Tour de France stage 3 LIVE – Large break including Pedersen, Cort and Baudin finally gets away as Pyrenees finale approaches

2026-07-06T12:49:40.958Z

Here’s how things are looking in the bunch.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

If the finish line were to come now, Alex Baudin would go into the yellow jersey. He started the day only 1:07 down.

He’s had a really good summer actually, leading the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes for several days in June. The Frenchman’s exploits have perhaps been a little overshadowed by the attention on his compatriots like Seixas, Vauquelin and Martinez, but he’s waving the flag for the home nation.

So that’s 100km done.

The gap is sitting just shy of three minutes, with Red Bull, UAE and Lidl-Trek controlling the chase. Visma are sitting back, maybe they’re serious about giving the jersey away.

As expected, Pedersen wins the intermediate with ease. That’s 25 points to his tally and he’s virtually in the lead.

Delbove second, Baudin third.

Just about to reach the intermediate sprint. Mads Pedersen will be going for this – this is why he’s in the break at all.

2026-07-06T12:29:17.299Z

Just a quick update on what riders are dropped from the peloton:

Mainly sprinters, as you’d expect, with Kooij, Philipsen, Gaviria and Girmay all well down, but interestingly Matthew Riccitello is there too after his crash. Hopefully he’s not too hurt as he has important job supporting Seixas in this race.

2026-07-06T12:20:42.291Z

Bernal is back in the peloton, by the way. Everyone else is having a drink and some lunch.

2026-07-06T12:20:17.794Z

Fred Wright spoke to Eurosport at the start about today’s stage, said he’s expecting a strange finale with no fans, but of course there are more important things happening in southern France right now with 10,000 people evacuated amidst the fires.

2026-07-06T12:14:04.871Z

Ah Bernal had a flat tyre. That’s so unlucky after trying so hard to get in the break. Let’s see if he can get back on, it’s a tough ask on your own.

2026-07-06T12:12:56.271Z

20km to go until the intermediate sprint. That’s come around quickly.

2026-07-06T12:12:41.555Z

Here’s most of the break from earlier, missing a few as this was before the other six riders joined them.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-07-06T12:11:18.687Z

Alright then, break is gone. Who is going to win? Let me know in the comments…

Bernal has dropped out of the break actually. Not sure why that is, maybe just spent too much.

Visma are controlling the gap, just keeping it under control

2026-07-06T12:08:12.767Z

And the chasers have joined the leaders. Gap is out to nearly two minutes. And there are 19 of them, not 17 like I said.

Here’s the composition of the break (reminder, you can check the live widgets at the top of this page for more details):

OK, riders are taking natural breaks, the peloton is slowing right down and the gap is going out over a minute very quickly. So I THINK that is the break of the day.

The six chasers will join the leaders soon, so there will be 17 in the lead by my calculations.

Visma DS just told the riders but there’s no one dangerous in the break, and that it’s a good situation. So hopefully they will stop chasing now.

2026-07-06T12:01:11.960Z

Six more riders chasing behind.

We have done 70km now. The break has to settle at some point, surely.

Plapp, Schmid and Bennett have been joined by Pedersen and some more riders from the peloton.

And they have just joined the quartet in the front with a gap of 35 seconds to make a group of 11.

But is it settling down behind? No, it is not.

2026-07-06T11:55:07.324Z

Very important job today!

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-07-06T11:53:31.394Z

Jayco duo of Schmid and Plapp are chasing, with Bennett.

2026-07-06T11:53:00.810Z

There are riders in between, but the leaders’ gap is 22 seconds now, which is the biggest any gap has been all day.

A new group is up the road: Louis Vervaeke (Soudal-QuickStep), Magnus Cort (Uno-X Mobliity), Nelson Oliveira (Movistar) and Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies).

They only have a handful of seconds, but look pretty low-risk for the GC teams. Still riders trying to bridge across behind.

Bunch is all together as they head through a town. Lots of fans out, which is nice to see – reminder there shouldn’t be fans on the road for the final 40km once we return to France.

2026-07-06T11:36:13.444Z

Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) is pushing on now.

It’s probably getting a bit desperate now. A break really needs to get well established before the next big climb if they’re going to have any chance of surviving to the line.

2026-07-06T11:30:42.656Z

It is hot, hot, hot.

