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Wednesday 2 August 2023
Stage 3
Oyonnax   Lelex Mont Jura

Type Mountain
Distance 137 km
Climbing +2,905 m
Live video
Stage 2
Distance

137 km (85 mi)

Climbing

+2,905 m (9,531 ft)

Start

Oyonnax

 Oyonnax (Google Maps)
Finish

Lelex Mont Jura

 Lelex Mont Jura (Google Maps)
Description

This last stage of the Aindinois trio will start from Oyonnax in the Haut Bugey in the direction of Lélex Monts-Jura following a course that will see the riders link up the difficulties from the start for a total of more than 2905m of positive difference in altitude. A real mountain stage with the inevitable climb of the Col de Menthières before the final finish in the Pays de Gex resort.

Live video Starting 14:00
  • France 3 AURA
  • Eurosport 2
Pre-recorded
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Intermediates
n/a
Délai d'arrivée
n/a
Profiles & Maps
GPX file
 Download
Timetable
 (PDF, 155.24 KB)
Stage Classification
Top 5
Rider Time
Michael STORER (GFC) 03:25:40
Kenny ELISSONDE (LTK) + 03:27:42
Lilian CALMEJANE (ICW) + 03:28:10
4 Simon PELLAUD (TUD) + 03:28:12
5 Nicolas PRODHOMME (ACT) + 03:28:15
General Classification
Top 5
Rider Time
Michael STORER (GFC) 09:55:50
2 Kenny ELISSONDE (LTK) + 00:02:22
3 Nicolas PRODHOMME (ACT) + 00:03:28
4 Rudy MOLARD (GFC) + 00:03:30
5 Merhawi KUDUS (EFE) + 00:03:30
Classification Jerseys & Prizes
For the stage:
  • Yellow Jersey
    n/a
  • Blue Polka Dot Jersey
    n/a
  • Green Jersey
    n/a
  • White Jersey
    n/a
  • Stage Victory
    n/a
  • Most Combative Rider
    n/a
For the whole race:
  • Team Classification
    n/a
  • Super-combative
    n/a
Team Classification
Top 3
Team Time
1
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2
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3
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Full Results
Stage 3  (PDF 299.57 KB)
Video
Summary

Michaël Storer (Groupama-FDJ) launched a decisive attack on the final climb, the Col de Menthières. He then sped off towards Lélex Monts-Jura to win a second Tour de l’Ain in three years. A performance that only Thibaut Pinot managed in 2017 and 2019.

The start of the third stage in front of the Stade Mathon in Oyonnax could not escape the attention of the staff of the local rugby club, led by head coach Joe El Abd. As tradition dictates, the Tour de l’Ain gets tougher on the final day. For this 35th edition, seven difficulties are on the programme: the Col de Berthiand (4.8km at an average gradient of 6%), the Côte de Corveissiat (3.8km at an average gradient of 3.3%), the Côte de Matafelon (3.1km at an average gradient of 4%), the Côte de Samognat (4, 9 km at an average gradient of 5%), the côte de Viry (4.1 km at an average gradient of 6.1%), the côte de Giron (3.7 km at an average gradient of 6%) and the final judge, the col de Menthières (9.1 km at an average gradient of 7%).

At the top of the first, Simon Pellaud (Tudor Pro Cycling) was ahead of a peloton that had already been stretching out for a few kilometres. After around sixty kilometres and the passage of three successive climbs, five riders were in the lead: Lilian Calmejane (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty), Clément Venturini (AG2R Citroën Team), Dries Van Gestel (TotalEnergies) and Jurassien Théo Delacroix (Saint-Michel-Mavic-Auber93). For his last participation in the Tour de l’Ain, Pierre-Luc Périchon (Cofidis) is trying to make up for lost time. He even virtually wore the yellow jersey before being caught.

Groupama-FDJ took the lead from a peloton of 25 riders including Alexander Jefferson Cepeda Ortiz, Solimut Mutuelle de France yellow jersey in the general classification, and set the pace in pursuit of Lilian Calmejane. The work of the French team’s train around Michael Storer, who was 2nd at 4 seconds, paid off: a regrouping took place towards the judge of peace, the Col de Menthières. Rudy Molard’s acceleration eliminated more members of the front group. With 26 kilometres to go, Michael Storer launched his first attack, which proved decisive. Alexander Jefferson Cepeda Ortiz cracked and quickly lost time (22nd on the stage at 5min10s and 19th overall). Kenny Elissonde (Lidl-Trek) hung on. Three kilometres later, the 26-year-old Australian dropped him and flew to stage victory in Lélex Monts-Jura, his second Tour de l’Ain win in three years. After two seasons without a win, he is back on the winning trail.
Kenny Elissonde, who hadn’t ridden the Tour de l’Ain since 2014, held off a chasing group. He took 2nd place in the stage and overall, as well as the title of “super combative” in this year’s race.

Lilian Calmejane was the first to emerge from a group of chasers that was reconstituted in the final. Behind Simon Pellaud, Nicolas Prodhomme (AG2R Citroën Team) took fifth place, synonymous with the final podium (3rd at 3min28s). Climbers Elie Gesbert (Team Arkea-Samsic, 7th overall), Jesus Herrada Lopez (Cofidis, 9th), Rudy Molard (4th), Julien Bernard (Lidl-Trek, 10th) and Merhawi Kudus, EF Education-Easypost’s best representative also overall (5th), rounded off the Top 10 in this lively third stage. The same riders, with Sebastien Reichenbach (Tudor Pro Cycling, 6th) and Jordan Jegat (CIC U Nantes Atlantique, 8th) in addition, find themselves in a different order at 3min30s off the pace (shown in brackets earlier).

