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What an incredible race we have just seen in Stage 3 of the 2015 Tour de France as Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) took the win on the top of the Mur de Huy ahead of Chris Froome who has slipped into the Yellow Jersey to lead the race overall.
Whilst the action on the final climb was where the standings were decided the race really kicked off earlier in the stage with a series of crashes that ruined the hopes of a number of riders for this year’s Tour.
Right from the gun the attacking started with a four man breakaway going clear. The riders that managed to get clear were Bryan Nauleau (Europcar), Serge Pauwels (MTN-Qhubeka), Jan Barta (Bora-Argon 18) and Martin Elmiger (IAM). They managed to increase their advantage to a maximum of close to four minutes before the peloton put the foot down and virtually wiped the gap away in about 10km.
However just as they were about to bridge the gap with about 60km to go, a massive crash happened on the left hand side of the peloton at high speed. Another crash happened just a couple of km further down the road and all of a suddent the peloton had massively reduced in riders, carnage at the back and the yellow jersey of Fabian Cancellara had been involved.
Medical teams were flat out and the decision was made to neutralise the race to allow those teams to recover who couldnt get past the first crash on the road. The problem was the way the neutralization was done. At first it was a slow down and then a complete stop before they rode off again. The race was then allowed to continue for a couple of hundred metres before it was re neutralised. Then it was finally stopped with 53km to go at the bottom of the first climb.
Most riders who were able to ride away from the crash were able to get back to the peloton however many riders abandoned the Tour de France including Tom Dumoulin (Giant – Alpecin), Simon Gerrans (Orica) and William Bonnet (FDJ).
Whilst the riders that managed to ride away from the crash were able to continue, many couldnt stick with the peloton and they included Fabian Cancellara who lost 11 minutes and the Yellow Jersey.
The peloton set off from the netualisation of the race at a fairly slow pace however things eventually picked up as they approached the finale of the stage and whilst there were no attacks everyone was fighting to get into position ahead of the Mur de Huy.
At the bottom of the Huy it was Katusha who led on however a shake of the head from their leader, Joaquin Rodriguez indicated it mightn’t have been the day for him. All of Chris Froome, Nairo Quinatana, Vincenzo Nibali, Alberto Contador and Tejay Van Garderen were at the front of the peloton and looking strong, however the big loser was Thibault Pinot who was distanced and lost a minute and a half at the end of the stage.
Chris Froome came of the front with about 500 metres remaining in the stage, with Rodriguez and Contador on his tail, however Contador dropped back as Froome accelerated again. Rodriguez went with him and then attacked around looking to take the stage. Froome dropped backwards before coming back towards the last hundred metres but still it wasnt enough as Rodriguez went onto take the stage.
Froome crossed in second and went into he Yellow jersey with with the likes of Nibali, Quintana, Contador and Van Garderena all losing a couple of seconds ahead of tomorrow’s massive stage on the cobbles.
No doubt there will be more withdrawals before tomorrow’s stage but in the end Joaquim Rodriguez winning a carnage filled stage.
The 2015 Tour de France continues this evening, and more changes may appear in the general classification at the end of Stage 3. Join The Roar from 9:40pm (AEST) for live commentary and updates of this stage.
A 159.5km journey awaits the peloton as the race crosses into Belgium from Anvers to the legendary Mur de Huy for the first hilltop finish of this year’s race.
The Mur de Huy is the steep, almost two-kilometre hill that hosts the finish line of La Fleche Wallone monument.
The official statistics of the climb read 1.3 kilometres at 9.6 per cent and this will certainly be enough to create gaps among the overall contenders.
Before the Mur de Huy there are another three easy climbs, all in the last 50 kilometres.
The first climb is the category 4 Cote de Bohissau, which is 2.4 kilometres long at an average gradient of 5.5 per cent. Following that there is a gap of around 35 kilometres, before three climbs in the final 16 kilometres.
The intermediate sprint for the day comes after 128 kilometres and should be hotly contested, seeing as it will more than likely be the finish line for most of the sprinters. Some might be able to challenge when it flattens out a fraction at the top, but ultimately they shouldn’t be there at the day’s end.
The category 4 Cote d’Ereffe will be reached after 143 kilometres which is a 2.1 kilometre climb at an average gradient of 5 per cent. Following that there isn’t a metre of flat left to be raced in the stage, as the peloton shoots along to the Cote de Cherave which is 1.3 kilometres at 8.1 per cent. This climb is summited with 11 kilometres to go and from there a lumpy 9 kilometres awaits to the Mur de Huy.
While these three climbs won’t drop anyone, they will be leg burners for the riders and a long-range attack from an opportunist such as Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEDGE), Michael Albasini (OGE), Fabian Cancellara (Trek), Tony Gallopin (Trek), Thomas Voeckler (Europcar), Steven Kruijswijk (Lotto – Jumbo) or even Romain Bardet (Ag2R) could be on the cards.
Other riders who have to be classified as favourites for the stage but will probably wait until the final climb to launch their move include Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), Rohan Dennis (BMC), Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha), Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx – Quickstep) and Rui Costa (Lampre).
Some riders classified as sprinters could also do something on today’s stage. Michael Matthews (OGE), Alexander Kristoff (Katusha), Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) and John Degenkolb (Giant–Alpecin) all have the ability to get over hills, so if the attacks don’t fly they could have a say at the end of the stage.
After yesterday’s crazy stage where Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) lost over a minute, they could well try and attack to gain back some of that time today, and will be marked by the other GC riders. I get the feeling it won’t be hard enough for Quintana, but Nibali could certainly have a crack.
Prediction
A real punchy rider should win the stage, so I will go with Joaquim Rodríguez, Thomas Voeckler or Simon Gerrans. I’m also going to say Nibali will attack and take a couple of seconds back.
Join The Roar for live coverage of Stage 3 at the 2015 Tour de France from 9:40pm (AEST) and don’t forget to leave a comment if you’re following along.