Some riders who were dropped earlier, like Lenny Martinez, are getting back onto the bunch now as we head back onto the flat.

There’s a good bit of respite from the climbing now.

Del Toro, Pogačar and Vingegaard are right on the front of the bunch keeping an eye on things.

The bunch settled for a moment just then on a narrow road but it’s kicked off again as the road opened up.

I think part of the issue here and why things are taking so long is because Visma really want Jorgenson to get in the break and go for a stage win, but UAE do not want this to happen. The rivalry between these two teams has defined the Tour for years, and nothing is changing today.

2026-07-06T11:24:02.082Z

And the Bernal group has been caught by the peloton.

Nearly 40km done! This is a long one. Brutal start given the heat, and indeed the climbing to come.

But I think we are getting closer… A group of eight are out front now, including Bernal who is keen to get away today. Still riders trying to chase behind though so let’s see if this group gets established.

2026-07-06T11:20:35.056Z

Here are some of the riders who have been involved in the battle for the break so far.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

It’s been a very hot start to the race, with teams using all sorts of different methods to stay cool. My colleague Will has run through a few of them.

2026-07-06T11:09:47.337Z

Prediction from cjrogers2002 in the comments:

Juan Ayuso takes a late flyer and it sticks to the line just ahead of Pogacar, Vingegaard, and Del Toro.

cjrogers2002

Any advances on that? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

More than 25km of this breakaway battle already done. Everything’s back together and it’s starting again.

When the battle takes a while like this, it can eventually work against the break – they have less time to build a good gap, and those in the group end up more tired. Success is more likely when they go early-ish.

2026-07-06T11:07:04.513Z

Jorgenson is on the front and flicking his elbow asking riders to give him some help. So that would suggest that he is trying to get in the break and work with attackers, rather than just police. Interesting!

Well look who it is… Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) is having a go on the front!

But it remains really tricky to get in a break. The pace is high and so many riders want to be involved – Egan Bernal is the next to put in a big push.

2026-07-06T11:02:52.965Z

On a quick descent now before the road kicks up again shortly.

George Bennett (NSN) is attacking off the front on his own, with the bunch stretched out behind him.

He’s a local rider who has lived in Girona and Andorra so may well know these roads.

2026-07-06T11:01:53.763Z

Back together at the front. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Movistar) is struggling out the back… not a great start to the Tour for him. He came here to target GC.

Paret-Peintre won max points at the top of the climb.

2026-07-06T10:57:17.717Z

Up front, Javier Romo (Movistar) and Paret-Peintre are in the lead but not far in front of the bunch.

2026-07-06T10:56:36.234Z

Matthew Riccitello (Decathlon CMA CGM) is also at the medical car, he’s clearly been down too.

He is a very important domestique for Paul Seixas.

2026-07-06T10:54:21.382Z

That crash has split and slowed things down in the bunch a bit I think. Those who got through unscathed are just taking the foot off the gas to allow things to come back together.

Armirail is at the medical car.

2026-07-06T10:53:33.846Z

Everyone looks to be up and riding again, but that was a big hit for a lot of riders.

Armirail was the first so go down and slowest to start again. His shoe looks to be broken.

Oof big old crash in the peloton, happened near the front and lots of riders went down or were held up.

Isaac del Toro was affected, Bruno Armirail (Visma-Lease a Bike), several Netcompany Ineos riders.

2026-07-06T10:49:11.384Z

Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) is puttin in a big dig, with Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-QuickStep) on his wheel. The serious riders are coming out to play now, will be interesting to see what the GC teams think to this…

Onto the climb now, bunch is together but the attacks are starting.

Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Intermarché) is already struggling out the back. He’s had a rubbish start to this race, he’s been ill.

2026-07-06T10:40:07.124Z

That’s pretty much closed down now. So we start again. The first climb starts in about 5km, and it’s 7km long.

2026-07-06T10:39:14.389Z

Raúl García Pierna (Movistar) and Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) have just joined the leaders, with a load more riders chasing behind.

A group of five have just chipped off the front and they have about 10 seconds, but we’re nowhere near done – the breakaway battle has only just begun, I’d say.

But for reference, they are:

2026-07-06T10:35:00.855Z

Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) is in the mix near the front. Probably policing things for his team, keeping an eye on who is doing what, more than trying to get involved himself.

