A general re-shuffling of the general classification took place after Tuesday’s Stage 3 Team Time Trial into Montagny and Team Katusha worked hard to reach the top ten, falling a little short of their goal but keeping GC rider Joaquim Rodriguez within striking range of his other overall rivals. 

"Today was an important test for us because at the Tour de France there is also a team time trial. When you look at our results in 14th place, this is not what we expected as we were hoping for a top ten position. But if you look at the fact that in the last kilometer Alberto Losado almost crashed and lost contact so the guys had to slow for him and we lost some time... Also at 6km to go Gatis Smukulis had a flat tire, so we lost him. Without these two specific problems I think we would have met our goal of top ten. I did see some good things in today’s effort and on the technical parts the team worked very well together. Of course Joaquim has lost some time now but the really hard climbs come in a few days so we will keep our eye on the goal and with the good condition of our riders, I think we will be ok," said team director José Azevedo.

The 24,5 km course began in Roanne on a course that looked easy on paper but was testing to the legs. Starting as the third team, World TTT champs BMC quickly put up the best time of 29.58 with no one able to beat them throughout the day and the only ones to go under the 30-minute mark. Astana and Movistar were behind them at 4- and 5-seconds respectively. Former hour record holder Rohan Dennis (BMC) took the leaders jersey on the same time as teammate Tejay van Garderen and four seconds ahead of Astana’s Andriy Grivko. Team Katusha was 14th at 1.05.

Wednesday’s stage 3 from Anneyron (Porte de DrômArdèche) to Sisteron at 228 km is the longest of the week and should be one for the sprinters before Thursday’s stage brings on the mountains.