Vierzon hosted the finish of the 2nd stage four years ago. Dylan Groenewegen sprinted to victory that day. Now the race leaves from the town on the banks of the river Cher and the riders see nothing but flat roads in the first 100 kilometres.
The second half is more hilly. After ascending the Côte d’Éguzon (2.5 kilometres at 4.2%) and Côte de Crozant (2.2 kilometres at 5%) the riders reach the highest point of the day on the Côte de le Peyroux. To get there they have to climb 2.8 kilometres at 5.2%. Still more than 20 kilometres to go at the top.
Almost 4 kilometres after the Peyroux the second intermediate sprint appears in Balsac before the descend continues to a false flat section of 2.7 kilometres long. The route descends further towards Dun-le-Palestel, only to rise again at shallow gradients in the last 2 kilometres.
The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while the intermediate sprints – at kilometre 146.9 and at kilometre 173.5 – come with 3, 2 and 1 seconds.
Ride the route yourself? Download GPX stage 3.
Another interesting read: results 3rd stage 2022 Paris-Nice.
Paris-Nice 2022 stage 3: route, profiles, more
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