2012 Tour de France, Prologue to Stage 10#Stage 3
(41,8 km / h)
Michael Mørkøv ( STB)
The third stage of the Tour de France 2012 was held on 3 July 2012. It was the first of this year's tour, which took place on French soil. She was 197 km long and led by Orchies to Boulogne -sur -Mer. All 198 registered riders took to the start.
Route
The course was mainly to the west by the departments of Nord and Pas -de -Calais. The profile was in the first half of the course almost just before the riders reached the hilly terrain of the city on the English Channel region Boulonnais. At kilometer 119, the intermediate sprint was in the village of Senlecques. Overall, in the second half of the course six climbs to deal with (four of the fourth and two in the third category ). Four of these climbs, including the finish, were on the last 16 kilometers.
Race course
Five kilometers after the start was formed a five-member group consisting of the Dane Michael Mørkøv, the French Giovanni Bernaudeau and Sébastien Minard, the Ukrainian Andriy Hrywko and the Spaniard Rubén Pérez. The group was quickly from the field and totaled ten kilometers later, a maximum lead of 5:40 minutes. After about 50 kilometers, the projection stabilized at around five minutes. The intermediate sprint in Senlecques Minard decided for themselves; First out of the box was Mark Cavendish. On the descent from the mountain first prize in the back of the pack rushed several drivers, the White Russian Kanstanzin Siuzou had to retire injured.
The field the residue began to be progressively reduced. In the ascent to the Mont Violette Bernaudeau fell back, bringing four drivers were at the top. 30 km before the finish there was a massive crash in the rear part of the field; several dozen drivers lost the connection and the Spanish champion José Joaquín Rojas also had to retire injured. Urtasun Minard and fell back on the rise to the Côte de Herquelingue. The last remaining members of the leaving group, and Mørkøv Hrywko were caught a short time later in the ascent to the Mont Lambert from the field.
Five kilometers from the finish started Sylvain Chavanel tried to escape, but was caught by the peloton in the final climb again. On the rising stretch it came back at a massive crash, whereupon Peter Sagan was able to celebrate his second stage win in a row.
Climbs
Côte de l' Éperche Category 4 after 132 km to 193 m 0.7 km at 7.9 %
Côte de Mont Violette Category 3 after 163.5 km to 173 m 1.0 km at 9.2 %
Côte de Herquelingue Category 4 after 181 km to 115 m 1,7 km at 5,8 %
Côte de Quehen Category 4 after 185 km to 109 m 1.4 km at 5.9 %
Côte du Mont Lambert Category 3 after 190.5 km to 150 m 1.3 km at 8.4%
Côte de Boulogne -sur -Mer Category 4 after 197 km at 63 m 0.7 km at 7.4 %