After the time trialist on day one and (maybe) the crosswinds experts on day two, the puncheurs are the ones to make a difference in stage 3. Starting in Antwerp it’s about halfway riders are on holy cycling ground to the Belgians when they pass the hamlet of Kiezegem, birth plance of Eddy Merckx.
En route riders are to crest the same hills as in recent Flèche Wallonne. With 109 kilometres done the Côte de Bohissau (2,4 kilometres at 5,5%) lays waiting and the finale is a perfect copy of Ardennes classic with Côte d’Ereffe (2.1 kilometres at 5%), Côte de Cherave (1.3 kilometre at 8.1%) and the finish atop of the Wall Huy.
For years the Wall is the feared executioner in the Flèche Wallonne. The winding road through the outskirts of the old town passes by seven chapels in 1.3 kilometres. That’s ample opportunity to say your prayers. The average gradient of the Wall is 9.6%, but that’s just part of the story since the steepest section peaks at almost 20% and is reached after 1 kilometre of punching hard.
The winner takes 10 bonification seconds, whilst number two and three are up for boni also.
Tour de France 2015 stage 3: Route maps, videos, and more
Click on the images to zoom
Related articles Riders and teams - Tour de France 2015 GC Favourites - Tour de France 2015 Withdrawals - Tour de France 2015 Route and stages - Tour de France 2015 More articles Giro 2025: Groves wins in Naples, Pedersen still in pink
Giro 2025 Route stage 6: Potenza - Naples
Giro 2025 Route stage 7: Castel di Sangro - Tagliacozzo
Giro 2025 Favourites stage 7: First mountain top finish
Giro 2025: Withdrawals
Giro 2025: The Route
Giro 2025: Riders
Giro 2025: GC Favourites
Giro 2025 Route stage 8: Giulianova – Castelraimondo
Giro 2025 Favourites stage 8: Attackers in the Apennines
Giro 2025 Route stage 9: Gubbio - Siena
Giro 2025 Favourites stage 9: Strade Bianche alla Giro
Giro 2025 Route stage 10: Lucca – Pisa
Giro 2025 Favourites stage 10: For pure time trialists
Giro 2025 Route stage 11: Viareggio – Castelnovo ne’ Mont
Giro 2025 Favourites stage 11: Attackers in promising finale
Giro 2025 Route stage 12: Modena – Viadana
Giro 2025 Favourites stage 12: For fast men #3
Giro 2025 Route stage 13: Rovigo - Monte Berico
Giro 2025 Favourites stage 13: Puncheurs at Monte Berico
Giro 2025 Route stage 14: Treviso – Nova Gorica
Giro 2025 Favourites stage 14: For fast men #4
Cycling Calendar 2025
Tour de France 2025: The Route
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 1: Lille - Lille
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 2: Lauwin-Planque - Boulogne-sur-Mer
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 3: Valenciennes - Dunkirk
Vuelta Femenina 2025 Route stage 6: Becerril de Campos - Baltanás