This is the longest stage of the Tour de France and after a taste of the Classics the day before, Stage three will pass through locales like Wallers, Denain and Solesmes that are familiar to Paris-Roubaix. The stage then passes through Fontaine-au-bois, the home town of former Tour boss Jean-Marie Leblanc. The rolling course with a following wind should provoke an early breakaway that will come back for another massive sprint.
Climbs:
Km 202: Côte de Blérancourt: 1.0 km climb @ 4.6% avg. grade / 4th Cat.
Sprints:
Km 33.5: Tournai (Belgium)
Km 104.5: Fontaine-au-Bois
Km 167.5: Achery
-
Steels: We don't expect Cavendish to win six Tour de France stages
Deceuninck-QuickStep has confidence in Manxman -
Trentin hoping for lasting rules to improve rider safety
Italian calls for padded barriers at race finishes -
Kittel: Mark Cavendish's rare experience will help Deceuninck-QuickStep
German says transfer 'closes a circle' for former sprint rival -
Sergio Henao joins Qhubeka Assos
Colombian arrives after two years with UAE Team Emirates