It’s mainly strong breakaway specialists and smaller team riders who are having a go right now, but it’s not quite full gas yet.

2026-07-06T10:33:19.738Z

The first climb starts in just a few kilometres, so actually instead of attacks from the gun we’re seeing a relatively calm peloton right now. Riders are amassing at the front, but not launching just yet, as they will be a big fight on the climb – they’re saving their energy for that.

As I say that, Louis Vervaeke launches a little move off the front.

Off we go! 195.9km on the menu today, with three cat. 3 climbs and one cat. 1.

2026-07-06T10:25:19.687Z

Talking of their rivalry, though, we’ve done a few Pogačar vs Vingegaard head to heads recently, comparing their bikes and their physiology.

Have a read here:

2026-07-06T10:22:33.972Z

Pogačar and Vingegaard are having a bit of a chat and a laugh in the roll out. Big rivals but these two really do get along and like each other.

Other riders on the front and possibly priming for a go in the break include Mads Pedersen, Quentin Pacher and Lewis Askey.

2026-07-06T10:20:31.637Z

Fortunately yesterday some other teams were on hand to help Del Toro out.

2026-07-06T10:19:21.223Z

Isaac del Toro is back at the car getting some assistance with his radio. (After yesterday’s mishap where his team car drove straight past him, they’ll want to be sure communication is all working today!)

5km left of the neutral, but they won’t actually drop the flag until everyone is back in the bunch, so no rush for Del Toro.

2026-07-06T10:16:47.587Z

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They’re off! About 10 minutes of neutralised racing before the flag drops.

2026-07-06T10:08:08.227Z

The riders are assembling for the start now. Neutral roll out coming shortly – the flag should drop about 10 minutes later.

2026-07-06T10:06:26.928Z

First glimpse this morning of Vingegaard in yellow again this morning, and his mask.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-07-06T10:00:54.993Z

There doesn’t seem to be much consensus on what kind of a stage today might be.

Apparently Visma are happy to let the yellow jersey go if the opportunity arises, but only to the right rider – i.e. not Tadej Pogačar or another GC rival. It certainly seems like a day that would be good for the breakaway, and could come with big rewards, so I’d predict a pretty big fight to get in that move. But equally, if a rider like Pogačar or Del Toro get the chance to make some GC fireworks, they won’t give that opportunity up.

What do you think? Don’t forget to vote in the poll above.

2026-07-06T09:55:24.056Z

Vingegaard is wearing a face mask to sign on and the mixed zone again. He’s clearly not taking any chances when it comes to getting sick at this race.

Quick reminder of who is wearing what today:

🟡 Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike)

🟢 Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)

🔴 Alex Molenaar (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)

⚪ Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) *Del Toro leads the classification

Lots of cooling going on at the start. It’s 33ºC in Granollers already.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-07-06T09:39:00.934Z

We are only two days into this Tour de France, but after the opening TTT and yesterday’s Montjuïc fireworks, the GC race is well and truly on, earlier than ever.

Jonas Vingegaard is in yellow for the first time in three years, but UAE Team Emirates-XRG took the spoils yesterday in an ominous performance. Indeed, Tadej Pogačar’s ‘gift’ to Isaac del Toro may be a very important part of the race to come – because he probably just sealed the Mexican’s loyalty and highest commitment for the rest of the race.

My colleague James, who is on the ground at the race, wrote more about this:

Here is what’s on the cards today from Granollers in Spain to Les Angles in France. The peloton cross the border at just over 150km into the stage, so we’re mainly still in Spain after the weekend’s Barcelona Grand Départ.

(Image credit: ASO)
Length: 195.9kmElevation gain: 3,940mIntermediate sprint: Campdevànol, km 98.4Climbs:Côte de Saint Feliu de Codines (8.2km at 4.5%) – cat. 3, km 17.2Col de Toses (9.3km at 6.5%) – cat. 1, km 127.7Col du Calvaire (11.4km at 4.1%) – cat. 3, km 172.3Les Angles (1.7km at 6.5%) – cat. 3, km 195.9

Good morning and welcome to Cyclingnews’ live coverage of stage 3 of the Tour de France!

Matilda here, and I’ll be guiding you through the stage all day. It could be an interesting one, as the race heads back into France via plenty of climbing.

Any questions or comments? Drop them in the comments section below and I’ll get back to you there, or answer anything interesting here.