The opening of the race is on flat roads before a climb to the village of Chambles with 50 kilometres done heralds the mountainous central part of the race. No ridiculously steep slopes, but in the next 60 kilometres the riders traverse a mountain range in the Ardèche. This forms the heart of stage 3 in the Dauphiné. On steadily rising roads riders climb up the Côte de Montfaucon-en-Velay, the Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid and the Col du Rouvey to arrive at an altitude of 1,250 metres.
Col du Rouvey is the highest point of the stage, reached after 115.5 kilometres in the saddle. A long drop takes the riders to the foot of the Côte de Sécheras, a 2.9 kilometers calf crusher at 8.2% with a second kilometre at 13.9%. After cresting it’s 15 kilometres left to the line.
No intermediate sprints in the Dauphine, yet at the finish time bonuses at 10, 6 and 4 seconds lay waiting for the first three riders.
Race results/race report stage 3, 2016 Critérium du Dauphiné.
Critérium du Dauphiné 2016 stage 3: Route maps, height profiles, etc.
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