Well, normal service resumed today at the Tour de France after an opening three stages that saw just about everything. Crashes taking out one of the favourites. Fancied riders hitting the deck or getting punctures at key moments.
Stage 3 was always going to cause accidents. 7 sets of cobbles, pavés, as they are know in French, for the peleton to overcome. Unfortunately for Frank Schleck, it was him to fall foul of the uneven surface. He tumbled out of the race and broke his collarbone in three places, needing surgery and eight bolts put into his shoulder.
Lance Armstrong had said he'd have rather had a team time trial then the cobbles as a method of falling out of contention. And given the severity of Schleck's injury, the race director really should take a long hard look at that route.
Armstrong himself was also a victim of the conditions and suffered a puncture during the 213 kilometre trek from Wanze to Arenberg. He lost time rather than blood. But finishing 2 minutes down on some of his rivals leaves him moving to Plan B even before the race has hit the Alps. Lance tweeted that was just bad luck - I'm not sure Sylvain Chavanel would have been so understanding after losing his yellow jersey to not one but two flat tyres.
Usually Le Tour goes to the rider strong enough to get over the hills and quick enough over a time trial. So far this year, it looks like going to the rider who manages to stay upright the longest.
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