Well, it's almost over.
There is only one day left to enjoy the Danish red and white madness before returning to France.
This third stage of 182 km between Vejle and Sonderborg should offer some respite after two trying first days.
Unless the wind disturbs the peloton...
The big trend: a new bunch sprint
The opportunities to shine will be scarce this summer for the kings of the sprint, so make the most of them.
This third stage in the extreme south of Denmark ends on a large boulevard, with a bend 600m from the finish.
An even more suitable route than this Saturday at the exit of the Great Belt bridge, which has already ended with a massive sprint.
Unless a curb finally disrupts the race when we least expected it, Dylan Groenewegen (BikeExchange), Fabio Jakobsen (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl), Caleb Ewan or even Wout van Aert should explain themselves to the around 5:15-5:30 p.m.
Why not a surprise and a victory for a local from the stage, like Mads Pedersen or Kasper Asgreen?
The favorite: Jakobsen for a double
Will he forget Mark Cavendish?
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl has chosen to bet everything on Fabio Jakobsen this year.
A resounding success so far.
After having already won the Vuelta five times, he had never tasted the Grande Boucle before.
And here he is already a stage winner.
The profile of Sunday's sprint seems even more suited to his talent and the power of the train put to his service.
🏆🇳🇱 @FabioJakobsen wins stage 2!
🏆🇳🇱 @FabioJakobsen wins!#TDF2022 pic.twitter.com/VHZmCdJom6
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 2, 2022
In the stride… the plane
Three days in Denmark and then off.
The Tour de France returns to France with, we hope, the same fervor as for this inaugural sequence abroad.
The runners will take the plane from Sunday evening towards the North.
24 hours of rest, the time for the rest of the caravan to return home, then we set off again on Tuesday from Dunkirk to Calais.
It is because of this very early transition day that the Grand DĂ©part of the Tour was given on a Friday.
The eye of Thierry Gouvenou, course manager
“There, we will get closer to the German border.
It's a stage that shouldn't escape the sprinters: everything is flat and elongated, I can't see any scenario other than a massive sprint.
It must also be recognized that Denmark is a flat land where it is impossible to find mountains.
The highest must be 100 m above sea level.
It's pretty obvious to think of sprinters when you're in this country.
And the sprinters will also be well advised to jump on this stage because we can't say that the layout of this Tour is really made to give them pride of place.
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