On paper, this should be the easiest of the four mountain stages due to the long run in to the finish. After 11.4 kilometres of racing the riders will crest the cat 2 Julierpass and then race over undulating roads to the start of the category one Lukmanierpass. The summit is 1940 metres in altitude and the riders will descent over 1700 metres from there until the line in Ascona, with one category four climb (Sementina) and three bonus sprints livening things up.
As the top of the Lukmanierpass is 90 kilometres from the end, this stage is unlikely to have anything like the same effect on the general classification as the previous two days. However a strong, motivated break could take some time if things are disorganised behind, so the favourites will have to be vigilant.
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Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 2026 stage 3 team time trial start times
Former Critérium du Dauphiné stage sees EF Education-EasyPost last off the ramp in Perreux -
Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: Another successful breakaway as Anthon Charmig wins stage 2
Baudin defends race lead in former Critérium du Dauphiné -
As it happened: Breakaway succeeds for second day in a row at Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes - Critérium du Dauphiné stage 2
Anton Charmig won solo from a 10 man breakaway as the escapees succeed again on stage 2 -
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