assault beneath the flame rouge was an excessive amount of for the remainder of the lowered bunch on the head of the race and he powered away to take Cofidis’ first win on the Tour de France since 2008.

Check out Lafay within the inexperienced jersey beneath. 

Take a glance beneath on the improbable Basque followers in Lekeitio watching the peloton fly previous them. The purple, white and inexperienced of the Basque flags have been seen everywhere in the roads throughout these opening three phases, displaying simply how necessary biking is to this area. 

148KM TO GO

Tadej Pogačar has had a again wheel puncture which is now being modified again on the group automobile. He’s, in fact, not burdened with so lengthy left in at this time’s stage. 

Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) has had a puncture however is in no type of panic because the bunch continues to be extremely calm. He’s being aided again to the peloton by Alexey Lutsenko and Yevgeniy Federov.

Today might be the first likelihood for the Manx Missile to attempt to get that document-breaking 35th Tour de France stage win, which might see him overtake Eddy Merckx on the prime of the all-time Tour stage wins leaderboard. 

Ridiculous crowds in Lekeitio to cheer on our two leaders. Everyone is out on the roads cheering on our two leaders within the Basque sunshine. They are actually making the flip again up the Bay of Biscay’s shoreline as they go in the direction of the French border.

Take a glance beneath at Neilson Powless having the time of his life within the polka-dot jersey for EF Education-EasyPost

We’ve received a few of the fundamental groups with a dash focus coming to the entrance of the peloton, albeit with one rider every for now. Soudal-Quick Step for Fabio Jakobsen, Alpecin-Deceuninck for Jasper Philipsen, Jayco AlUla for Dylan Groenewegen and Lidl-Trek for Mads Pedersen.

The hole to the chief is now out to 3:30.

Powless has set off to achieve the solitary KOM level atop this second climb of the day. He’s eased over the road forward of Pichon together with his arms aloft and his thumbs up. He’s actually having fun with his day in purple shorts and within the break. 

The two leaders have entered the second categorised climb of the day, the Côte de Milloi (2.3km at 4.5%). 

165KM TO GO

Powless and Pichon’s benefit out in entrance has gone out additional to 2:44 with no urgency behind to begin even fascinated with reeling them in but.

Jakobsen, one of many favourites for the day has simply had a motorbike change and is now using to get again into the peloton. 

Adam Yates is again on the group automobile having his race radio adjusted in his yellow jersey.

While we now have this extra quiet interval of racing, ensure you take an opportunity to learn a few of Cyclingnews being produced on the bottom on the Tour de France.

Tech Editor, Josh Croxton, has been maintaining an eagle eye on the newest tech, latest bikes, and tricksiest hacks on present on the Grand Depart. Take a take a look at Josh’s gallery of the perfect tech highlights together with Caleb Ewan’s prototype bike and Mark Cavendish’s restricted version Willier beneath.

Tour de France mega tech gallery: All the nerdy highlights from the Grand Depart

Powless and Pichon are main the descent in the direction of the subsequent city of Markina Xemein because the riders proceed heading north again in the direction of the coast. Once they attain Lekeitio, they may flip proper and begin heading up the Bay of Biscay shoreline into France. 

180KM TO GO

Powless takes the first full haul of two king of the mountains factors over the first climb as he eased forward of Pichon. The American even gave us a small bike lunge as he and Pichon continued their relaxed journey on the head of the race. 

Tim ‘El tractor’ Declercq (Soudal-Quick Step) has taken up his place on the entrance of the peloton for the Belgian aspect that has on many events dominated the sprints. He and his teammates shall be working in help of Fabio Jakobsen (Soudal-Quick Step) who gained the first stage eventually 12 months’s Tour de France.

Spirits are excessive on the entrance with Powless and Pichon sharing fun on the head of the race. No group within the peloton has received on the entrance to determine any form of management as of but, with the hole now approaching 2:00 as they journey the first climb of the day.

Here’s a take a look at the 4 jersey wearers from at this time’s begin: Lafay in inexperienced after his unimaginable stage win yesterday, Yates within the maillot jaune after holding onto it on stage 2, Powless who’s already within the break to attempt to acquire extra KOM factors and Pogačar, who shall be delighted with the beginning his UAE group have made to the 2023 Tour to this point. 

We’re heading out of Durango in the meanwhile the place the followers have once more are available plenty to help the riders. Cycling is well-known to be a faith within the Basque Country, however the crowds have been fairly unimaginable all through the Grand Depart. 

The hole to the duo out in entrance has already grown previous 30 seconds because the peloton settles in to the beginning. It will not take lengthy for us to get onto the first climb which is available in 6km on the Côte de Trabakua (4.1km at 5.4%).

Powless has clearly prepped for the precise transfer he made because the flag was waved, as he’s in his pores and skin go well with and prepared for a day of chasing KOM factors.

193.5KM TO GO

Here we go! Official begin is taken and racing is totally underway. It’s, as anticipated, Powless who instantly shoots off the entrance to make sure he’s within the struggle for king of the mountains factors so he can defend his jersey.

He is joined by Laurent Pichon (Arkéa-Samsic)

Here is one other take a look at the profile for at this time’s 193.5km stage earlier than we get to kilometre 0. You can see the 4 categorised climbs coming within the first 100km of racing, so count on a struggle for the break to struggle it out for these king of the mountains factors.

Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) ought to actually be making an attempt to get within the break and he at the moment leads that KOM classification by 4 factors forward of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates)

The riders are underway from begin line in Amorebieta-Etxano. We’ve in fact, received our neutralised begin because the riders cross extra strains of Basque followers out in nice help.

There had been no extra abandonments after stage 2 fortunately, regardless of a scare for Lotto-Dstny lead-tour rider Jasper De Buyst. The Belgian group tweeted that he and younger prospect Maxim Van Gils would begin the stage at this time after they had been cleared.

They shall be working in help of Caleb Ewan at this time.

The riders are gearing up for the beginning in Amorebieta-Etxano, a location which has hosted it’s personal one-day uci race, the Klasika Primavera, for the reason that 50s and has been gained by the likes of Alejandro Valverde and Carlos Sastre.

We’ve had a change of route resulting from security considerations for at this time with the stage prolonged to 193.5km to keep away from harmful highway furnishings.

Read concerning the full adjustments and why they have been made right here.

We’ve seen two brutal days of racing within the Spanish Basque Country with Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) and Victor Lafay (Cofidis) taking the wins. Today must be the first alternative for the sprinters to stretch their legs in a bunch end into Bayonne.

Bonjour and welcome to Cyclingnews reside protection of stage 3 of the 2023 Tour de France!