And on the third day, the Tour enters France. Not before having time to close this successful Grand Depart in the Basque Country. Amorebieta will host the start of this day which, of the 193 km it will have, 134 km will be on Spanish soil. Once the border is crossed, the race will not leave France until the start of Florence, in Italy, in 2024. It is a route that has its main difficulty in the first part, in Euskadi, with four levelss. Afterwards, the race passes through San Sebastián again, the outcome of yesterday’s stage with Lafay as the winner. After this, heading to France, where from ASO, the organizing company hopes that the social situation that the country is experiencing these days does not affect the race.
After two stages in the purest classic spring style, with tension and movement for the favorites for the general classification, in this third stage they will have a little respite… in theory. “It is the toughest start of a great tour that I remember,” said Pogacar in the preview. The Slovenian, very active these two days, begins to dispel doubts about his physical condition, although he will really find out in the first long mountain climb. In Bayonne there is a doubt about an opportunity for a possible escape, maybe something soon for it, or for the sprinters. And if there is a sprint, all eyes are on Cavendish. His challenge to break Merckx’s record with the most Tour victories is one step away. Both have 34 and for the Cavs it is the last chance, since he retires at the end of the year. In Euskadi he did not give one more pedal stroke, giving in at the first change and being very supported by his Astana teammates. It is a target marked in red and they are overturned with it.