Update
2023-07-03T12:37:47.982Z
Catch a glimpse of the amazing Basque fans in Lekeitio below as they watch the peloton fly past them. The red, white and green Basque flags were all over the streets of these first three stages, showing just how important cycling is to this region.
(Credit: Getty Images) 2023-07-03T12:27:53.835Z
148 km to go
Tadej Pogačar suffered a puncture on the rear wheel, which will now be replaced on the team car. Of course he’s not stressed because today’s stage is still so long.
2023-07-03T12:24:55.030Z
Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) suffered a puncture but is not panicking as the squad is still incredibly calm. Back in the peloton he will be joined by Alexey Lutsenko and Yevgeniy Federov.
Today could be the first chance for the Manx Missile to claim a record-breaking 35th stage win of the Tour de France, overtaking Eddy Merckx at the top of the all-time Tour stage wins list.
2023-07-03T12:22:22.511Z
Incredible crowds in Lekeitio cheering on our two front runners. Everyone is out in the streets cheering on our two front runners in the Basque sun. You now return along the coast of the Bay of Biscay towards the French border.
2023-07-03T12:19:30.515Z
Watch Neilson Powless having the time of his life in the polka dot jersey for EF Education-EasyPost below
👍 😁 👍🔴⚪️ @NPowless 🇺🇸#TDF2023 | @maillotapois pic.twitter.com/6kgtLzBm6aJuly 3, 2023
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2023-07-03T12:15:19.553Z
We have some of the main teams that focus on the sprint and move to the front of the peloton, albeit with one rider each for now. Soudal-Quick Step for Fabio Jakobsen, Alpecin-Deceuninck for Jasper Philipsen, Jayco AlUla for Dylan Groenewegen and Lidl-Trek for Mads Pedersen.
The gap to the leader is now 3:30.
2023-07-03T12:10:23.021Z
Powless made his way to take the only KOM point on this second climb of the day. He glided across the finish line in front of Pichon with his arms and thumbs up. He’s definitely enjoying his day in red shorts and during the break.
2023-07-03T12:04:41.429Z
The two leaders have entered the second categorized climb of the day, the Côte de Milloi (2.3km at 4.5%).
2023-07-03T12:01:11.314Z
165 km to go
Powless and Pichon’s lead at the front has further increased to 2:44 and there’s no need to even think about catching them just yet.
Jakobsen, one of the day’s favourites, just had a bike change and is looking to return to the peloton.
2023-07-03T11:56:35.458Z
Adam Yates is back at the team car, tuning in to his race radio in his yellow jersey.
2023-07-03T11:54:55.625Z
As we experience this quieter phase of racing, be sure to take the opportunity to read some cycling news produced on location at the Tour de France.
Technical Editor Josh Croxton keeps a close eye on the latest tech, the newest bikes and the trickiest hacks seen at the Grand Depart. Check out Josh’s gallery of the best tech highlights including Caleb Ewan’s prototype bike and Mark Cavendish’s limited edition Willier.
Tour de France mega tech gallery: All the nerd highlights from the Grand Depart
2023-07-03T11:50:59.371Z
Powless and Pichon lead the descent towards the next town of Markina Xemein as the riders continue north back towards the coast. Once you reach Lekeitio, turn right and drive along the coast of the Bay of Biscay to France.
2023-07-03T11:42:30.859Z
180 km to go
Powless earned his first full haul of two King of the Mountains points right on the first climb, easily beating Pichon. The American even gave us a little lunge on the bike as he and Pichon continued their relaxed journey at the front of the race.
2023-07-03T11:41:03.081Z
Tim “El Tractor” Declercq (Soudal-Quick Step) has taken his place at the front of the peloton for the Belgium side, who have dominated the sprints on many occasions. He and his teammates will support Fabio Jakobsen (Soudal-Quick Step), who won stage one of the Tour de France last year.
2023-07-03T11:34:25.923Z
Spirits are high at the front, with Powless and Pichon laughing at the front of the race. No team in the peloton has yet managed to get to the front to gain any sort of control and the gap is now approaching 2:00 as they tackle the first climb of the day.
2023-07-03T11:32:41.305Z
Here’s a look at the four jersey wearers from today’s start: Lafay in green after his incredible stage win yesterday, Yates in jersey jaune after holding it on stage two, Powless already on the break to try and do more Earning KOM points and Pogačar who will be happy with his UAE team’s start so far at the 2023 Tour.
(Image credit: Getty Images) 2023-07-03T11:25:34.558Z
We are just leaving Durango where the fans have again flocked to support the riders. Cycling is a well-known religion in the Basque Country, but the crowds throughout the Grand Depart were truly incredible.
2023-07-03T11:20:54.869Z
The gap to the leading duo has already grown to over 30 seconds when the peloton levels off at the start. It won’t be long before we reach the first climb which is 6km long on the Côte de Trabakua (4.1km at 5.4%).
Powless clearly prepared for the action he took when waving the flag, as he’s in his skin suit and ready for a day of KOM scoring.
2023-07-03T11:16:53.771Z
193.5 km to go
Here we go! The official start has taken place and the race is in full swing. It’s Powless, as expected, who fires immediately at the front to make sure he’s in contention for the King of the Mountains points so he can defend his jersey.
He will be joined by Laurent Pichon (Arkéa-Samsic)
2023-07-03T11:12:23.278Z
(Image credit: ASO)
Here’s another look at the profile of today’s 193.5km stage before we reach kilometer 0. You can see the four categorized climbs in the first 100km of the race, so expect a battle for the break to fight for the kings of the stage Mountains points.
Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) should definitely try to get into the break and he currently leads the KOM standings by four points from Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates).
2023-07-03T11:03:13.635Z
The riders are on their way from the starting line in Amorebieta-Etxano. We obviously got off to a neutral start as the riders let more lines of Basque fans pass in great support.
2023-07-03T11:02:20.763Z
Luckily there were no more crashes after the second stage, although Jasper De Buyst, Lotto-Dstny’s leading Tour rider, got a fright. The Belgium team tweeted that he and youngster Maxim Van Gils would start the stage today after being cleared.
You will be supporting Caleb Ewan today.
Update and it’s good news 😉After a test on the reels this morning @JasperDeBuyst will take over the start for the third stage of #TDF2023 in Amorebieta-Etxano. https://t.co/THSWb1EfPNJuly 3, 2023
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2023-07-03T10:57:22.909Z
Riders prepare to start at Amorebieta-Etxano, a venue that has hosted its own UCI one-day race, the Klasika Primavera, since the 1950s and has been won by riders such as Alejandro Valverde and Carlos Sastre.
2023-07-03T10:52:28.002Z
For safety reasons we changed the route today and extended the stage to 193.5 km to avoid dangerous street furniture.
Read more about the full changes and why they were made here.
We witnessed two brutal days of racing in the Spanish Basque Country with Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) and Victor Lafay (Cofidis) taking the wins. Today should be the first opportunity for the sprinters to stretch their legs in a group run in Bayonne.
2023-07-03T09:57:54.769Z
Bonjour and welcome to Cyclingnews’ live coverage of Stage 3 of the 2023 Tour de France!