Tour de France Stage 3 Wanze - Arenberg Porte du Hainaut, 207km

[bobs nob]

Tuesday July 6 2010

 

[Barrus]

So who will start the protest tomorrow? Because there are bound to be crashes or mechanicals/

 

[hrotha]

It'll be interesting to see what Roubaix-specialist Cancellara has to say (and do) about tomorrow's stage.

 

[Cobblestones]

Ahh, the much anticipated third stage. Who will race, who will just try to survive? Today's crashes might have changed the picture considerably.

After today, I'd hope Thor to go on a classics-style all out win.

 

[Moondance]

I say someone unexpected attacks early in the cobbles and takes it after the favorites and their teams all lay down their arms. I'll go with Martijn Maaskant

 

[roundabout]

Yeah, Thor will be really mad.

Cancellara will probably be doing a lot of pacing of riders back to the field.

 

[Potomac]

Stage 2 antics have diminished my anticipation for stage 3.

I think i will report to work as scheduled.

 

[goggalor]

If Cancellara wins this I'll throw a cobblestone at him.

 

[bobs nob]

Stage 2 antics have diminished my anticipation for stage 3.

I think i will report to work as scheduled.

True dat. I had batted around the idea of a very late arrival and missing out on overtime, especially when a day's pay has been lost to Holiday.

Going back to plan A. Gotta make some $.

 

[theyoungest]

Gesink and Menchov to crash, and the Schlecks and Armstrong to ride full gas to distance them.

 

[Delicato]

Contador to crash and pull out form the race.

 

[Barrus]

Gesink and Menchov to crash, and the Schlecks and Armstrong to ride full gas to distance them.

Don't forget Sastre and Hushovd who'll crash as well

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Gesink to go on the attack with Lars Boom and win 15 minutes on Contador and Armstrong who are pushed down by mad dutch fans

 

[badboygolf16v]

I think taking a Grand Tour over pave is bad idea.

Riding pave is a specialism. Any rider can ride on tarmac, there are no technical skills involved, which makes it a level playing field, regardless of the fact if the tarmac goes up or down.

Anyone remember the last time with Mayo and other Spanish guys getting battered?

Why not route the race on a MTB downhill course if they want some real spectacle..?

 

[hrotha]

I think taking a Grand Tour over pave is bad idea.

Riding pave is a specialism. Any rider can ride on tarmac, there are no technical skills involved, which makes it a level playing field, regardless of the fact if the tarmac goes up or down.

Anyone remember the last time with Mayo and other Spanish guys getting battered?

Why not route the race on a MTB downhill course if they want some real spectacle..?

Let's get rid of the Tourmalet since not everybody can climb with the best.

 

[Climbing]

Would have been funny to see if Cancellara would have waited for Contador, Evans, Menchov, Basso, Armstrong and others... if Andy and Frank were to the front... sure he would have I think so.

 

[Benotti69]

Gotta be RS trying to blow everyone out the back over the cobbles...let's hope they have a faux pas or 2....

Vino to drag Contador over the cobbles...

Wiggins big loser tomorrow, just a hunch...

Schlecks to lose out as people might have been peeved at having to wait but respected the Maillot Juane, tomorrow Chavanel is in yellow and Quick Step/Merckx won't let today's episode be repeated....

 

[scribe]

Contador to crash and pull out form the race.

No way. Not unless Armstrong crashes and pulls out too.

 

[glamorganmorgan]

Gesink and Menchov to crash, and the Schlecks and Armstrong to ride full gas to distance them.

Gesink crashed today (among 30+ others) and has a suspected fractured forearm (is that an ulna?)

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Gesink wasn't part of the big crash.

He crashed before when another ride rode into him.

 

[glamorganmorgan]

any news on the Garmin trio , Vande Velde, Farrar and Dean, who all went off to ospedale for examination

 

[saganftw]

i predict 10 broken collarbones

 

[Winterfold]

Wiggins big loser tomorrow, just a hunch....

He's actually the most experienced of the GC contenders on proper cobbles (not nice smooth RVV ones 0 so is there anything behind your hunch?

Just curious, as I have a feeling this Tour is going to turn out bad for him, and I am a fan - usually to a point somewhere near mindless optimism.

But the prologue ride - it was just so out of sorts, with significant time lost to Armstrong in particular, and after winning at the Giro he must have hoped to podium at least...

Anyway back to mindless optimism: Flecha, Wiggins, Hushovd

 

[kjetilraknerud]

Wiggins on Norwegian TV, talking about riders criticizing the cobbled stage: "It's b*llsh*t, that's what it is. We'll use the stage to try and gain time".

 

[Climbing]

My prediction for tomorrow!
Andy Schleck
Frank Schleck
Basso
Gesink
Contador
Armstrong
Wiggins
Menchov

... all crashing down