BINCKBANK TOUR 2019 – STAGE 3 PREVIEW

A panflat stage takes takes us from Aalter to… Aalter.

The Route:

Panflat stage with the golden kilometer 7 km’s from the finish line, might see some GC guys sprint for boni’s here.

The last 4 kilometers contain some sharp corners. Sprinters will basically want to arrive at the front of the group at the final corner at 400 meters, because from there on it will be a long sprint to the finish line. Sprinters with a fast acceleration could have an advantage over the powerhouse sprinters here who’d like a longer drag to the finish line.

The Race:

A sprint, not much more to be said.

Weather:

Some rain expected and a gentle headwind to the finish line, which makes that you ideally want to be in second or third wheel after the final turn to launch your final kick as late as possible.

The Favorites:

Dylan Groenewegen
We questioned his form as well as Mike Teunissen’s mixed ambitions yesterday. Today his lead-out was perfect, but he just couldn’t truely contest the sprint. We will have to see in which ways Jumbo Visma will try to tackle tomorrow’s stage.

Sam Bennett
Won even easier than yesterday. Insane how much stronger he rides than the other sprinters in a world-tour course.

Arnaud Demare
Turned in 9th today. Don’t think he will be challenging tomorrow.

Edward Theuns
Was not allowed to sprint today, but instead had to perform a lead-out for Pedersen after a great showing in yesterday’s sprint? Really weird team tactics and not the best way for Edward Theuns to regain some confidence prior to the Vuelta…
If he get’s his opportunity to sprint tomorrow he could finish top-3, but it is hard to back a sprinter who is appearantly not even fully backed by his own team…

Jasper Philipsen
Did challenge for podium as stated yesterday by getting a nice second place. He will have to be more patient and stick to someone else’s (i.e. Bennett’s) wheel if he wants to stand a chance of winning.

Alvaro Hodeg
Just lacks the absolute kick, Stybar trying with a late-attack pretty much underlines their confidence of Hodeg taking a stage win for a mass sprint.

Outsiders: Halvorsen, Bauhaus, Mareczko, Dupont

The Winner:

No way to look past him, his positioning has been perfect, he is the fastest man in the peloton, and the way to showed up in the final 100 meters in the previous two sprints will be perfect for tomorrow’s finish. The Irish powerhouse Sam Bennett for his third in a row! Its basically his stage to lose.