Cancellara Retakes Yellow In Stage 3

As expected, the cobblestones were brutal to the Tour's riders in stage 3. There were several crashes and technical problems with the bikes. Tour leader Sylvain Chavanel, France (Quick Step) was one of those having bike problems. He had to switch bikes three times and that cost him enough time to lose his Yellow Jersey. Lance Armstrong, USA (Radio Shack) also had bike problems and dropped down to 18th overall (even though time-wise he is closer to the race leader than yesterday).

The road was so rough on the riders that the peloton was broken up into several groups (almost like a mountain stage). Fabian Cancellara, Switzerland (Saxo Bank) had a very good day and was able to finish in the first group of seven riders. This was good enough to once again put the Yellow Jersey on his shoulders.

Norwegian Thor Hushovd (Cervelo) was the winner of stage 3 (pictured) and his win put him in first place in the sprinter's race for the Green Jersey. British rider Geraint Thomas (Sky Pro) finished second and Australian Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) was the third place finisher. At the end of stage 3 there have been nine riders that have dropped out of the Tour (most for injuries), including a couple of very strong riders like Frank Schleck, Luxembourg (Saxo Bank) and Christian Vandevelde, USA (Garmin-Transitions).

Tomorrow's leg of the Tour is a 153.5 kilometer ride from Cambrai to Reims. It is a hilly ride but has only one category 4 climb. With no cobblestones or really difficult mountain climbs, Saxo Bank should be able to protect the Yellow Jersey for Cancellara and the finish should be a good one for the sprinters. After the last couple of days the riders will probably consider this an easy ride.

Here are the current standings:

YELLOW JERSEY (Overall Leaders)

1. Fabian Cancellara, Switzerland (Saxo Bank)

2. Geraint Thomas, Great Britain (Sky Pro).....0' 23"

3. Cadel Evans, Australia (BMC Racing).....0' 39"

4. Ryder Hesjedal, Canada (Garmin-Transitions).....0' 46"

5. Sylvain Chavanel, France (Quick Step).....1' 01"

6. Andy Schleck, Luxembourg (Saxo Bank).....1' 09"

7. Thor Hushovd, Norway (Cervelo).....1' 19"

8. Alexandre Vinokourov, Kazakhstan (Astana).....1' 31"

9. Alberto Contador, Spain (Astana).....1' 40"

10. Jurgen Van Den Broeck, Belgium (Omega Pharma-Lotto).....1' 42"

18. Lance Armstrong, USA (Radio Shack).....2' 30"

24. Levi Leipheimer, USA (Radio Shack).....2' 53"

44. Christopher Horner, USA (Radio Shack).....3' 17"

GREEN JERSEY (Sprinters)

1. Thor Hushovd, Norway (Cervelo).....63 pts

2. Geraint Thomas, Great Britain (Sky Pro).....49 pts

3. Sylvain Chavanel, France (Quick Step).....44 pts

4. Robbie McEwen, Australia (Katusha).....38 pts

5. Fabian Cancellara, Switzerland (Saxo Bank).....37 pts

6. Jurgen Roelandts, Belgium (Omega Pharma-Lotto).....36 pts

7. Alessandro Petacchi, Italy (Lampre-Farnese).....35 pts

8. Ryder Hesjedal, Canada (Garmin-Transitions).....30 pts

9. Jose Joaquin Rojas, Spain (Caisse D'Epargne).....30 pts

10. Mark Renshaw, Australia (HTC-Columbia).....30 pts

POLKA DOT JERSEY (Climbers)

1. Jerome Pineau, France (Quick Step).....13 pts

2. Sylvain Chavanel, France (Quick Step).....8 pts

3. Rin Taaramae, Estonia (Cofidis).....8 pts

4. Maxime Montfort, Belgium (HTC-Columbia).....5 pts

5. Matthew Lloyd, Australia (Omega Pharma-Lotto).....4 pts

6. Ryder Hesjedal, Canada (Garmin-Transitions).....3 pts

7. Jurgen Roelandts, Belgium (Omega Pharma-Lotto).....3 pts

8. Stephen Cummings, Great Britain (Sky Pro).....2 pts

9. Carlos Barredo, Spain (Quick Step).....2 pts

10. Marcus Burghardt, Germany (BMC Racing).....2 pts

11. Francesco Gavazzi, Italy (Lampre-Farnese).....2 pts

TEAM STANDINGS

1. Saxo Bank

2. Garmin-Transitions.......0' 11"

3. Sky Pro.......0' 25"

4. Astana.......2' 21"

5. BMC Racing.......2' 50"

6. Cervelo.......3' 22"

7. Rabobank.......3' 37"

8. Omega Pharma-Lotto.......3' 40"

9. AG2R La Mondiale.......3' 49"

10. Caisse D'Epargne.......3' 55"

11. Radio Shack.......4' 28"

12. HTC-Columbia.......4' 29"