Regional route 37. Tour de France stage 3. Vejle - Sønderborg

Stage 3 will be a classic and well-known battle between breakaway riders and sprint teams. The day starts with a circuit in the Vejle area, where especially the Danish riders will know that one cannot underestimate the short but steep climbs.
The tour passes by Jelling, and the UNESCO-protected Jelling monuments, which were erected in 965 by Harald Bluetooth. In 2022, the area will likely serve as a launching pad for ambitious breakaway riders.
Like Stage 2, there are three categorized climbs, each awarding one point for the mountain jersey. The first is already after 27km on Koldingvej (1.4km at 4.4%). Therefore, the breakaway will likely try to get away early.
"Denmark" is painted all over Stage 3. Vejle’s hills are Denmark's most famous cycling terrain, and the Jelling stone, Christiansfeld, and Dybbøl Mill are some of our most important historical monuments. I can’t imagine anything other than the Danish riders in the field cycling fiercely to get into a breakaway that day.
Alex Pedersen, spokesperson for Grand Départ Copenhagen Denmark
After 83km, the riders reach the day's second categorized climb at Hejlsminde Strand (850m at 4.7%). Shortly after, there will be the only point sprint of the day and the day’s second UNESCO-protected sight, Christiansfeld.
The breakaway will almost certainly stay ahead of the field through Haderslev and up to the day's third climb at Genner Strand (1.6km at 3.3%) in the fight to be able to go to the rest day wearing the spotted mountain jersey.
From here, it’s a battle between the field and the breakaway for the stage win through Aabenraa and towards the finish town of Sønderborg. There is less likelihood of disruptive side winds than the day before, so for the sprint teams, Stage 3 is a day where things must go right.
When the riders cross the line in Sønderborg, there is a well-deserved rest day.