This Monday, the Grande Boucle leaves Nice where the start will be given at 12:10 p.m. (launched at 12:20 p.m.), direction Sisteron 198 km away, where the finish is estimated at around 5:20 p.m. (average calculated at 40 km / h). After two first stages where organizations have already been particularly in demand, this day should be devoted to sprinters.
On the Napoleon road
No major difficulty on the route of this stage which follows the Route Napoléon, the one that the Emperor took in 1814 when he fled from Elba Island to go back to Paris. A few short hills for backpackers and the flat country from Digne-les-Bains 40 km from the finish which should please sprinters. The yellow jersey should not change shoulders at the end of this day.
A last goodbye to Nice
The runners probably didn't have the time during their stay in Nice. But on the line, they should promise to come back. The start of this third stage takes place in front of the National Sports Museum which houses some magnificent treasures: an authentic Jesse Owens jersey, Zatopek's shoes, the ball from the World 98 final. To stay in the Tour, the bikes of Merckx and Thévenet from 1975, the wool jersey of René Pottier, winner in 1907 and the first stage, which arrived in Nice in 1906, are on display. Unique.
Sisteron, a rare step
Sisteron, a magnificent city of 8,000 souls in the heart of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, is hosting a stage of the Tour for the second time only. The first dates back 10 years: it was the 11th stage of the Tour 2010 won by Andy Schleck. That day, Mark Cavendish had triumphed. In the sprint of course.