The raid by Groupama-FDJ
In the ancillary classifications, Lilian Calmejane, legitimately the fighting Semcoda of the stage, snatched the Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes polka-dot jersey of best climber from Mads Ostegaard Kristen (Leopard TOGT).
The Streichenberger white jersey for best young rider goes to Joris Delbove, a member of the Saint-Michel-Mavic-Auber93 team that made a big impression over three days.
Groupama-FDJ left Lélex Monts-Jura with two stage wins, the team classification, the green Crédit Mutuel points jersey and the yellow Solimut Mutuelle de France overall jersey for Michael Storer and 4th place for Rudy Molard.

The figures
2
Tour de l’Ain victories for Michael Storer in 2021 and 2023. In 35 editions, only Thibaut Pinot, in 2017 and 2019, has achieved such a feat.
For the record, the Australian, who will join Tudor Pro Cycling in 2024, finished penultimate on stage 1 and then 2nd and 1st, virtually the same as in 2021…

83 classified, 98 starters.

https://youtu.be/ITFQM3K4MYI
-- END --
Day’s Withdrawals
# 3 - MARIAULT Axel - COFIDIS - 10015362053

# 13 - PARET PEINTRE Valentin - AG2R CITROEN TEAM - 10067509859

# 14 - PETERS Nans - AG2R CITROEN TEAM - 10008883362

# 84 - TESSON Jason - TOTALENERGIES - 10015362861

Dossard/Bib 92 - CHARRIN AloÔs - TUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM - 10023510558

Dossard/Bib 125 - KNUDSEN Oliver - LEOPARD TOGT PRO CYCLING - 10016144824

Dossard/Bib 135 - MIFSUD AndrÈa - NICE METROPOLE COTE D`AZUR - 10015449151

Dossard/Bib 136 - VALVASORI Larry - NICE METROPOLE COTE D`AZUR - 10009420906

Dossard/Bib 143 - DEVAUX Thomas - ST MICHEL - MAVIC - AUBER93 - 10014168852

Dossard/Bib 161 - ABT Cedric - EQUIPE NATIONALE D`ALLEMAGNE U23 - 10051829912

Dossard/Bib 165 - RINKLEF Jan - EQUIPE NATIONALE D`ALLEMAGNE U23 - 10050789281
DNS
# 22 - CARTHY Hugh John - EF EDUCATION - EASYPOST
# 162 - JOHN Vincent - EQUIPE NATIONALE D'ALLEMAGNE U23
Photos of the day
The map

The town of Oyonnax, the second largest in the Ain department, has many assets that add to its charm and influence. With a population of over 22,000, it is located close to the Haut-Jura nature park, as well as the main communication routes linking it to Bourg-en-Bresse, Lyon and Geneva. Its unique geographical position makes it an ideal destination for outdoor sports enthusiasts, thanks to the many forests, lakes and mountains in the surrounding area. Oyonnax is also known for its strong industrial tradition in the eyewear and plastics industries, as well as for its remarkable heritage, as one of the 18 French municipalities to receive medals for the Resistance. Over the years, the town has built up community facilities worthy of a large conurbation, as well as cutting-edge sporting and cultural infrastructures that can accommodate several thousand visitors. Oyonnax is proud to welcome the start of the 3rd stage of the Tour de l’Ain 2023!

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Located at the north-eastern tip of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, in the department of Ain (01) between Lyon and Geneva, Haut-Bugey Agglomération (HBA) is the public institution for inter-municipal cooperation (EPCI) that brings together the 42 communes of the Oyonnax basin and surrounding area, forming the “Plastics Valley”, with a population of 65,000.
With conurbation status since 1 January 2018, the area now comprises :
– an urban area with a population of 30,000, complemented by welcoming towns and villages dotted around the unspoilt countryside of the mid-mountains or close to exceptional historic and tourist sites.
– Hundreds of innovative small and medium-sized businesses, particularly in the plastics and wood industries.
– outstanding sports, cultural and outdoor leisure facilities.

The Haut-Bugey Agglomération is responsible for economic development and town and country planning, as well as various services of common interest, such as water and sanitation, urban transport, waste management, environmental protection and enhancement, etc.

It is the main public player in the Haut-Bugey region for companies and their economic partners: consular chambers, the plastics and composites industrial technical centre, the Polymeris competitiveness cluster, etc.

Finally, HBA is a strong and proud supporter of major popular events (Oyonnax Rugby, Tour de France, Rallye Ain-Jura, Tour de l’Ain, etc.), which give the region a national and international profile.

Its current Chairman is Michel MOURLEVAT, who will be elected on 6 October 2022.

Located close to the Jura and Switzerland, the Pays de Gex and its Monts Jura resort offer you grandiose landscapes facing the Mont Blanc for a total change of scenery! Immerse yourself in this land of nature and heritage and let yourself be carried away by all kinds of discoveries and varied activities that will make your stay unique and enriching!

Stage 1 
Stage 2 
Stage 3 
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