This, the third stage, is the frightening stage --- cobbles are definitely on the menu from today. However, unlike in 2004, there will be four big sections over the last thirty kilometres, to avoid huge gaps opening up and also to provide a more exciting finish. In total, there will be 13.2 kilometres of cobbles. Some riders have difficulty negotiating them and there is always the possibility of punctures or falls... This stage will frighten everyone and the race favourites may lose precious minutes. This “genuine classic” may be favourable to riders like Armstrong or Evans. And let’s not forget that there are some teams who will, on the face of it, not have a role to play in the general standings, such as Quick Step, and who will have a stake in creating all sorts of chaos…
1. CHAVANEL Sylvain QUICK STEP 10h 01' 25" 44 pts
2. PETACCHI Alessandro LAMPRE - FARNESE 35 pts
3. PINEAU Jérôme QUICK STEP
4. MARTIN Tony TEAM HTC - COLUMBIA
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