Tour de France 2025 - Prediction stage 3

Monday July 7th 2025: Stage 3 - Valenciennes – Dunkerque (178.3 km, sprint)

The third stage is the flattest of the first week and offers a great opportunity for the sprinters. The route goes from Valenciennes to Dunkirk. The third stage is the flattest of the first week and offers a great opportunity for the sprinters. The route goes from Valenciennes to the coastal town of Dunkirk, on wide and fast roads. There is only one categorized obstacle along the way: the Côte de Cassel, a 2.3-kilometer climb at 4.5%. This hill is more than thirty kilometers before the finish and will probably have little impact on the course of the stage. After this climb, the course is completely flat until the coast.

The wind can play an important role in this region, especially on the open stretches towards Dunkirk. The peloton will have to arm itself against possible echelons, especially if the wind comes from the sea. The sprinter teams will do everything they can to bring their fast men to the finish in a good position. The last kilometers are clear and wide, which makes a classic mass sprint likely. Historically, several sprinters have been crowned winners in Dunkirk, and this year too it seems to be a battle between the fastest men in the peloton. GC riders will be mainly focused on avoiding crashes and losing time due to echelons.

📺NOS (14:20u), Eurosport 1 (13.25 u), Sporza (14:20 u)
⏰13.10 u
🏁17.15 u
⛅️Zonnig, 18 graden, zwakke wind