Tour de France LIVE stage 3: Team time trial latest updates and start times as BMC lead Team Sky
The race is set to be given a shake-up as each team is put to the test in a time trial, with Team Sky aiming to put Geraint Thomas in the yellow jersey
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Your support makes all the difference.Stage three of the Tour de France might just be the best indicator yet of what's to come: a 35.5km team time trial around Cholet to test the inner workings of all 22 teams in this race.
In a team trial, each rider is awarded the time of their overall team, and it means the general classification is likely to be given a vigorous shake-up. Team trialling is a difficult skill to master and those groups who haven't put in the work to get in sync and maximise their power will pay the penalty as a group.
Among the favourites are BMC Racing and Team Sky, who both sense the opportunity to get their highest rider in the general classification – Greg van Avermaet and Geraint Thomas respectively – into the yellow jersey currently worn by Peter Sagan.
Follow all the latest below with our live blog (and scroll to the bottom for all the start times):
Prediction
Hard to call without much to go on, but given the strength in depth of BMC we'll go with the American team edging out Team Sky, Mitchelton-Scott and Movistar.
Odds
Team Sky 8/13
BMC 5/2
Sunweb 10/1
Quick-Step Floors 20/1
Mitchelton-Scott 25/1
Start times
All times local, subtract one hour for BST:
1. Mitchelton-Scott (Aus) 15:10
2. Team Sky (GBr) 15.15
3. Movistar Team (Esp) 15.20
4. Groupama-FDJ (Fra) 15.25
5. BMC Racing Team (USA) 15.30
6. EF Education First-Drapac (USA) 15.35
7. UAE Team Emirates (UAE) 15.40
8. Ag2r La Mondiale (Fra) 15.45
9. Fortuneo-Samsic (Fra) 15.50
10. Direct Energie (Fra) 15.55
11. Lotto-Soudal (Bel) 16.00
12. LottoNL-Jumbo (Ned) 16.05
13. Cofidis, Solutions Credits (Fra) 16.10
14. Team Sunweb (Ger) 16.15
15. Team Dimension Data (RSA) 16.20
16. Katusha-Alpecin (Sui) 16.25
17. Bahrain-Merida (Brn) 16.30
18. Trek-Segafredo (USA) 16.35
19. Astana Pro Team (Kaz) 16.40
20. Wanty-Groupe Gobert (Bel) 16.45
21. Quick-Step Floors (Bel) 16.50
22. Bora-Hansgrohe (Ger) 16.55
Welcome to our live coverage of stage three of the Tour de France, and this one will tells us more about what's to come than anything we've yet seen. It is a 25.5km team time trail around Cholet which will give a major indication of exactly what shape each team is in and just how strong they are. Here's the route:
Stage three under way
So five teams are off and they are five of the strongest contenders to win this stage:
Mitchelton-Scott (Aus)
Team Sky (GBr)
Movistar Team (Esp),
Groupama-FDJ (Fra)
BMC Racing Team (USA)
Through the first 13km checkpoint, Team Sky and Mitchelton-Scott have match each other pedal for pedal with a time of 14min 13sec. There is a second checkpoint at 26.5km before the finish at 35.5km.
Profile
Here's a look at the profile of this stage – a little lumpy, particularly the Cote de la Seguiniere, but nothing too draining.
Team Sky reach the second time check four seconds quicker than Adam Yates's Mitchelton-Scott, as both head into the final section running back to Cholet. French team Ag2r La Mondiale, with Romain Bardet among their ranks, are the eighth squad to take to the road.
Mitchelton-Scott turn into final corner and clock the first marker: 38 min 55 sec. It's Team Sky in next...
Geraint Thomas hits the front on the final straight and drags Team Sky over the line five seconds quicker than Mitchelton-Scott in 38 min 50 sec. We will have to wait and see if that is enough for Thomas to earn the yellow jersey at the end of the day, but for now Team Sky lead the early standings.
I thought Movistar might produce something today after a difficult opening two stages. They have not, instead giving up 49 seconds to Team Sky, and that is a blow to the hopes of both Nairo Quintana and Mikel Landa... meanwhile BMC cross the second time check five seconds ahead of Team Sky! This could put Greg van Avermaet in pole position to take the yellow jersey.
Van Avermaet is 16 seconds behind the yellow jersey (Peter Sagan) after stage two, while Thomas is 15 seconds back. So Presuming BMC and Team Sky finish clear of the rest, these are the fine margins which will decide who wear yellow on stage four. Here BMC go, into the final kilometre...
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