Stage 3 MARSEILLE > LA GRANDE-MOTTE
It looked like today's stage would be a slow procession for 5 hours as the teams aimed to conserve energy for tomorrow's team time trial in Montpellier.
But someone forgot to tell Team Coloumbia HTC - the whole team broke away from the peloton with about 31km to go, plus about 20 other rides including the yellow jersey Cancellara, Lance Armstrong and Thor Hushovd, leaving Contador, Cadel Evans and other key riders in the following group.
The break away group managed to stay away from the peloton all the way to the finish in La Grande Motte where Mark Cavendish wins from Thor Hushovd in a sprint finish. The peloton were 38 seconds behind.
Cancellara stays in yellow and Mark Cavendish gained more green jersey points, staying in the green jersey and Armstrong gained time on his team mate, moving into 3rd place and above Contador who is the number one rider for Team Astana, which may make things interesting within Astana. Britain Bradley Wiggins drops from 3rd to 5th place.
Stage 3 result:
Mark CAVENDISH GBR THR 04:30:02
Tyler FARRAR USA GRM +00:00:00
Romain FEILLU FRA AGR +00:00:00
Thor HUSHOVD NOR CTT +00:00:00
Yukiya ARASHIRO JPN BBO +00:00:00
Gerald CIOLEK GER MRM +00:00:00
William BONNET FRA BBO +00:00:00
Nicolas ROCHE IRL ALM +00:00:00
Koen DE KORT NED SKS +00:00:00
Lloyd MONDORY FRA ALM +00:00:00
Overall Standings:
Fabian CANCELLARA SUI SAX 09:50:58
Tony MARTIN GER THR +00:00:33
Lance ARMSTRONG USA AST +00:00:40
Alberto CONTADOR ESP AST +00:00:59
Bradley WIGGINS GBR GRM +00:01:00
Andréas KLÖDEN GER AST +00:01:03
Linus GERDEMANN GER MRM +00:01:03
Cadel EVANS AUS SIL +00:01:04
Maxime MONFORT BEL THR +00:01:10
Levi LEIPHEIMER USA AST +00:01:11
Stage 4 tomorrow is the team trial in Montpellier and is 39km. |