Paris-Nice 2018 Route stage 3: Bourges - Châtel-Guyon
Tuesday, 6 March 2018 - The 3rd stage of Paris-Nice is the longest in this edition. Amounting to 210 kilometres, the riders race from Bourges to Châtel-Guyon. The route runs on rolling roads to a tricky finale with a 1.5 kilometres stretch at 4.5% just before entering the flat final kilometre.
With a little luck the riders should get a first taste of the sun in the 3rd stage. Arrival place Châtel-Guyon is on the same latitude as Lyon.
That said, another viable option is strong winds and pouring rain. The route runs past Saint-Amand-Montrond, which not only is the birthplace of Julian Alaphilippe. Five years ago it was the destination of one of the most gripping echelons marked stages in recent cycling history, the 13th stage of the 2013 Tour de France.
The first 60 kilometres are flat, but then the character of the route changes to undulating. Not steep though, the riders face gradients at approximately 3%. With 17 kilometres to go, they crest a 10 kilometres climb at 3.5% and the finale features a tricky slope of 1.5 kilometres at 4.5%. This could be a good spot for a late attack as the last 1.1 kilometres are on the flat.
Last year, stage 3 of Paris-Nice ran from Chablis to Chalon-sur-Saône. A strong tail wind accounted for a day of smooth sailing, while the eventual bunch sprint was won by Sam Bennett ahead of Alexander Kristoff and John Degenkolb.
The first three riders on the line take time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while the two intermediate sprints (at kilometre 61 and at kilometre 190.5) come with 3, 2 and 1 seconds.
Read also: results/race report 3rd stage 2018 Paris-Nice.
Paris-Nice 2018 stage 3: Route maps, height profiles, and more
Click on the images to zoom
Watch the highlights of recent races here:
Related articles Favourites - Paris-Nice 20 Overview - Paris-Nice 20 Stage 8: De la Cruz wins thriller-race, Soler takes GC - Paris-Nice 20 Stage 7: Simon Yates solos to victory and overall lead - Paris-Nice 20 Stage 6: Solo victory Molard, LL Sánchez still in lead - Paris-Nice 20 Stage 5: Cousin bests Politt in two-up sprint, LL Sánchez retains lead - Paris-Nice 20 Stage 4: Wout Poels takes ITT, LL Sánchez holds on to yellow jersey - Paris-Nice 20 Stage 2: Groenewegen sprints to victory, Démare retains yellow - Paris-Nice 20 Stage 1: Démare wins cobbled uphill sprint to take overall lead - Paris-Nice 20 Route stage 1: Chatou – Meudon - Paris-Nice 20 Route stage 2: Orsonville - Vierzon - Paris-Nice 20 Route stage 4: La Fouillouse - Saint-Étienne - Paris-Nice 20 Route stage 5: Salon-de-Provence - Sisteron - Paris-Nice 20 Route stage 6: Sisteron - Vence - Paris-Nice 20 Route Stage 7: Nice - Valdeblore La Colmiane - Paris-Nice 20 Route stage 8: Nice – Nice - Paris-Nice 20 More articles Giro 2024: Milan sprints to victory, Pogacar still leader
Giro 2024 Route stage 14: Castiglione delle Stiviere - Desenzano del Garda
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 14: ITT for pure specialists
Giro 2024 stage 14: Start times ITT
Giro 2024: Withdrawals
Giro 2024: The Route
Giro 2024: Riders
Giro 2024 Route stage 15: Manerba del Garda - Mottolino
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 15: Key stage in high mountains
Giro 2024 Route stage 16: Livigno - Monte Pana
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 16: Attackers over the Cima Coppi
Giro 2024 Route stage 17: Selva di Val Gardena – Passo Brocon
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 17: Double up on the Brocon
Giro 2024 Route stage 18: Fiera di Premiero - Padova
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 18: For fast finishers #6
Giro 2024 Route stage 19: Mortegliano - Sappada
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 19: High mountain breakaway
Giro 2024 Route stage 20: Alpago – Bassano del Grappa
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 20: Last chance for climbers
Giro 2024 Route stage 21: Rome - Rome
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 21: For fast finishers #7
Critérium du Dauphiné 2024: The Route
Critérium du Dauphiné 2024: Riders
Cycling Calendar 2024
Tour de France 2024: The Route
Tour de France 2024: Riders
Tour de France 2024 Route stage 1: Florence - Rimini
Vuelta 2024: The Route
Like our Facebook page and stay on top of all pro-race information!