Tour de France - Stage 3 Preview

Here come the cobbles...............

After a series of crashes in the first two stages, we get to the much-anticipated and much-dreaded 213-kilometer Stage 3 that will take the already diminished, banged up and bandaged field to Arenberg-Porte Du Hainaut on a course that features seven sections of difficult cobblestones totaling 13.2kms. The first three sections of cobblestones will occur in Belgium starting after 128 kilometers. The final four cobbled sections, will be the route used in Paris-Roubaix, cycling's notoriously difficult one-day race. But in this instance, the sections will be ridden in the reverse direction.

 

If you have never seen the Paris - Roubaix  it is the most brutal of the one day classics, commonly referred to as The Hell of the North.  There are some great films about this race, 'One day in Hell' about the 1974 edition, 'Overcoming'  touches on the race and the excellent Doco 'Conquering Robaix' about Stuart O'Gradys win really shows what a tough and brutal race it is. It is a war of attrition where only the best survive, like a summit finish on the flat.  This is different here, less cobbles and a 3 week race.  But more riders, more at stake and a lot of guys who have limited experience on these roads, including a number of overall contenders.

Winning the stage will be difficult and very risky, forcing some of the contenders to the peloton and forcing others to keep further back.  The Schleck brothers of Team Saxo-Bank perhaps will be forced to make a stronger move to the front during this stage as Frank is in 59^th and Andy is back in 85^th. They have some experts looking after them though, with Cancellara (twice) and O'Grady winners of the Paris-Roubaix and the whole squad quite adept at riding them. Tom Boonen would be fave if he were here, he has won more cobbled classics than anyone currently riding but of course did not make the start.  Outside Cancellara who is going to be looking after his team mates one would think, Thor Husovd and Oscar Freire would be definite faves and guys like Burghart, Eisel and Boasson Hagen can feature along with a host of opportunists who will be looking to get their names on the honour role in a stage that will be long remembered. Then again the sprinters teams might be able to get their guys through the rough,  but in reality we are looking at an exciting last 30kms of flat out racing.