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

blazing_saddles

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:-


Profile:-


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:-

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:

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?

The_Boy

If I was ptp-ing, I'd be tempted by colbrelli for today.

Richmond Racer 2

quite looking forward to today

I also quite like the look of that rice cake

larkim

Do they ride much / any of the Spa circuit?

RideOnTime

I am just glad we're out of Germany...

kingstongraham

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

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.

ellerslierd

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

Already the helicopter shots are better than yesterday's miserable rainy shots. And they haven't even started.

imatfaal

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

I think they're away now - everyone seems to have settled down.

imatfaal

Looks as if Lotto-Soudal, Fortuneo-Oscare, and Katusha away from from front - not sure who they are - Looks like Adam Hansen

TheBigBean

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 wrote:

I think they're away now - everyone seems to have settled down.

Three more maybe to come across.

kingstongraham

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

Still active.
Nothing sorted yet.

imatfaal

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

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.

kingstongraham

That's probably it for the next few hours.

blazing_saddles

Of course, as soon as I type that, the peloton sits up.

kingstongraham

larkim wrote:

Do they ride much / any of the Spa circuit?

Get ready...

Flâneur

and the lights go green

graeme_s-2

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

They looked like they enjoyed it anyway.

above_the_cows

Today we go to Luxembourg...



Luxembourg's most famous brothers:



Luxembourg's most famous Luxembourger:

Richmond Racer 2

A...Schlecklette...memories of the Galibier in 2011...

above_the_cows

Richmond Racer 2 wrote:

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.

blazing_saddles

Feels more like Le Tour, today.

A typical Luxembourg banker's house:-

bobmcstuff

In Shanghai Hooters of all places..... they're showing the tour!!

salsiccia1

Richmond Racer 2 wrote:

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...

salsiccia1

bobmcstuff wrote:

In Shanghai Hooters of all places..... they're showing the tour!!

:?