The third day will see the
Tour de Pologne head into the hills. In the
familiar Polish way, there will be 237 kilometers on the road. It is an ideal
route for the classics specialists looking to build form into the late-season
classics, as they’re presented with a punchy finish, and a very sharp stage.
Most of it will be flat, however the overall classification will be
played for in the end, in a day that will see the first GC riders reveal
themselves.
Stage 3: Krasnik - Przemysl, 237Km
Although unlikely to be decisive, after going through Przemysl the first
time, the riders will head south into a section of hills before returning. 3Km
at 5.2%, 2.1Km at 9.2% and 2.5Km at 6.7% summiting with 36.5, 30 and 24
kilometers respectively. It will be a tough sequence of climbs which will see
some riders shed off the peloton, and can be used to put in the hurt on those
that have more difficulties with a substantial amount of climbing.
3Km at 5.2%; 2.1Km at 9.2% and 2.5Km at 6.7%
The stage will be decided in a hilltop finish inside the city however,
one that will be a pure puncheur treat. It is 1.6Km at 8.3%, however
inconsistent as it has two different ramps, the final of which will be crucial
and decide the stage. The gradients will go up to 15% in the run-up to the
finish, a highly explosive finale before an hairpin into some flat meters so
the riders can cross the line.
Przemysl: 1.6Km; 8.3% average gradient
CyclingUpToDate prediction: