TDF 2017: Stage 3 - Verviers - Longwy 212.5kms *Spoilers*

blazing_saddles
blazing_saddles Posts: 22,730
edited July 2017 in Pro race
Today's stage looks a bit like an ASO's attempt to re-produce a TdY stage attempting to re-produce an Ardennes classic. :P
Starting from Philippe Gilbert's native town of Verviers, stage 3 is much hillier than stage 2. A visit will be paid to the car racing circuit of Spa-Francorchamps after 20km of racing through the Ardennes on the roads of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the oldest of the big classics. 130 kilometres of the course are in Luxemburg, the country of the recently retired Schleck brothers. One Luxemburger, Ben Gastauer of AG2R-La Mondiale, is part of the 195-rider strong peloton. Everyone else who is not familiar with this small country will realize it's not a flattish one. Stage 3 is long too: 212.5km. It might be a hard day for some riders. It's a land of opportunities as well. The finish on French soil in Longwy atop the 1.6km long climb of the Religieuses surely pleases Peter Sagan as much as the hill to La Glacerie in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin at the end of stage 2 last year. The finish suits Gilbert too, and many others who would be well inspired to make the race hard earlier on.

Map:-
CARTE.jpg

Profile:-
PROFIL.png

KoMs:-

Km 18.0 - Côte de Sart2.8 kilometre-long climb at 5.1% - category 4
Km 105.5 - Côte de Wiltz3.1 kilometre-long climb at 4.8% - category 4
Km 120.5 - Côte d'Eschdorf2.3 kilometre-long climb at 9.3% - category 3
Km 197.0 - Côte de Villers-la-Montagne1.1 kilometre-long climb at 5.2% - category 4
Km 212.5 - LONGWY - Côte des Religieuses1.6 kilometre-long climb at 5.8% - category 3

Final Kms:-
PROFILCOLSCOTES_1.png

Verviers

A neighbour to Liège, the common is linked to the rich cycling history of Wallonia and already hosted several times the Flèche Wallonne but also the Giro d'Italia (1973, 2002)… and the Tour de France in 1972 when Basque rider Miguel Maria Lasa claimed stage victory. More recently, Verviers became a regular start city of the Ster ZLM Toer, won by Philippe Gilbert three times. Another former wearer of the Yellow Jersey, Tony Gallopin, also managed nice things there in his junior years when he claimed a stage of Liège-La Gleize in 2006.

Verviers Rice Cake:
pastel12.png

Longwy

The city was fortified by Vauban which is one of the reasons it is ranked amongst the UNESCO world heritage. The construction of the ramparts came far before the first visit of the Tour to Longwy back in 1911. While a large part of Alsace-Lorraine was then attached to the German Empire, the area was among the few sectors that remained French after the territorial division decided by the Frankfurt treaty in 1871. Four stage finishes were judged there in that context until 1914. The last visit was back in 1982 when Belgian Daniel Willems captured the win.

How about a Longwy plate for that rice cake?
253957-1.jpg
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
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Comments

  • The_Boy
    The_Boy Posts: 3,099
    If I was ptp-ing, I'd be tempted by colbrelli for today.
    Team My Man 2018: David gaudu, Pierre Latour, Romain Bardet, Thibaut pinot, Alexandre Geniez, Florian Senechal, Warren Barguil, Benoit Cosnefroy
  • quite looking forward to today

    I also quite like the look of that rice cake
  • larkim
    larkim Posts: 2,485
    Do they ride much / any of the Spa circuit?
    2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
    2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
    2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
    2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
    2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
    2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)
  • RideOnTime
    RideOnTime Posts: 4,712
    I am just glad we're out of Germany...
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,181
    larkim wrote:
    Do they ride much / any of the Spa circuit?

    They ride on at La Source, past the pits and chicane, then off just before turn 16.
  • larkim
    larkim Posts: 2,485
    Ta - so they are going backwards? Shame they don't go through Eau Rouge, that would have looked impressive and given a good demonstration of how hilly it is.
    2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
    2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
    2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
    2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
    2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
    2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)
  • ellerslierd
    ellerslierd Posts: 266
    larkim wrote:
    Ta - so they are going backwards? Shame they don't go through Eau Rouge, that would have looked impressive and given a good demonstration of how hilly it is.

