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

[indurain666]

What a great day of racing, it was interesting to see 130 pound climbers duke it out through the cobbles, in the end a big sprinter won though. But I think Contador's work with Van Petegem on the cobbles paid off. What happened to Armstrong? Was he off the back when he punctured ?? It was a surprise to me to see Radioshack completetely blown away, I guess they are not as strong as they seem on paper. I actually expected Radioshack to attack on the cobbles and gain about a minute to the likes of Schleck and Contador

 

[Parrot23]

Great ride by Andy and Evans. Obviously impressed with AC's performance, as well. We will see fireworks this weekend. And I'll say it now, AC is super strong.

Fantastic ride by Vino. Very, very strong.

Good by Bertie, but STILL weaker than Andy on a stage that was equally tough for them.

 

[Kodiak]

Contador was superb today, as was Andy Schleck. Where the hell was the rest of the Shack when Lance punctured???

every team was blown up at that point in the mayhem.

 

[sportzchick]

Yes A Schleck did well. Not quite as impressive as Armstrong having to attack on his own to make it back to a group. I don't think Schleck would have done that if he punctured.

Again Schleck and Cancellara have Jens and Stuey to thank for putting them in the position they were in - they were Saxo's real heros

 

[Big GMaC]

Too bad there's a third week

Great ride by Cadel today, had a Strade Bianchi deja vu
He should do Paris - Roubaix

He should. He is a big enough rider

 

[PhiberAwptik]

Can we all agree that it was a great day of racing? Lots of people put in good rides.

Saxo Bank was beastly
Thor proved once again that he's deserving of green for being a better rider
LA made the best of a bad situation with a good ride

The list goes on.

 

[staubsauger]

after what this contorted arrogant ingrate spanish infant did with levi leipheimer at the vuelta 2008, la and jb could do with ac what they want if you ask me.

i never liked lance armstrong and i will never do. but deverse to contador he is a real champ and he has diverse some respect for his benefits. apart from his tdf victory last year all of ac gt victories have been a catenation of fortunate circumstances that favour him. his first tour win he even get donated. i don't want to see him smiling at the podium again. and if the only one who would be able to to restrain contador is la (because others like ricco are not allowed to do) , than it has to be that way.

but not again tdf winner alberto contador .....

 

[auscyclefan94]

Great ride by Andy and Evans. Obviously impressed with AC's performance, as well. We will see fireworks this weekend. And I'll say it now, AC is super strong.

Agreed. Unfortunately he popped at the end?

Cadel has said he has come in a bit under done so he may come into form like before.

I forsee evans being in yellow at morzine avoriaz

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Too bad there's a third week

Great ride by Cadel today, had a Strade Bianchi deja vu
He should do Paris - Roubaix

As an all rounder, Evans is just about the best imo. However he just doesn't have it in the mountains imo.

More stages like Strade Bianchi, and less steep climbs would see evans dominate GTs.

 

[Anonymous]

No blame there. Looks like Contador simply get a puncture in the final straight when Vino burried himself assuming Contador was still with him I think. Rode his heart out to the point he noticed nada.

Menchov survived. He will be up there in a week and a bit. Andy has lost a ball and chain (good and bad points there). If Gesink survives the coming days, I think this could be sweet viewing in a few days after all. Still have hopes that this Tour will deliver for once.

Lance, great ride on his own, bit of rough luck, couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

Yea, I posted that too soon.

 

[Epicycle]

Nah. don't think so, rather the opposite I'd say. Contador just frustrated that Vino didn't notice, but you can hardly blame the guy for literally putting his head down for Contador. Once they have cleared up what happened, Contador will quickly turn frustration into appreciation. They'll be stronger for it.

Contador looked frustrated because he had a puncture.

 

[red_flanders]

It's not fair because it's highly random and almost independent of anything the rider does. The fact it's common to puncture on cobbles doesn't make it fair.

Then you have to say the stage isn't fair.

And I guarantee you our resident troll wouldn't have been arguing the unfairness of it all had someone else punctured. Well many others did, but you didn't hear about that.

The course is the course. It's either a fair course for everyone or it isn't. I'll be Hushovd didn't find it unfair. Was it unfair that Contador punctured at the end?

 

[BYOP88]

Yea, Schlecklet, for all of his whining, had a great ride to finish where he did. Round 2, Andy...except for the fact that he just lost his climbing partner which very well could make a difference.

Yeah good ride by baby Schleck, although now I guess in the mountains Contador/Evans et all wont have to worry about the Schleck tag team.

 

[Moondance]

BTW, I didn't think Gesink would even finish this stage. Chapeau to him.

Yes... Kept his losses perfectly limited. Only a minute to Contador, less even to Armstrong. I think he did fantastic, considering. His Tour is far from over.

Unfortunately for him (but good for Rabo) was that Menchov did really well. No doubt the result today, plus injury means Menchov will be the official #1 man.

 

[Big GMaC]

AC got dropped at the end so he didn't look that strong.

He had a puncture! are you deaf?

 

[Hawkwood]

Thomas just saying he was `in a pretty good group really...'!

 

[Anonymous]

I think the best ride was Contador. He held tough like a true champion he is. Good on him. He was superb. Astana will have some big questions that need to be answered in there camp

Hey, Cuddles rode a good race too. Good on him!

 

[franciep10]

AC got dropped at the end so he didn't look that strong.

Can you stop derailing a race thread

 

[Publicus]

Nah. don't think so, rather the opposite I'd say. Contador just frustrated that Vino didn't notice, but you can hardly blame the guy for literally putting his head down for Contador. Once they have cleared up what happened, Contador will quickly turn frustration into appreciation. They'll be stronger for it.

Agreed. Vino was driving to minimize the gaps.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Agreed. Unfortunately he popped at the end?

Cadel has said he has come in a bit under done so he may come into form like before.

I forsee evans being in yellow at morzine avoriaz

I don't see him losing the giro form, recovering, becoming under form and back to top form in such short amount of time.
The giro was so hard, I find it hard to believe.

he will have a good first 2 weeks imo, and then crack big.
excellent ride today.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Shack Attack!!! Where are you Wonder LAnce?

I have had to change my underpants I am that excited!

 

[scribe]

General classification after stage 3

1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank 14:54:00
2 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:00:23
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:00:39
4 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Transitions 0:00:46
5 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step 0:01:01
6 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:01:09
7 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team 0:01:19
8 Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 0:01:31
9 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 0:01:40
10 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:01:42

 

[BroDeal]

What happened to Kloden and Leipheimer and Bakjovic? It looks like the multi-pronged Shack attack lost some prongs.

 

[sometriguy]

Shouldn't contador get same time as his group if he flatted in final 3k?

 

[Mellow Velo]

Yeah why didn't someone just give him their bike? Strange. I suppose it all happened very quickly.

Since they were all behind in the Basso group, they couldn't
They were a disaster.
Popo saved the old boy's Tour.

Contador did not get a puncture. He just couldn't stay with the group when Vino stepped it up in the last 1k.

You know this, how?