Tour de France sprinters ready to take over after 'hardest start in 20 years'

Tour de France: Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) pictured before stage 2
Tour de France: Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) pictured before stage 2 (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

Following hot on the heels of the toughest start to the Tour de France in recent memory with two hilly challenges in the Basque Country, the race crosses the border back into France on stage 3 with a day for the sprinters.

The 193.5km from Amorebieta-Etxano to Bayonne – in the French Basque Country – is far flatter than the preceding two days in the saddle with few real difficulties lying in the way of the fast men before a technical run-in and slightly uphill finishing line.

Dani Ostanek
Senior News Writer

Dani Ostanek is Senior News Writer at Cyclingnews, joining in 2017 as a freelance contributor and later being hired full-time. Before joining the team, they had written for numerous major publications in the cycling world, including CyclingWeekly and Rouleur.

Dani has reported from the world's top races, including the Tour de France, Road World Championships, and the spring Classics. They have interviewed many of the sport's biggest stars, including Mathieu van der Poel, Demi Vollering, and Remco Evenepoel. Their favourite races are the Giro d'Italia, Strade Bianche and Paris-Roubaix.

Season highlights from the 2024 season include reporting from Paris-Roubaix –  'Unless I'm in an ambulance, I'm finishing this race' – Cyrus Monk, the last man home at Paris-Roubaix – and the Tour de France – 'Disbelief', gratitude, and family – Mark Cavendish celebrates a record-breaking Tour de France sprint win.