Giro 2014 Route stage 3: Armagh (N-Irl)

Giro 2014 Route stage 3: Armagh (N-Irl) – Dublin (Irl)

Sunday, May 11 - The third and final stage of the Giro’s Irish holiday starts in the town of Armagh in Northern Ireland. The riders face 187 kilometres in the saddle before a likely bunch sprint in the streets of Dublin. (Slideshow route/profile)

The shortest route from Armagh to Dublin is 135 kilometers. The riders take a bit longer today, but they do not overdo it. Fews Forrest, at an altitude of 325 metres, is the highest point in stage 3. Endless green marks today’s stage, we are in Ireland after all. Another flat stage with a bunch sprint the likely outcome.

Ireland

In contrast to their northern neighbors, Ireland has a rich cycling history. Former triple crown winner (Giro, Tour and World’s in same year) Stephen Roche is an Irishman , and classics specialist and former world number 1 Seán Kelly as well. Today’s pro peloton is seeing a re-birth of Irish riders with Nicholas Roche, Daniel Martin, Sam Bennett and Philip Deignan all impressing in recent years.

Roche won a Vuelta stage in 2013 and finished fifth overall while Daniel Martin won the ninth stage of last year’s Tour de France as well as Liege-Bastogne-Liege. A stage win for either will be unlikely in Dublin however with both men favouring hillier terrain.
Dublin
Dublin is in the top 10 of the most bike friendly cities in the world. If today’s bunch sprint doesn’t end up in a big crash, it probably will remain so for the time being!