Stage 3: Perwez - Namur, 202 km

[whiteboytrash]

You won't see alot... pictures were lost for most of the day due to the rain and they lost the pictures just prior to Rubiera's counter on Loddo...... however with 4km to go there was a hairpin bend which 80% of the peleton had to stop at... my suggestions is that Simoni and Rujano were caught up in the stoppage and by the time they got through the main players were approaching the Citadel at great speed... being at the back or slightly off the pace on this climb would mean time losses... there was no way you could make up time or work your way through the peleton....... NB: Kessler crashed on the hairpin. NB2: Did anyone notice Ullrich new cadance ? He is spinning like he is free-wheeling.. not sure if its to protect knee or that he has developed a new form of training.

For those who were able to watch, why did Rujano and Simoni find themselves so far back? It was not lost on any team or its DS that today, particularly with the weather, but also basically because of the route up to the citadel, may create opportunities for time gaps.

 

[musette]

But doesn't that beg the question, if people could tell there was a hairpin turn, why Rujano and Simoni were not further in front by the time of the turn?

Also, Lepaige (DS number 2 after Yates) said that Chechu's move was not planned. Even thought it would have been an excellent move if planned.

 

[whiteboytrash]

Cyclingnews has now said that an Euskaltel rider crashed on the bend which held everyone up and split the field in half..... you cannot see Rujano or Simoni in the footage but like I said the footage was bad all day....

You do see Bettini getting balked by a press motocycle with 1500m to go thou... they really need to sort this out... there should be motocycle's in between an attack which has 10" and the chase group....

But doesn't that beg the question, if people could tell there was a hairpin turn, why Rujano and Simoni were not further in front by the time of the turn?

Also, Lepaige (DS number 2 after Yates) said that Chechu's move was not planned. Even thought it would have been an excellent move if planned.

 

[limerickman]

Cyclingnews has now said that an Euskaltel rider crashed on the bend which held everyone up and split the field in half..... you cannot see Rujano or Simoni in the footage but like I said the footage was bad all day....

You do see Bettini getting balked by a press motocycle with 1500m to go thou... they really need to sort this out... there should be motocycle's in between an attack which has 10" and the chase group....

Spot on.
The pictures from Eurosport were terrible today (as ana side we're getting the same weather - it's source is the Bay of Biscay : torrential rain).

The field split when the Euskatel boys crashed :

Gotta remember WBT, the Yank doesn't see live pictures - so she's back projecting again.

 

[musette]

So did Euskatel riders crash twice -- one crash in front of Ale-jet that caused Cioni to crash into Ale-jet and take him out, and the other to split the peloton closer to the Citadel area?

We can now see live pictures (for at least part of the stage) from the OLN/cycling.tv collaboration pay-for-view new arrangement. However, not everybody is sitting around watching cycling during the work day. We can also watch selected footage later in the day.

 

[lazysegall]

So did Euskatel riders crash twice -- one crash in front of Ale-jet that caused Cioni to crash into Ale-jet and take him out, and the other to split the peloton closer to the Citadel area?

We can now see live pictures (for at least part of the stage) from the OLN/cycling.tv collaboration pay-for-view new arrangement. However, not everybody is sitting around watching cycling during the work day. We can also watch selected footage later in the day.

yes they crashed twice. And it was two euskatel riders involved in the second crash.

 

[musette]

There's a third crash. The Euskatel rider in the main break of the day fell. His three fellow breakaway participants waited for him. That's three crashes for Euskatel during the stage.

 

[whiteboytrash]

The field split when the Euskatel boys crashed :

Gotta remember WBT, the Yank doesn't see live pictures - so she's back projecting again.

I noticed ! Oh well.... we might as well all make it up.... from what I understand DC controlled the race all day then Rubiera attacked but under team directive allowed Schumacher to win the stage so DC wouldn't have to protect the jersey in the early stages.... this is easy !

 

[micron]

Petacchi has abandoned with a broken knee cap and won't ride the TdF - extremely courageous ride to try and finish yesterday.

 

[limerickman]

Petacchi has abandoned with a broken knee cap and won't ride the TdF - extremely courageous ride to try and finish yesterday.

very courageous stuff.

 

[cyclingheroes]

There's a third crash. The Euskatel rider in the main break of the day fell. His three fellow breakaway participants waited for him. That's three crashes for Euskatel during the stage.

Yeah three crashes and i heard on Belgium radio that Jan, Gibo and Rujano where hold up after the last crash...