Professional Cycling For the Fans - TDF 2010 stage 3 - Wanze - Arenberg Porte du Hainaut 213 km, Tue. Jul 6

profile:

http://www.letour.fr/PHOTOS/TDF/2010/300/PROFIL.gif


map:

http://www.letour.fr/PHOTOS/TDF/2010/300/CARTE.gif

I am going to be late for work for this one, I think it will be the first time for a "flat stage".

Yeah, the pave really has a chance to spice things up, doesn't it? This stage seems to have Boonen or Hushovd written all over it. I hope Boonen's knee problems don't knock him out of the race.

cobbles! 4 big stretches in the last fourth of the race. team armstrong...er...radioshack will be looking to pressure contador here.
another potential 'survive & advance' day for the gt contenders should provide breakaway/specialist opportunities.

Now they're saying Boonen is out. Bummer.

will the big teams let their strong men go for the win or will they save them in case of problems? although i'd love to see FC solo away to add time onto his yellow jersey lead.

I think this is a good stage for a rider like Boasson Hagen. He's proven himself to be a good classics rider, and he's a very respectable sprinter.

I think this is a good stage for a rider like Boasson Hagen. He's proven himself to be a good classics rider, and he's a very respectable sprinter.

I really like Boasson Hagen and hope he can do the same...what about Spartacus?

Chad

I'm seeing Fabian all over this one. I just keep seeing him go Paris-Roubaix all over again. And no Boonen to try and ride with him this time. Maybe Hushovd.

This will be exciting. I hope the cyclists don't stage some BS protest like they did in the finish today.

This will be exciting. I hope the cyclists don't stage some BS protest like they did in the finish today.

Seriously, if they regulate it AGAIN because of a crash, that would suck. Its not like these roads have never been raced on before.

Tough, tough course. Let's just neutralize it now and move on to Stage 4.

Tough, tough course. Let's just neutralize it now and move on to Stage 4.

Seems to me it was the oil slick they were protesting. The riders are resigned to the wet cobbles, but oil? I'd rank that before shards of glass and just after spectators throwing flaming bags of their own poop on a list of things I didn't sign up to ride through.

Prediction: Pain

Prediction: Pain

Clubber Lang is going to throw some mohawk grenades at the riders tomorrow.

I'm predicting Boasson Hagen.

My prediction for stage 3?


..............PAIN!

I'll guess Spartacus. there will be pain, lots of pain.

Seems to me it was the oil slick they were protesting. The riders are resigned to the wet cobbles, but oil? I'd rank that before shards of glass and just after spectators throwing flaming bags of their own poop on a list of things I didn't sign up to ride through.

I know right? With the attitude of some posters here you would think the tour riders were a bunch of lazy pansies having an extremely relaxed tour so far. To the morons who haven't figured it out...their race so far has been the exact opposite of easy.

To hell with the promoters trying to organize the race so that the riders face unreasonable dangers just so they can increase ratings.
But the riders being gung-ho competitors as they are will probably race their hearts out tomorrow. I hope nobody gets killed this time. It's a miracle no one got killed in stage 2's disaster.

Oh please. It's just ****ing pavé. You make it sound like the organisers are chasing the peloton down the wrong way of a busy Autobahn.

It's ok that the cyclists are standing up for themselves, I almost always approve of that kind of solidarity (although pro cyclists have an ugly history of standing up for causes that don't deserve it...), but a little bit of danger and unpredictability is just part of cycling's appeal. Nobody wants to see cyclists get hurt, but people do want races to be on the edge, so sometimes crashes are inevitable.

I say cut their brake cables and let them go at it like proper men.

Thor.
He didn't go down yesterday and will be in better shape than most.
Spartacus would love to get back into yellow.
Both of them are previous winners of Paris Roubaix and know how to win on
the cobbles. I predict an epic battle and I'm praying for rain.
As for yesterday, I think given today's stage and the carnage on the descent of the Stockeu
it made sense. I do not think the stage was 'too difficult' nor do I think the organizers were
risking the rider's safety. Take out the oil from the crashed moto and you had a wet descent which
these guys all deal with all year round.

marty

Wow, enormous crowds today. :eek:

For the benefit of those of us who will not be watching until we get home today, how is Andy Schleck looking today?

Frank Schleck is out.

Andy is up with the front chase group.

For the benefit of those of us who will not be watching until we get home today, how is Andy Schleck looking today?

I haven't really seen him so far, but I think he's in the front group behind Cancellara.

Yeah, Andy Schleck is behind Fabian. I think Evans is up there, too. Too bad for Frank, but Andy could put some time into other guys today.

Looks like Andy Schleck might take some time off Armstrong and Contador today if the peloton doesn't get together before the finish again.

The front chase group is Thor, Evans, A Schleck, Thomas and Spartacus!

How Schleck has stayed with them I have no idea.

One live-ticker I'm following says there's 20 seconds between the Cancellara/Schleck/Evans/Hushovd group and the Armstrong group and another 20 seconds to Contador. That's not totally insignificant if stays that way until the finish.

eta: no, Contador is 40 seconds behind Armstrong apparently!

The Armstrong gp is coming back.

Armstrong with a mechanical?

That's a terrible spot for a puncture.

But Armstrong has a puncture..

He'll end up back with Bert's group

Who is this Canadian Garmin rider at the front?

He'll end up back with Bert's group

We'll see. Certainly a missed opportunity for him, he needs every second he can make on Contador.

Who is this Canadian Garmin rider at the front?

Still Hesjedal, no?

Cancellara back in yellow tonight? If Thor takes a sprint win today they can both make up for yesterday.

Cancellara back in yellow tonight? If Thor takes a sprint win today they can both make up for yesterday.

Possibly, Chavanel is somewhere way back, isn't he?

Cancellara is such a monster, that's crazy.

Spartacus just flicked the switch on his motor ;)

Come on Geriant!

Where the hell are all the Astanas, how is it possible that Contador is all alone there?...

eta: contador overtook Armstrong if the official tdf insert is correct.

We'll see. Certainly a missed opportunity for him, he needs every second he can make on Contador.

My mistake, I think he's behind Bert!

My mistake, I think he's behind Bert!

Not your fault, second very confusing day in a row. ;)

This is a BS classic stage shoe horned into a Grand Tour - I'm not sure I get the last 2 days.

Sparticus flicks an elbow, Thor looks the other way - have to love sprinters.

Ha...No way Hushovd was taking a pull.

I'm surprised Evans and Schleck aren't pushing more, maybe they don't have it in them anymore; it looks like Cancellara is again basically doing all the work himself..

BS Classic stage? please.
This is what makes the northern classics so, well, classic.
Does it belong in the tour? why not.
Yesterday's stage was a typical road stage that was unfortunately marred by
a combination of oil (from the moto) and water.

Marty

This tour is epic.