Tour de France 2025: Stage 3 Preview from Valenciennes to Dunkerque
Preview of the Tour de France 2025 Stage 3 from Valenciennes to Dunkerque.
Key Points
- • Stage 3 spans 178.3 km from Valenciennes to Dunkerque on July 7, 2025.
- • Flat terrain favors sprinters but wind can alter race dynamics.
- • Key challenge includes the Mont Cassel climb at km 147.
- • Live coverage begins at 13:10; projected finish at 17:18.
On July 7, 2025, the third stage of the Tour de France will cover a distance of approximately 178.3 kilometers from Valenciennes to Dunkerque. Known for its flat terrain, this stage is expected to highlight sprinter talents unless weather conditions disrupt the race dynamics, particularly due to the wind, as noted by Tour Director Christian Prudhomme.
The route will feature little elevation gain, with only Mont Cassel posing a significant challenge—a 2.3 km climb with an average gradient of 3.8% encountered at kilometer 147. Following this climb, the last 35 kilometers will be crucial, where wind conditions could lead to splits within the peloton or favor breakaway attempts.
As the stage approaches Dunkerque, a location with historic significance in the Tour, including victories by Christophe Moreau in 2001 and Wout Van Aert in 2022, the anticipation for a potential mass sprint finish grows. Key sprinters to watch include Biniam Girmay, Jasper Philipsen, and Arnaud Démare.
The projected finish time in Dunkerque is approximately 17:18, with fans able to catch the action live starting at 13:10 on channels like France 3, France 2, and Eurosport 1.