Dauphiné 2022 Stage 3 Preview

2022 Critérium du Dauphiné - STAGE 3 Preview & Predictions

Stage 2 reminded us as to why the tour de france is the greatest race. It takes the effort of several teams and their best riders to bring back the break-away, and sometimes it is not enough. After working hard to impressively reduce the gap to the break-away, the remaining sprinters' team simply did not have enough men to close a 30 second gap. Alexis Vuillermoz, a brilliant rider who was hampered by sickness and injury last season took a beautiful win. 

Stage 3 Profile 

Stage 3 is a completely different affair. A rather smooth half race where the break-away will try to take the maximum time possible from the peloton. The last 50 km shows a continuous increase in altitude. The outcome of the stage will only depend on the attitude of the strongest team which is Team Jumbo-Visma, leaving us to ponder over the following questions:

    1. Will they let the break-away take a win and save their legs for the next day's time trial? 

    2. Will they ride hard but not hard enough to bring Wout van Aert to a very reduced sprint? 

    3. Will they just blow it all to then release Primoz Roglič and Jonas Vingegaard? 

The last climb to the final is a 6.1 km effort at an average 5.5%, with a maximum gradient of approximately 11 % mid way through the climb.

Predictions

Julien Bernand and Alexis Gougeard are two names that have already lost a chunk of time. They are break-away specialists and can manage to form a break-away that works well together that they can bring it to the win. Gougeard's team-mate, Pierre Rolland is the current wearer of the maillot à pois and he will try to grab some more points. 

Team Jumbo Visma on their own will not be able to control the whole stage. They would not mind a break-away win, provided there is no one considered dangerous. Wout van Aert and co. have some hard days ahead and saving some energy would be sage decision. 

Ineos, Trek-Segafedo and particularly Intermarché Wanty Gobert might ride to keep the gap under control until as we have already seen, they just run out of men. 

I fancy another break-away win but it is hard to predict who will be in it. It is however easier to say that Wilco Keldermann, given that it is a sprint between the GC contenders.

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ : Wilco Keldermann
★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ : Julien Bernard
★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ : Alexis Gougeard
★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ : Wout Van Aert