PREVIEW | Criterium du Dauphiné 2025 stage 3 - Explosive day could see another battle between Pogacar, Vingegaard, Evenepoel and van der Poel

From the 8th to the 15th of June the riders take on the Criterium du Dauphiné. Not only is this race usually the biggest preview ahead of the Tour de France, but it will also have the presence of Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel. We preview stage 3.

The third day of racing is not too different than the first ones, only with a tougher start and a slightly more difficult finale. Another day for potential breakaway success, but the truth is that in the steep final ascent there can be some attacks - and the finale can very well be very tactical.

3000 meters of climbing truly make it a tricky day to predict, as alongside the 206 kilometers in distance, this will weight a lot at the end of the day. A full-on GC day isn't to be expected, but the final climb will see all of them try to enter in front, and likely see some attacks - potentially from our protagonists. This will be 1.2 kilometers at 9.5%, ending with 18.5 kilometers to go.

There will be a long way to the finish still from that moment onwards, including a small plateau, a small descent and then a false-flat finale all the way up into Charantonnay. This will open up space for a tactical finale where there can be lots of attacks within a reduced peloton without clear favourites. It can certainly be a thrilling day of racing if we see attacks as in stage 1.

*** Axel Laurance, Ben Healy, Mathieu van der Poel
** Tadej Pogacar, Jonathan Milan, Remco Evenepoel
* Maxim van Gils, Jonas Vingegaard, Matteo Jorgenson, Santiago Buitrago, Magnus Cort Nielsen, Samuel Watson, Fred Wright, Bastien Tronchon, Simone Velasco, Jake Stewart, Matteo Trentin

Pick: Ben Healy

How: Breakaway win