PREVIEW | Criterium du Dauphine 2024 stage 3

aThe Criterium du Dauphiné is the first World Tour event following the Giro d'Italia and traditionally, the most important race in preparation for the Tour de France. Here we will have many of the Tour's stars battling it out on all kinds of terrain including the high mountains from the 2nd to the 9th of June. We preview the stage ahead.

Stage 3 starts off with a rather hilly section, with a few explosive climbs and descents where a strong group may be formed. Not the easiest of starts for the 181-kilometer day, which could see small differences in it's finale.

Another day without overly hard climbs, but with a summit finish at the end of a hilly day. The peloton faces a 3.3-kilometer climb at 8% which is difficult but finishes with 93 kilometers to go. From 60 to 21 kilometers to go there is a slight ascent split into different phases where ultimately, the riders gain over 700 meters of altitude. Not decisive for the stage, but it will create some fatigue and wear down the riders ahead of the final climb.

All of the focus will be on the ascent to Les Estables. The climb is around 7 kilometers long but the first 3 are somewhat of a warm-up. Officially, it is 3.8 kilometers at 5.2% but the exact details are open to interpretation. However that does not change things on the road...

It's a climb that suits the puncheurs. Do not expect the pure climbers to make gaps here, most of the climb is at 4-5% which allows riders to benefit from slipstreaming a lot. This means a winning attack is most likely only possible inside the final kilometer but a small group sprint is likely. The road flattens in the final few meters which will truly benefit those who pack a strong sprint.

The Weather

Prediction Criterium du Dauphiné 2024 stage 3:

*** Primoz Roglic
** Magnus Cort Nielsen, Giulio Ciccone, Matteo Jorgenson
* Romain Grégoire, Juan Ayuso, Remco Evenepoel, Oier Lazkano

Pick: Primoz Roglic