If stage 1 has an insane design, stage 3 is just plain crazy. The riders start with 40 km nearly completely paved before the remnants of a peloton that were able to stay together will hit another 20 km sector shortly afterwards. After another short sector there are 30 km of actual road before the final 20 km are completely paved again. Altogether this stage includes more cobbled km than Paris-Roubaix in less than half its distance, so it would be a surprise if a bigger group (or any group at all) gets to the finish line. And apart from the sheer amount of cobbles this is the final stage of a stage race, so the riders further back in the GC have to attack to gain positions and time, usually resulting in a race of sheer carnage. And as long as your team’s not competing here (or – even worse – your name’s on the startlist) it’s hard not to enjoy this race.
Oh, the favourites are to no one’s surprise mostly the same as in stage 1.
The riders are on the road (or better “the road”).
Arashiro is the first to attack. Belevics, Blum and Osborne are chasing him. At the back of the peloton the first riders are dropped about 10 km into the race.
20 km are done and Arashiro is still alone at the front. His chasers have been brought back and are already dropped from the peloton which consists of only 66 riders, leaving half of the field behind. The only better cobblers who already lost contact are Grand and Nielsen. Both were only 25’’ behind in the GC.
100 km to go and Arashiro is caught. The peloton is down to 48 riders.
Kaislavuo attacked before the first intermediate sprint and was first there. Young lead the peloton through the sprint followed by Taubel who takes over the provisional GC and points classification. Further back Grand and Nielsen got back to the peloton.
After the first long sector the Finish champion has a lead of a minute. The peloton is down to 38 riders while McLay is struggling to make contact again after a puncture.
Okbamariam attacks from the peloton. That’s a bold move between the cobbled sectors.
And the Eritrean quickly escapes the peloton. He’s already overtaken Kaislavuo and now has a gap of about a minute.
After the Fin has been brought back by the peloton (and already lost contact), Richardson is the next one to attack. He quickly gains 30’’ to the peloton, but is still a minute behind Okbamariam.
And the race leader Degenkolb finally has to let the peloton go with 68 km to go.
Up front it’s no Richardson’s turn to overtake Okbamariam. The gap to the peloton is still about a minute.
The Eritrean is brought back right before the second intermediate sprint. Richardson won while Rathe and Sarreau lead the peloton over the line.
And Richardson also takes the third sprint, this time Sarreau and Okbamariam lead the peloton of 20 riders over the line 35’’ later.
The peloton starts the final sector, they have 25 km to go. Richardson is only a couple of seconds in front, so the question is if he’s still able to stay with the pack for some time.
He stays ahead for 6 more km, but as soon as he’s reeled in Taubel and Chatarunga attack.
And Chatarunga has a defect right afterwards! Will he be able to get back to the remnants of the peloton?
Chatarunga is back with the pack as is Taubel. Meanwhile it’s Okbamariam on the run once again and Richardson pays the price for his attack as he’s lost contact.
But his attack doesn’t last for long. 10 km to go and it’s Taubel on the attack again, this time he’s accompanied by Havik. At the back of the pack Chatarunga is fighting hard to stay in contact, though it now seems he’s not able to stay with the rest.
5 km to go and Lampaert shut down the attack. Chatarunga is still with the first group, they are 15 riders now.
About 2 km to go and the pace takes its toll as Grand, Havik, Naesen and Chatarunga lose contact. Even further behind are Matthews and Puccio. Domene nearly lost a minute in the last 2.5 km.
So only 8 riders are left at the front within sight of the red kite. Taubel, Trentin, Lampaert and Gaday seem strongest. Teggart is still in touch too, while Bewley, Kulppi and Schäppi don’t seem as strong as the others.
500 m to go and no one has started his sprint yet, though probably they just aren’t able to sprint anymore. It’s indeed between the five riders that seemed strongest.
100 m to go and Trentin is in the lead. He’s followed by Gaday, Lampaert and Taubel. Further back Teggart is fallen behind Kulppi.
But it’s Gaday who takes the win! Lampaert gets 2nd and Trentin is 3rd. Taubel is edged out by Kulppi and finishes 5th. This could be close between him and Lampaert for the GC!
Teggart gets 6th and Schäppi 7th. Bewley, Chatarunga and Grand complete the Top 10. The rest of the riders comes in in groups of 1 to 3. Diaz Suarez in 76th is the last to make the time limit.
And it is close for the GC indeed! Lampaert and Taubel are on the same time, but the win is awarded to the Belgian. Third is Gaday. Lampaert also takes the points classification one point ahead of Taubel. Askey is the best young rider, while Podium Ambition wins the team classification.
[C2] Tour du Faso 
