Not just a simple stage, not a normal team time trial: the third fraction of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is definitely something more. The 28.4 kilometers that will be tackled today with start and finish in Perreux, in the area of the Auvergne volcanoes, is a true preview of the Tour de France, a dress rehearsal – even though the super favorites Pogacar, Vingegaard and Evenepoel are missing from the start line – of what will happen in Barcelona in less than a month.

The first two stages of the French race have rewarded the courage of the attackers, but from today the picture of the race is destined to change radically. As has already been happening for a few seasons at Paris-Nice and as we will see again in the stage that will open the Grande Boucle in July, times will be taken individually and therefore the passage of the first rider from each team will outline the day's classification.

It won't be a flat and linear time trial, but the course presents itself rather demanding: shortly after the start you begin to climb towards Coutouvre with gradients of 6% that gradually become gentler, then you launch into a descent to resume climbing gently towards Montagny, with a final stretch of about one kilometer at 5%.

At this point, there will be just under 13 kilometers left to the finish, long stretches downhill, a couple of slight uphill sections and then the final 800 meters that climb, with winding road but by then the teams will have "broken apart", for 800 meters at 6-7%.

The forecast is rather difficult because there are many teams that boast time trial specialists and who will want to seize the opportunity to tackle a major test at full strength ahead of the Tour de France: if we had to venture a guess we would bet on Netcompany Ineos and Visma Lease a Bike, the greatest curiosity remains that for Decathlon CMA CGM of Paul Seixas (which will have one man short due to the withdrawal of Matthew Riccitello, dealing with a gastrointestinal virus). It will then be interesting to see Isaac Del Toro in action with his UAE XRG and Juan Ayuso with Lidl Trek as well as Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe without their designated captains but with a decidedly compact lineup.