The 2018 Tour de France has come out of the blocks in breathless, chaotic, and unruly fashion, and that's just from what should have been, on paper, at least, two of the most straightforward days of the whole race. A more obvious flashpoint awaits on Monday – the stage 3 team time trial – and it's all set to explode again.
In the words of Mitchelton-Scott directeur sportif Matt White, "There are going to be some serious gaps."
Thanks to all the crashes, punctures, and broken wheels on the opening stage, that establishment of a first general classification is now set to be shaken up again entirely.
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Chris Froome (Team Sky) is already 50 seconds down on most of his rivals, as are Richie Porte (BMC) and Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott). Movistar's Nairo Quintana is even worse off, at more than a minute back. Some of the biggest names in the race, therefore, will have to scramble just to try to break even again on what could be a stage that is as decisive as any mountain stage.
The course
Stage 3's team time trial course is 35.5 kilometres long, starting and finishing in the centre of Cholet. The route heads west out of town before tipping south and heading back east at La Romagne and finishing just a few hundred metres from the start line.
The terrain is lightly undulating, with one designated climb – the Côte de la Séguinière after 26km – although it is only a few hundred metres long and not overly steep. There are two intermediate checkpoints: the first after 13km, and the second at the top of the climb at 26.5km.
The contenders
Eight-man teams
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/a-fast-course-made-for-serious-gaps-tour-de-france-team-time-trial-preview
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