Tour de France 2016, July 4, Stage 3: Granville / Angers *SPOILERS*

Melodeon

Date: Monday 4th July
Type: Flattish/sprint
Distance: 223.5Km
Start/Finish: Granville / Angers


Stage Map:



Stage Profile:



Finale:



The General Classification after Stage 2:

Sam has the dubious honour of holding the Lanterne Rouge


Preview (© http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/):

There are very few difficulties today. The roads are flat or gently rolling from start to finish. The terrain is quite exposed, so crosswinds could affect things. The most likely scenario is that an early breakaway will gain time and be held by the sprinters’ teams, then reeled in just before the finish. In other words, a classic sprint stage menu.

A north-westerly wind could make the stage more exciting. With the wind behind them, breakaways have an advantage. But the other big thing is, with faster average speeds in races now due to improved aerodynamics of bikes and kit, the Tour de France’s stage speed record may be under threat.

It was set back in 1999 by Mario Cipollini of Italy, when he won a 194.5km stage from Laval to Blois. It was a very similar stage to today, although it went south-easterly and this stage heads in a slightly more southern direction. Cipollini’s average speed was 50.355kph.

Stage two winner Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) goes into stage three in the overall race lead, and is likely to have little problem hanging onto his yellow jersey given his current form. Whether Sagan can take a second consecutive stage win is another matter, as the run-in more suits the likes of Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) and Marcel Kittel (Etixx-QuickStep).

At 223.5Km, this is the second longest stage of TdF 2016. The next stage (Stage 4) is the longest at 237.5Km.
We're heading into the Loire valley, so expect much chateaux-porn and wine talk.
The weather forecast is for no rain with sunny spells and very light winds.


LIVE TV:
TG4 - 1.10pm
Eurosport 1 - 1.00pm
ITV4 - 2.00pm

HIGHLIGHTS:
TG4 - 8.00pm
Eurosport 1 - 6.00pm, 8.00pm
ITV4 - 7.00pm

LE TOUR BY LEMONDE:
Eurosport 1 - 11.30pm

JK.BMC

Melodeon wrote: »

Date: Monday 4th July
Type: Flattish/sprint
Distance: 223.5Km
Start/Finish: Granville / Angers


Stage Map:



Stage Profile:



Finale:



The General Classification after Stage 2:

Sam has the dubious honour of holding the Lanterne Rouge


Preview (© http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/):



At 223.5Km, this is the second longest stage of TdF 2016. The next stage (Stage 4) is the longest at 237.5Km.
We're heading into the Loire valley, so expect much chateaux-porn and wine talk.
The weather forecast is for no rain with sunny spells and very light winds.


LIVE TV:
TG4 - 1.10pm
Eurosport 1 - 1.00pm
ITV4 - 2.00pm

HIGHLIGHTS:
TG4 - 8.00pm
Eurosport 1 - 6.00pm, 8.00pm
ITV4 - 7.00pm

LE TOUR BY LEMONDE:
Eurosport 1 - 11.30pm

'Chateaux-Porn' hahaha 😀😀😀

1 Kittel
2 Cavendish
3 Groenewegen

A Pure 'Sean Kelly Drinking Game' stage if ever there was one on this year's schedule. Close the bar @5km to go....

Inquitus

Love to see Cavendish win this one to tie the Badger. Looks a very technical final, could be a bit messy, not one for the leadout trains to function that well you'd think.

Pudsy33

It's a pity Sam is hurt, a messy sprint and a false flat would be to his liking. These next two stages will be snooze fests really until Wednesday.

Brian?

Every stage Sam finishes is a major achievement. He'll b be delighted if he wins the lanterne rough, because it means he's finished.

As for today's stage, I'll watch the last 10 km. Kitten wins.

JK.BMC

I wonder will any American riders attack today?

Dodge

JK.BMC wrote: »

I wonder will any American riders attack today?

I swear that's what I typed in my head

retalivity

Poor local lad 2 mins out in front on his own... got a long lonely day ahead of him

dastardly00

retalivity wrote: »

Poor local lad 2 mins out in front on his own... got a long lonely day ahead of him

He'll get a great reception when he arrives into his hometown of Ile-et-Vilaine after 66km. So that's something he'll remember for the rest of his life.

He has 6'30" over the peloton now so he's the virtual race leader :pac:

Dodge

dastardly00 wrote: »

He'll get a great reception when he arrives into his hometown of Ile-et-Vilaine after 66km. So that's something he'll remember for the rest of his life.

I always enjoy that part of the tour. Cyclists stopping for a hug with the family. Literally can't happen in any other sport!

retalivity

dastardly00 wrote: »

He'll get a great reception when he arrives into his hometown of Ile-et-Vilaine after 66km. So that's something he'll remember for the rest of his life.

He has 6'30" over the peloton now so he's the virtual race leader :pac:

11mins now. Could probably step off the bike and get a coffee with them as well!!

neris

carlton needs a new book of Puns

irishrover99

Okay i know its boring at the moment but what's with the classic french recipes segment

neris

irishrover99 wrote: »

Okay i know its boring at the moment but what's with the classic french recipes segment

they do that every year on eurosport, duno why exactly but it fills a bit of dead time. This is like watching a load of lads on a gentle sportive,

irishrover99

neris wrote: »

they do that every year on eurosport, duno why exactly but it fills a bit of dead time. This is like watching a load of lads on a gentle sportive,

I've never heard them do all the years i've watched it. I know Kirby goes on about his wine/food when going through a region of the country but never know them to head over to the studio and get precise weights and cooking times. I thought i was getting audio from masterchef for a moment

Inquitus

Bit Sportivesque at the moment

eagle eye

It's a technical finish today and it's a bit uphill. Sagan broke his three run without a stage win yesterday and I think this one looks right up his street. If his team go hard from a bit out I think they might drop the bigger finishers and he wins again.

