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Stage by stage
stage 3 - Vierzon 
Le Lac de Vassivière
194 km
Tuesday 6 March
Le Lac de Vassivière
194 km
Tuesday 6 March
En ligne - A sporting perspective
As they leave the Cher, the riders will enjoy a calmer start to the day on flat roads that will leave them with sufficient energy for what is to come, because, in the Limousin region, the significantly hillier route could be conducive to more momentous racing. What’s more, the last part includes a slope that will sort the men from the boys before the finishing line at the Lac de Vassivière lake. The site, which has hosted Tour de France stages three times (in 1985, ’90 and ‘95) as well as finishes of the Tour du Limousin, could be the theatre of a struggle amongst a substantially trimmed down pack.
Vierzon
Panoramic view of the Quai du Bassin and the church of Notre-Dame© Vierzon Town
With its rich historical, natural and industrial heritage, Vierzon is uniquely positioned in the heart of France, at the intersection of three motorways and two railway lines, and just 90 minutes from Paris. Home town of Edouard Vaillant and Felix Pyat, Vierzon built itself a solid reputation for metalworking and ceramics. Its location at the gateway to the Sologne and at the confluence of the Cher, the Yèvre and the Berry canal continues to provide a good quality of life for its 28,000 residents. Locals take full advantage of the hunting and fishing produce that goes so well with the wines of Quincy and Reuilly and local goat’s cheese. The city hosts a range of cultural and sporting events including the Summer on the Canal, Christmas in Vierzon, the Circus Biennale and the Tour de l’Avenir in 2010... It boasts seventy clubs including the Vierzon Cycling Club and three cyclotourism clubs.
Le Lac de Vassivière
Bird’s eye view of Île aux Serpents and the Île de Vassivière© JM. Pericat 2011
At the heart of the Limousin region and the Millevaches Regional Natural Park, Lake Vassivière extends over 1000 hectares of water and a 45 km shoreline in a protected environment. It is also a superb water and outdoor adventure playground and a cycling paradise, on the edge of one of the largest artificial lakes in France. Visitors enjoy unique free public services, from discovery of the lake’s many facets in one of the water taxis that criss-cross the water to trips to the Île de Vassivière by miniature train. The International Art and Landscape Centre runs educational workshops alongside a range of music, art and gastronomy festivals. Lake Vassivière, which also plays host each summer to the largest fireworks display in the Limousin, is the ideal destination for a revitalising holiday, a relaxing weekend or just a complete change of scene.