Stage 3 offers the sprinters a first opportunity for success at the 2024 Tour de France. One of those who ordinarily would have fancied his chances, is EF Education-EasyPost's Marijn van den Berg. On this occasion however, team orders mean there is no sprint opportunity for the Dutchman.
The reason for this? The fact that van den Berg's teammate, Richard Carapaz is currently sitting at 4th overall in the general classification, tied on time with the Maillot Jaune wearing Tadej Pogacar. Whilst it is unlikely a rider of Carapaz's build could ever win a flat bunch sprint, given he's tied on time with Pogacar, a higher finishing position on this stage could see the Ecuadorian move into the Maillot Jaune, even without any time gaps.
Therefore, van den Berg has been assigned by EF Education-EasyPost team boss Jonathan Vaughters, to pilot Carapaz as far up the peloton and as near the front as possible in order to hopefully move into the overall race lead. “I'm not allowed (to sprint ed.)," admits the 24-year-old Dutchman in conversation with AD ahead of the stage. “I have to stay with Carapaz and make sure he’s up front."
"If everything goes well, he can also take yellow, so I have to stay with him,” van den Berg continues, happy to sacrifice his own goals for the greater good of the team. “Of course I would have liked to join in and mix it up today. We’re going to try for the yellow jersey. It’s a gamble and the chance isn’t very big, but we might as well try.”
For Carapaz to move into the Maillot Jaune, the former Giro d'Italia winner needs to finish at least 14 places ahead of Pogacar, whilst also ensuring he crosses the line 12 places ahead of Remco Evenepoel (2nd overall) and 3 places ahead of Jonas Vingegaard (3rd overall).
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