After back-to-back victories to open the Tour de France Femmes, the streak may come to an end Monday for yellow jersey Lorena Wiebes. The 157.9-km route from Geneva to Poligny is far from a straightforward sprint stage. It’s tough. Maybe too tough for the maillot jaune. There’s a pretty brutal opening half that could reshape the race long before the finish.
Stage 3 of the Tour de France Femmes
The riders leave Switzerland for France almost immediately. But to get outta that country, they need to get over the biggest lump of the day. Around 12 km into the stage comes the Col de la Faucille. It’s a doozy: an 11.4-km climb averaging 6.3 per cent. Then the women have the Côte de la Lajoux and the Col de la Savine, giving aggressive riders plenty of opportunities to attack while putting pressure on the sprinters.
The final categorized climb, the Côte de Chaux-Champagny, crests with about 25 km remaining. After that, the road trends downhill or flat into Poligny. So depending on how things shape up, there are a bunch of possible scenarios. A reduced bunch sprint is possible if the favourites regroup. But if things aren’t controlled a strong breakaway could also stay clear. Even if it’s not a GC day, those in the hunt for the yellow jersey need to pay attention and be at the front.
Demi Vollering may go for it, if the others favorites are there. But she is thinking about yellow, so may mark others. Dutch ace Marianne Vos should dig a stage like this. Puncheurs such as Puck Pieterse or Kim Le Court will also be fans of today’s parcours.
The Canucks
Victoria’s Sarah Van Dam always does well in reduced bunch sprints, but her duties may be protecting team leader Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. But if she’s given some freedom, it could be a good day. St Michel–Préférence Home–Auber93’s Alison Jackson will definitely try and animate the stage, but the late climbs may not suit her in the finish. Oro-Medonte, Ont.’s Isabella Holmgren will probably make sure she’s in the selection but save her legs for the real climbs—her specialty. Same goes for Liv AlUla Jayco’s Nadia Gontova, who has proven she has what it takes in the high mountains this year.
Action gets underway on FloBikes.com at 9:45 a.m. and if you’re oot and aboot, don’t fret, just check back here on Canadian Cycling Magazine for a full report.