Results: 2010 Tour de France – Stage 3 – Wanze – Arenberg Porte du Hainaut

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Stage 3 of the 2010 Tour de France was marked by rough cobblestone that comprised of 13 km of the 207 km stage. With a rough ride ahead and many riders beat up from the slick beginning 2 stages of this years Tour, Stage 3 was primed to separate the men from the boys. Who ended up on top after today’s stage? Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara regained the race leader’s yellow jersey after the third stage of the Tour de France on Tuesday won by Norwegian Thor Hushovd, riding for the Cervelo team.

Much like Stage 2, an early breakaway led by teve Cummings (Team Sky), Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions), Pavel Brutt (Katusha), Pierre Rolland (Bbox Bouygues Telecom), Roger Kluge (Milram), Stéphane Auge (Cofidis) and Imanol Erviti (Caisse d’Epargne) zipped off the front in a speedy opening to the day. Like Stage 2, the breakaway was caught and a split up peloton finished amongst several wrecks on the cobblestone.

One of the biggest time loses in serious GC contention was held by 7 time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong as the rough Stage 3 came right after a hard fall in Stage 2. Finishing in 32th and losing 2:30 off yellow jersey holder Fabian Cancellara after a puncture in Stage 3, Armstrong now has a hard pull to get back up to the front. With the climbing sections of the Tour on the horizon, Lance Armstrong has to hope that his time trial efforts can overcome Alberto Contador’s domination in the mountains if he hopes to have a chance at winning his last Tour de France effort. Armstrong now sits in 18th overall as we head to Stage 4.

The biggest hit of the day still goes to the Saxo Bank team as they lost Frank Schlek to a broken collar bone in Stage 3. Having finished 5th in last years Tour de France, Frank was one of the GC’s top contenters in the 2010 Tour.

Next Stage: Stage 4 – Cambrai Reims 150KM

STAGE 3 RESULTS