TDF 2020 - Stage 3: Nice - Sisteron 198 km *Spoilers*
blazing_saddles
Posts: 20,653
Stage 3: Nice - Sisteron 198 km
Normally this would be considered a hilly stage, as the route includes 2,550 meters of climbing, but for this mountainous Tour, this stage is considered a flat route for the sprinters.
Expect a bunch kick in the stunning town of Sisteron, long known as the “Gateway to Provence.
Christian Prudhomme's comment
The riders might be inspired by the perfumes of Grasse as they leave the Nice area. They will then ride along the Route Napoléon with far less obstacles than the ones witnessed by the Emperor after returning from exile on the Island of Elba. The flat final part as we get closer to the Sisteron Citadel shouldn’t trouble the plans of the sprinters’ teams.
The caravan sets off from the Allianz Riviera, home stadium of OGC Nice, to travel through the lavender fields and pine forests of the Provence for a finish in the historical town Sisteron. Its Citadelle towers on a cliff above the houses, yet that’s no reason for the punchers to rejoice as the finish is not uphill. On the contrary, Sisteron is renowned for its sprint stages.
The first part of the route is quite lumpy, but it levels out in the second half.
The number of chances for fast finishers is limited this year. So you should seize every opportunity when you are a sprinter.
Caleb Ewan was the most successful sprinter on last year’s Tour de France. Sam Bennett was not allowed to start by his then team Bora-hansgrohe.
Favourites 3rd stage 2020 Tour de France
*** Caleb Ewan, Sam Bennett
** Peter Sagan, Alexander Kristoff, Elia Viviani, Giacomo Nizzolo
* Cees Bol, Niccolò Bonifazio, Bryan Coquard, Mads Pedersen
On the road
Km 13.5: Saint-Jeannet (Pop: 4,200)
Some of the scenes of "To Catch a Thief" were shot on the commune of St Jeannet, especially the police chase at the start (in a legendary Mercedes 190 SL. Grace Kelly bought the same model shortly after the shooting).
Km 44.5: Grasse (Pop: 52,000)
The world capital of perfume.
In the 18th century, Grasse thrived from tannery. To fight the strong smell of the leather, some tanners were using natural essences and became specialised in the trade of perfumed gloves. The slow decline of the tannery trade coincided with the rise of the floral cultures (rose of May, jasmine, violet) and by the industry of perfume.
The perfumery and food aromas sector in Grasse accounts for two thirds of the overall production in France and employs more than 2,700 persons in 25 factories for a revenue of 600 million euros.
Sisteron
One previous stage
Population: 7,700
While the Paris-Nice peloton is familiar with Sisteron, having stopped in town a few times, the Tour de France only visited the citadel once, in 2010, for the start of a stage won in Bourg-les-Valence by Mark Cavendish.
The peloton will rediscover the impressive panorama of the citadel while fans will be tasting the delicious lamb that made the gastronomic reputation of the gate of Provence.
Citadel.
The fortress is a collection of works from very different periods; the keep and the covered way date from the 13th century, the array of bastioned enclosures from the 16th century. The rock on which the Citadel was built has always been fortified.
Sisteron lamb
Distinguished with a Red Label since 1995 and a IGP (protected geographic indication) since 2007, the Sisteron lamb is a meat of great finesse renowned for its smoothness and the sweetness of its taste.
Also known as the Cesar lamb, it comes exclusively from local breeds (merinos of Arles, Mourerous, and Southern Prealps).
Normally this would be considered a hilly stage, as the route includes 2,550 meters of climbing, but for this mountainous Tour, this stage is considered a flat route for the sprinters.
Expect a bunch kick in the stunning town of Sisteron, long known as the “Gateway to Provence.
Christian Prudhomme's comment
The riders might be inspired by the perfumes of Grasse as they leave the Nice area. They will then ride along the Route Napoléon with far less obstacles than the ones witnessed by the Emperor after returning from exile on the Island of Elba. The flat final part as we get closer to the Sisteron Citadel shouldn’t trouble the plans of the sprinters’ teams.
