Criterium du Dauphiné 2022 – Stage 3
The first GC test with a bit of climbing near the end. I expect a reduced bunch sprint. With just 2700 climbing meters we have less than today, but the meters to be climbed are as mentioned near the finish.


Finale
Never used before in a big race. A long drag where people will fall out the back one by one. A short descent before it picks up a bit at the end. It should be a pretty fast finish, and I think someone will want to attack just before the short descend and try to stay away to the line.
Weather
Another day with primarily a headwind. It was not a big issue for the breakaway today. At the final climb, they ride towards the east. That means a nice, strong tailwind of 4 m/s up the finale climb. Expect aggressive racing. High temperatures and no rain.
How will the stage unfold?
Now we have TotalEnergies who will chase. I think J-V bottled it a bit today. I’m not sure if it was Benoot making gestures to other teams – but they had the leader’s jersey and finished 6th. Not smart to hesitate when you have the fastest man in the peloton.
We have a fair bit of teams with a rider who will like the finish. Namely J-V with WvA and Roglic. I can assume UAE should be interested with McNulty, FDJ with Gaudu and Uno-X with Johannessen. Plenty of teams will be interested to stay at the front – and pushing the pace. I do not see another chance for the breakaway.
Contenders
J-V – they have two cards to play. Is it too hard for Wout? He has said he has been focusing on sprinting and his TT before the race – I think with him losing the jersey, it is all for Roglic now. They will set up a high pace and set him up for a win.
Hayter – we will see if INEOS rides for him tomorrow. He has had a tough schedule of late with track and road at the same time. I think he will miss a bit tomorrow.
Gaudu – is very fast in a sprint, but I do not think it is steep enough for him to win.
McNulty – GC leader of UAE. He did have some fast sprints in the spring but I am not sure it is enough to beat the competition tomorrow.
Kelderman – is always up there, I would be very surprised not to see him finish in the top-10.
Bagioli – the Italian could not find a better-suited finish for him. Quick-Step has a great team and should be able to position him well on the climb. In a one-on-one against Roglic in a flat sprint, it should be closer than many think.
T H Johannesen – mighty fast too for a climber. Beating Bevin, Haller and Asgreen in a sprint in Norway a few weeks ago. Uno-X knows what they have to do – he will get a nice result.
Battistella – is finally back. Did very well in Provence and Algarve before a crash. He found some legs in Hungary three weeks ago – I think he is a very good underdog for tomorrow.
Quinn – he climbed well in Tour of the Alps, but I am not sure how well he sprints right after a climb. We will see what the young American can do.
Who will win?
I think I will just keep pointing at the bees. Roglic to take the stage tomorrow.