    There is a cross race I believe with the finish at the top of Eau Rouge.
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,181
    Already the helicopter shots are better than yesterday's miserable rainy shots. And they haven't even started.
  • imatfaal
    imatfaal Posts: 2,716
    Nice pictures of the chateaux - almost (and only almost) makes me nostalgic for Phil and Paul.

    Theyre fighting to form the breakaway now - always looks exhausting especially know you have 210+km to go
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,181
    I think they're away now - everyone seems to have settled down.
  • imatfaal
    imatfaal Posts: 2,716
    Looks as if Lotto-Soudal, Fortuneo-Oscare, and Katusha away from from front - not sure who they are - Looks like Adam Hansen
  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 21,939
    The_Boy wrote:
    If I was ptp-ing, I'd be tempted by colbrelli for today.

    I remarked during the Dauphine that he'd had a great year. He then promptly looked much worse, so not sure what form he has now.
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,181
    edited July 2017
    I think they're away now - everyone seems to have settled down.

    Three more maybe to come across.
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,181
    imatfaal wrote:
    Looks as if Lotto-Soudal, Fortuneo-Oscare, and Katusha away from from front - not sure who they are - Looks like Adam Hansen

    Nils Politt (Katusha), Adam Hansen (Lotto-Soudal) and Romain Hardy (Fortuneo)
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,730
    Still active.
    Nothing sorted yet.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • imatfaal
    imatfaal Posts: 2,716
    Peleton shut down any chasing - straight line across the road. 6 riders out front

    Nils Politt (Katusha-Alpecin), Adam Hansen (Lotto-Soudal) Romain Hardy (Fortuneo-Oscaro) Sicard (Direct Energie), Frederik Backaert (Wanty) and Nate Brown (Cannondale).
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,663
    Hansen is one of them.
    There's another three man that's catching them (edit: to make it the six named above). Peloton have allowed it and are taking a wee break.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,181
    edited July 2017
    That's probably it for the next few hours.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,730
    Of course, as soon as I type that, the peloton sits up.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,181
    larkim wrote:
    Do they ride much / any of the Spa circuit?

    Get ready...
  • Flâneur
    Flâneur Posts: 3,081
    and the lights go green
    Stevo 666 wrote: Come on you Scousers! 20/12/2014
    Crudder
    CX
    Toy
  • graeme_s-2
    graeme_s-2 Posts: 3,382
    larkim wrote:
    Ta - so they are going backwards? Shame they don't go through Eau Rouge, that would have looked impressive and given a good demonstration of how hilly it is.
    They did go up Eau Rouge. What surprised me was how steep the downhill stretch to the foot of the hill was. The breakaway stopped pedalling and crouched down on their top tubes.
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,181
    They looked like they enjoyed it anyway.
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    Today we go to Luxembourg...

    81973360.jpg

    Luxembourg's most famous brothers:

    pcy140.schlecks_600.jpg

    Luxembourg's most famous Luxembourger:

    0,,18039694_303,00.jpg
    Correlation is not causation.
  • A...Schlecklette...memories of the Galibier in 2011...
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    A...Schlecklette...memories of the Galibier in 2011...

    That was a CRACKING stage. Went solo on the Izoard and then stayed away on the descent and then all the way up the valley.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,730
    Feels more like Le Tour, today.

    A typical Luxembourg banker's house:-

    chateau.jpg
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,438
    In Shanghai Hooters of all places..... they're showing the tour!!
  • salsiccia1
    salsiccia1 Posts: 3,725
    A...Schlecklette...memories of the Galibier in 2011...

    Was some ride that, would have been worthy of the overall. Really good edition that. Possibly the last really good one...
    It's only a bit of sport, Mun. Relax and enjoy the racing.
  • salsiccia1
    salsiccia1 Posts: 3,725
    bobmcstuff wrote:
    In Shanghai Hooters of all places..... they're showing the tour!!

    :?
    It's only a bit of sport, Mun. Relax and enjoy the racing.