Minus any categorized climbs, stage 3 of the 95th Tour de France will be what is commonly called a “sprinters' stage,” and it’s the first of this year’s race.

The field will pedal 208 kilometers (129.2 miles) from the north coast fishing city of Saint Malo to Nantes, a sprawling industrial city. The route will advance nearly directly south through flat and rolling Brittany countryside.

Thirty finishes have occurred in Nantes, dating to the inaugural event in 1903 when first Tour de France winner Maurice Garin was victorious in one the seven original stage finish cities.

The last stage finish in Nantes was 2003 when David Millar of Great Britain (he now rides for the American squad Garmin-Chipotle) won the individual time trial. That was also the year Jan Ullrich of Germany, in close pursuit of Lance Armstrong, crashed on a rain-slic
k corner and all but lost the Tour. Armstrong went onto to his record-tying fifth overall title.

Crashes are the plague of bicycle racing, and it was a crash that helped determine the finish to Nantes eight years ago, the last time a road stage finished in the city.

On the approach into town, a crash split the field. Twenty-five riders escaped the pile-up and bolted toward the line. Belgium’s Tom Steels emerged ahead of Germans Marcel Wust and Erik Zabel.

Zabel turns age 38 today, and if there’s a sentimental rider in the field, it’s the Milram captain with more 200 career victories. But nothing is ever a guaranteed in the Tour, of course, and the stage’s flat profile could be fast (depending on the wind) and that always adds to the crash potential. And with the field nervous with the finish line near, the roundabout sections in Nantes will be strategic obstacles.

Nevertheless, if teams do the proper work and the designated sprinters emerge at the front, look for Zabel, Gerald Ciolek (Team Columbia) Robbie McEwen (Silence-Lotto) or opening stage winner Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole) to capture a pack sprint.