Tour de France stage 3 LIVE – Racing has begun on a hot day in the Pyrenees, but will it be a stage for the breakaway or more GC action?

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.

KoM results – Côte de Saint Feliu de Codines (cat. 3)

1. Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-QuickStep) – 2 pts
2. Javier Romo (Movistar) – 1 pt

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.

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.

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.

Crash in the bunch

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.

Climb: Côte de Saint Feliu de Codines (8.2km at 4.5%) – cat. 3

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.

Five off the front

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:

• Vervaeke (Soudal-QuickStep)
• Træen (Uno-X Mobility)
• Slock (Lotto Intermarché)
• Guernalec (TotalEnergies)
• Nicolau (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)

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.

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.

Official start

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

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:

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.

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

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.

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Neutral roll out

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

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.

Overall standings and jerseys

Quick reminder of who is wearing what today:

🟡 Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike)

Hot day ahead

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

GC analysis

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.

Today’s parcours

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.

• Length: 195.9km
• Elevation gain: 3,940m
• Intermediate sprint: Campdevànol, km 98.4
• Climbs:
  • Côte de Saint Feliu de Codines (8.2km at 4.5%) – cat. 3, km 17.2
  • Col de Toses (9.3km at 6.5%) – cat. 1, km 127.7
  • Col du Calvaire (11.4km at 4.1%) – cat. 3, km 172.3
  • Les 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.