The caravan sets off from the Allianz Riviera, home stadium of OGC Nice, to travel through the lavender fields and pine forests of the Provence for a finish in the historical town Sisteron. Its Citadelle towers on a cliff above the houses, yet that’s no reason for the punchers to rejoice as the finish is not uphill. On the contrary, Sisteron is renowned for its sprint stages.
The first part of the route is quite lumpy, but it levels out in the second half.
The number of chances for fast finishers is limited this year. So you should seize every opportunity when you are a sprinter.
Caleb Ewan was the most successful sprinter on last year’s Tour de France. Sam Bennett was not allowed to start by his then team Bora-hansgrohe.
Favourites 3rd stage 2020 Tour de France
*** Caleb Ewan, Sam Bennett
** Peter Sagan, Alexander Kristoff, Elia Viviani, Giacomo Nizzolo
* Cees Bol, Niccolò Bonifazio, Bryan Coquard, Mads Pedersen
On the road
Km 13.5: Saint-Jeannet (Pop: 4,200)
Some of the scenes of "To Catch a Thief" were shot on the commune of St Jeannet, especially the police chase at the start (in a legendary Mercedes 190 SL. Grace Kelly bought the same model shortly after the shooting).
Km 44.5: Grasse (Pop: 52,000)
The world capital of perfume.
In the 18th century, Grasse thrived from tannery. To fight the strong smell of the leather, some tanners were using natural essences and became specialised in the trade of perfumed gloves. The slow decline of the tannery trade coincided with the rise of the floral cultures (rose of May, jasmine, violet) and by the industry of perfume.
The perfumery and food aromas sector in Grasse accounts for two thirds of the overall production in France and employs more than 2,700 persons in 25 factories for a revenue of 600 million euros.
Sisteron
One previous stage
Population: 7,700
While the Paris-Nice peloton is familiar with Sisteron, having stopped in town a few times, the Tour de France only visited the citadel once, in 2010, for the start of a stage won in Bourg-les-Valence by Mark Cavendish.
The peloton will rediscover the impressive panorama of the citadel while fans will be tasting the delicious lamb that made the gastronomic reputation of the gate of Provence.
Citadel.
The fortress is a collection of works from very different periods; the keep and the covered way date from the 13th century, the array of bastioned enclosures from the 16th century. The rock on which the Citadel was built has always been fortified.
Sisteron lamb
Distinguished with a Red Label since 1995 and a IGP (protected geographic indication) since 2007, the Sisteron lamb is a meat of great finesse renowned for its smoothness and the sweetness of its taste.
Also known as the Cesar lamb, it comes exclusively from local breeds (merinos of Arles, Mourerous, and Southern Prealps).
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
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Posts
If this is on Netflix or similar I might watch this instead of the middle 100km
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I've seen enough Hitchcock films (including this one) that Alf doesn't let his blondes driver.
Antwan Tolhoek, Sam Oomen, Tom Dumoulin, Thymen Arensman, Remco Evenepoel, Benoît Cosnefroy, Tom Pidcock, Mark Cavendish, Romain Bardet
Antwan Tolhoek, Sam Oomen, Tom Dumoulin, Thymen Arensman, Remco Evenepoel, Benoît Cosnefroy, Tom Pidcock, Mark Cavendish, Romain Bardet
All Road/ Gravel: Trek Crockett 5
WInter: Trek Domane ALR3
MTB: Canyon Grand Canyon 8.0
Road: tbc
My god...
- @ddraver
😁
- @ddraver
I certainly have too on many an occasion. Used to be an annual trip down the Route Napoleon, to a little down nestling in the Massif des Maures, a few kms inland from the chic beaches.
Can't recall having experienced the weather that the peloton are currently not enjoying.
- @ddraver
I hope they finish today's stage in time to start tomorrow's.
@DrHeadgear
The Vikings are coming!
Kirby is currently busy making rain out to be some sort of chemical weapon.....
"some people on twitter are telling me to just talk about the racing... well, right now there isn't any"
"The peloton lovea it when he dominates them." Funny, cos I remember him being spanked twice by a certain Belgian a few weeks ago.
- @ddraver
He must have crashed chasing Cosnefroy.