2009 TDF: Stage 3 : Monday 6 July : Marseille > La Grande-Motte : 196kms

Stage 3.

 

Profile

 

Bunch sprint. Manx missile takes it. Only question is who can stay in his slipstream. Farrar apparently can't. Hushovd couldn't get around Farrar. Boonen was out of contention today. Eisel, Ciolek Napolitano, Freire?

 

If Farrar is the best they've got, they might as well just give the green jersey to Cav right now and forget about it.

 

Don't rule out Bennati tonight to take a podium spot.

 

Feillu looked pretty quick last stage, he had a lot of ground to cover just to get to Farrar's wheel. Maybe he can give Cavendish a chase.

A lot of the other sprinters got held up or took the scenic route when Igor Anton came down, perhaps a bigger bunch sprint this time.

 

Lance once again proves why he is El Patron.

 

Well well well...

What's the bet Armstrong forgot to remind Contador of the cross wind dangers this morning .

I can see it now: Contador gives Lance a rude look at the team meeting tonight, and Lance replies "What man? It just happened", all innocence.

 

Take that, Alpuerto!! Who's the Astana team leader now?!?!

 

Doesn't matter.

19 seconds is bugger all.

Contador won't ride for Armstrong

I think Contador will be on the phone to his Spanish buddies LLS and Oscar. Saying "You guys owe me for what I did for Valverde in Dauphine. Now we kick our plan into gear"

 

It's not Lance's fault AC cant pay attention to the race. Is LA supposed to hold is hand while they are riding too?
Is Contador supposed to tell LA when he plans on attacking in the mountains? Great race by LA.

 

The hell with the teams. It would be great to see USA versus Spain for the overall.

Flats - Advantage USA with Dave Z and Big George pulling Armstrong
Hills - Even. Levi and VdV for USA. Sastre and maybe a juiced Zubeldia working for AC
Doctors - Advantage Spain

Outcome - Armstrong over Contador by the length of a testicle in Paris.

 

Exactly. And the only way they can try to stop him in the mountains is to put Armstrong in yellow and obligate Contador to be his lieutenant even if there are Levi and Klodi too.

 

Give me a break. This race will come down to AC and LA. When all other Lieutenants are gone, it will be AC vs. LA. No way AC would accept that even if he is told to by JB.

 

Well, today's stage made things more interesting for sure. It just proved what most already knew. LA is only about LA. The peleton shouldn't underestimate him

 

Cavendish has taken up where he left off last year.

Manx Missile is a sublime sprinter.

Hard to recall a similar sprinter dominating as he is doing.

I remember Bontempi, Vanderaarden : they were nowhere near as dominant.

This is Maartenesque.

 

Maybe he'll have to help Armstrong only as long as he's in Yellow. That would be on Arcalis, after that he'll sure be given the freedom to ride for himself. But will Arcalis cost him too much?

 

The only thing that todays stage proved is that AC is not as experienced as LA and that he needs to learn to pay attention to the race.