Following yesterday’s battle between the general classification favorites in mountainous and hilly terrain, today’s stage 3 of Tour de France 2024 was dedicated to the fast sprinters in the peloton.

The Tour de France peloton was still situated in scenic Italy for stage 3 of Tour de France 2024 – a 230.8-kilometer ride from Piacenza to Torino. While the stage route was designed to appeal to the sprinters, the stage route was situated in false-flat terrain and did include three Category 4 climbs.

Apart from two Uno-X riders trying their luck in a brief breakaway early in the stage, the peloton appeared to have settled for an easy day on the bike following yesterday’s intense effort and to recover better in time for tomorrow’s battle on the Col du Galibier, when the Tour returns to France.

The sprinters in the Tour de France peloton, however, had all been eagerly awaiting their first opportunity to show their strength and dominance in this year’s Tour. They had, therefore, sent their teammates to the front of the peloton to control the stage.

The weather was overcast with rain and thunderstorms expected mid-stage.

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) was leading the general classification after his explosive effort in yesterday’s stage. Soudal-QuickStep’s Remco Evenepoel was second in the general classification, followed by defending Tour de France Champion Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) and Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost).

Surprisingly, Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) had lost valuable time in yesterday’s stage and was now twenty-one seconds behind the race leader. Despite sending a both experienced and strong team to this year’s Tour, the Ineos-Grenadiers riders had also failed to keep up with other GC favorites in yesterday’s stage finale.

The Tour de France peloton climbed the Cote de Tortone Fausto Coppi to honor the Italian cycling legend. The category 4 climb is situated near the death place of Coppi, who sadly passed away when he was forty years old. Coppi won the Tour de France in 1949 and 1952 and contributed to the rebirth of Italy in the post-World War II years.

All riders in the Tour de France peloton were still united with eighty kilometers of stage 3 remaining. Some riders were focusing on recovering for tomorrow’s hard mountain battle, while others were conserving energy for the anticipated sprint finale of today’s stage. Mads Pedersen and his Lidl-Trek team were spotted at the front of the peloton and other sprinter teams were also sending men to the front of the peloton to control the pace. Sports directors from various teams were using their radios to keep their respective riders focused in what was otherwise a boring stage.

Fabien Grellier launched a solo attack with approximately 66 kilometers of the stage remaining. The 29-year-old TotalEnergies rider had yet to win a stage in a Grand Tour, but this did not deter the Frenchman from courageous riding.

Grellier was reeled in by the chasing peloton, which was headed by riders from the sprinter teams who were protecting their interests in the first sprinter stage of this year’s Tour de France.

Fifteen kilometers of stage 3 remained, and the sprinter teams were setting a fast pace at the front of the peloton to deter any riders from attacking and spoiling the intended mass sprint finish.

The speed was intense with seven kilometers left. The sprinter teams were fighting hard to position their sprinters optimally in the peloton before the mass sprint that would decide today’s stage 3. Would Mark Cavendish prevail in his final Tour de France? Or perhaps Mads Pedersen?

Lotto-Dstny were leading with 2.5 kilometers left. Bang – riders were crashing. Intermarche-Wanty took to the front.

Mads Pedersen opened his sprint and looked set to win, but it was Biniam Girmay who prevailed for Intermarche-Wanty, while Pedersen was disturbed in his sprint by ever-controversial sprinter Fernando Gaviria. Arnaud de Lie (Lotto-Dstny) completed the stage podium.

Richard Carapaz took the lead in the general classification after being the best finisher of the general classification front men and will wear the yellow race leader jersey in tomorrow’s stage 4 for his EF Education-EasyPost team. Tadej Pogacar is second in the general classification ahead of Remco Evenepoel and Jonas Vingegaard.

Tuesday’s stage 4 of Tour de France 2024 will be an epic battle in the Alps. The mountainous route includes the legendary Col du Galibier climb and general classifications such as Jonas Vingegaard, Tadej Pogacar, Primoz Roglic, Carlos Rodriguez, and Richard Carapaz are all expected to shine as the Tour returns to French soil.

Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com for complete coverage from Tour de France 2024.

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