Inquitus

eagle eye wrote: »

It's a technical finish today and it's a bit uphill. Sagan broke his three run without a stage win yesterday and I think this one looks right up his street. If his team go hard from a bit out I think they might drop the bigger finishers and he wins again.

Looks a bit messy for a good train, Sagan and Cav ten to have the best skills for a scrappy sprint so I am going for one of those two, it could be dark by the time they get there though!

xxyyzz

Oh no, Voeckler has gone clear. Kirby is going to be unbearable for the rest of the day.

eagle eye

You can see the respect for Voeckler's ability, the peloton decided to chase as soon as they got word that he joined Fonseca.

1bryan

eagle eye wrote: »

You can see the respect for Voeckler's ability, the peloton decided to chase as soon as they got word that he joined Fonseca.

I don't think theres much respect for Voeckler, tbh. They're on his case because most of them can't stand him.

dastardly00

At this rate I might be home from work by the time they finish the stage

dragratchet

this is like watching the final stage into Paris (minus the champagne)

68 lost souls

1bryan wrote: »

I don't think theres much respect for Voeckler, tbh. They're on his case because most of them can't stand him.

The Kirby and Roche agree. Peleton glad to see the back of him.

neris

68 lost souls wrote: »

The Kirby and Roche agree. Peleton glad to see the back of him.

isnt he one of those riders who tags along in a breakaway and never does anything to help but shoots off when theres points up for grabs and then sits back on after

neris

neris wrote: »

isnt he one of those riders who tags along in a breakaway and never does anything to help but shoots off when theres points up for grabs and then sits back on after

ITV made reference to to it earlier, only caught half of it but seems he's not very sociable within the peleton.

neris

irishrover99 wrote: »

Okay i know its boring at the moment but what's with the classic french recipes segment

Better get your recipe notebook out for wednesday

Jonathan Harris-Bass ‏@Jono_HB 3m3 minutes ago
Well mentioned @carltonkirby - there will be a Madelaine recipe coming up on Wednesday! @EurosportUKTV #homeofcycling

JK.BMC

Bin Bags
Lego
Topsoil
Crying Babies

Amazing commentary- one would never think it was a cycling race one is watching!

De Bhál

I do think on days like this they should do the odd review of a race Sean kelly was involved in himself, talk about the sprint finish, the climb etc, show some footage, let him tell us his memories of that time. I would find it interesting and it would take up a nice bit of time here and there. He has so much experience i don't think they get the most out of him.

neris

JK.BMC wrote: »

Bin Bags
Lego
Topsoil
Crying Babies

Amazing commentary- one would never think it was a cycling race one is watching!

i know its cycling but wheres the race

JK.BMC

The 'Pelly Tone' have woken up from what seems like 7 years in Tibet.

Still think Kittel will do it.

68 lost souls

neris wrote: »

i know its cycling but wheres the race

Just about to start

Darkglasses

Looked like Cavendish?

neris

Cav got that me thinks

Inquitus

I think Cav got it tbh.

Moflojo

Cav by a tyre width?

JK.BMC

'WE WILL NEED TO LOOK BACK IN ANGERS TODAY!!!!!'

Whoever said that CK is a bad commentator.

The final hour today was great to listen to. And another brilliant finish.

neris

thats was very very close

Darkglasses

https://twitter.com/irishpeloton/status/749996854117531650

Bloody hell

Brian?

Most mind numbing stage ever but with a great finish. Fair play to Cav.

dastardly00

What a sprint. Well done Cav. 28 TdF stage wins.

letape

neris wrote: »

isnt he one of those riders who tags along in a breakaway and never does anything to help but shoots off when theres points up for grabs and then sits back on after

I never heard that about Voeckler. Riders don't like him because he never gives up, and will attack at at any moment, when other riders might prefer an easier ride.

Lusk_Doyle

neris wrote: »

isnt he one of those riders who tags along in a breakaway and never does anything to help but shoots off when theres points up for grabs and then sits back on after

That's Cyril Gautier and Dom Pozzivivo.

dragratchet

Froome sitting 4th in gc and i havent seen his mug once yet this tour. i gotta feeling its going to be one of these stultifying sky overall wins.

Lusk_Doyle

dragratchet wrote: »

Froome sitting 4th in gc and i havent seen his mug once yet this tour. i gotta feeling its going to be one of these stultifying sky overall wins.

I spotted his elbows sticking out from the melee up the last climb yesterday!

Inquitus

magicbastarder

how did bennett do?

Inquitus

magicbastarder wrote: »

how did bennett do?

He finished 186th, 2 minutes behind, its pretty clear he's still recovering from the nasty crash he had a couple of days ago, will probably be next week, fingers crossed, by the time he's recovered enough to feature you'd think.

Lusk_Doyle

Brian Coquard really throws the bike around in a sprint. Check out how he wrings it from side to side just behind Greipel and Cav and note the difference in style.

dastardly00

Quote from Sagan:
"Today was a relaxed day for us, in the break there was just one rider, so we went slow. I was thinking at one time that we'd stop for a coffee like in the old times but there wasn't a bar."

Ha :pac:

Inquitus

Inquitus wrote: »

He finished 186th, 2 minutes behind, its pretty clear he's still recovering from the nasty crash he had a couple of days ago, will probably be next week, fingers crossed, by the time he's recovered enough to feature you'd think.

Sam's day in his own words.

Sam Bennett wrote:

Todays stage.

"They went a lot easier, it was perfect for a recovery day - a long, six hour recovery day. It was good to stay in the peloton for longer, and it was good for morale as well I suppose. There are a few harder days to come. I didn't feel better, but I was going harder and faster today, and I was in the peloton longer today, so it is positive.