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

[Carl0880]

That might actually help Andy if he keeps calm about it, more time watching the other GC guys, less time looking back down the hill for Frank

Andy still has to attack because on the final TT he will lose 3 minutes to Alberto. So he really still in the same position as he was at the beginning the day, in need of attacking. Now he just doesn't need as much time as before.

 

[Beech Mtn]

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

+1. Gesink proves once again that he is a hard man.

 

[Roland Rat]

1. CANCELLARA Fabian 13 TEAM SAXO BANK 14h 54' 00"
2. THOMAS Geraint 39 SKY PRO CYCLING 14h 54' 23" + 00' 23"

...

30. RIBLON Christophe 89 AG2R LA MONDIALE 14h 57' 02" + 03' 02"

So based on the favourites:

A Schleck - 0
Contador @ .31
Menchov @ .40
Wiggins @ .40
Kreuziger @ 1.15
Armstrong @ 1.21

 

[scribe]

Lance went deep to pull that time back. He is gonna pay for that effort when it matters later.

 

[theyoungest]

I think he is a lot harder and tougher than some give him credit for. He has been riding through serious pain on several tough stages before. But indeed, hats off anyway if there is a hair fracture in his bone.

He says in a post-race interview that the cobbles were just pure suffering, every part of his body hurt... and that someone crashed in front of him in the last stretch of cobbles, he crashed as well, and now he feels pain in his other hand.

It looked like we could see him leave the race after all.

 

[roundabout]

Rodriguez at 2.25

 

[online-rider]

Wrapped with 3rd for Cadel........

LMFAO = its rapt

 

[Anonymous]

He had a puncture! are you deaf?

No, he is the BPC cyclingnews forums cancer.. Report his post and move on.

 

[Francois the Postman]

And that would be smart - doesnt AC get the same time as the group he was with?? (last 3k?)

Never thought about a puncture as a qualifier, but you might have a point. In which case Vino would look very good again (or Contador very daft for not "going down").

 

[Beech Mtn]

That might actually help Andy if he keeps calm about it, more time watching the other GC guys, less time looking back down the hill for Frank

Agree. Andy will be better off on his own, other than losing an important climber on his team. But the brothers don't work well together.

 

[alberto.legstrong]

Evans
AS +30''
AC +1'01''
Menchov/Wiggins +1'10''
LA 1'51''

Thanks.

Evans. Hate to say it with our local CE fan/mentalcase, but he has been the one to watch since last fall.

 

[Dead Star]

Great stage. That has to be up there with the Strade bianchi stage from the Giro for drama and fantastic viewing.

 

[RhodriM]

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

He's in cracking form, plus I imagine as a pursuit champ and former junior Roubaix winner today's stage and the prologue will have suited him.

 

[Big GMaC]

Hey BPC?

Puncture confirmed.

How you like them apples?

 

[flicker]

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 .....

I do not understand how you can dislike Armstrong and Contador. Great rides by both today, both great champions, amazing Andy today also. Lance showed good power under tough circumstances. Maybe your heroes Dario Frigo and Iban Mayo will come out of retirement?

 

[kurtinsc]

GC list:

1. Evans
2. Schleck + 30 sec
3. Contador + 1:01
4. Van den Broek + 1:03
5. Menchov + 1:10
6. Wiggins + 1:10
7. Kreuziger + 1:45
8. Sanchez + 1:46
9. Armstrong + 1:51
10. Rogers + 2:21

 

[Cerberus]

I wonder if Andy won't be better off not having to worry about his brother's fortunes as well as his own. Then again, no tag team attacks. Great ride by Andy the whiner, typical ride by Frank the faller.

According to the Eurosport commentators someone fell right in front of Frank, if that's the case there's not much he can do.

 

[ak-zaaf]

Rodriguez at 2.25

Thanks, thought he lost some serious time.

 

[Parrot23]

One thing's for sure: the podium opened up a bit today with Lance, Basso's losses and Frank being out.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Vino vino vino vino

Seconded!

Vino Vidi Vici !

 

[sometriguy]

Never thought about a puncture as a qualifier, but you might have a point. In which case Vino would look very good again (or Contador very daft for not "going down").

It does count, I remember andy schleck flatting earlier in the year at 4k to go... and the announcers were making a big deal about how unlucky he was that it wasn't within 3k

 

[Pharazon]

very impressive of all the front group being able to hold Spartacus's wheel..

guess he wasn't using his motorised bike today

 

[BroDeal]

No, he popped. If he had a flat Vino would have waited for him. He simply could not keep up with Vino's power at the end.

Typical BPC lies. And he wonders why everyone is fed up with his stupidity.

 

[roundabout]

In the event that a rider or riders suffer a
fall, puncture or mechanical incident in
the last 3 kilometres and such an incident
is duly recognised, the rider or riders involved
are credited with the same finishing
time of the rider or riders they were with at
the time of the incident.

From the official rules.Sorry for the format.

 

[eleven]

So, you don't like having the opposite to last year's stage 3 kicked in your face?
Tough, you were crowing then, you ain't crowing now.

Armstrong's big opening ends with him a minute down.
Enjoy the mountains.

Contador punctured on stage 3 last year? And all along I thought he just missed a gap.