Tour de France Stage 3 Preview: The Mountains Come Early

Granollers – Les Angles: 195.9km / 3,850m+

The Tour de France hits the mountains early this year.

But this transition from Spain into the French Pyrénées could be cast off as fake news. The four categorized climbs on the menu are among the easiest in the race. They’re long, shallow, and leg-sapping rather than steep and selective.

Expect a huge brawl for the breakaway on a stage that could be fought on two fronts — for victory from the attackers, and for GC seconds in a late hilltop skirmish.

At 195km and with close to 4,000m of vert this will be one of the most time- and energy-sapping stages of Le Tour.

Watch out for which of the classification superteams flex their muscles and take responsibility for controlling it.

• Start Time: 6:10 a.m. ET
• End Time (estimated): 10:54 a.m. ET