Jul 10, 2007
Cancellara Sparks Up Lethargic Stage 3
After the late crash on Stage 2 many racers were staying up late tending to wounds. After such a long stage and late night many of the racers felt a bit lethargic. You know the feeling you wake up sore and just don’t have the same intensity. Most of the peloton felt this way and was more than content to let a French duo go for a long breakaway while the rest of the racers took a “working vacation” day. Sometimes going slow on a bike is not too much fun especially when you end up riding for seven hours. The lethargy turned into a grueling march into Compeigne. Whether the group is riding fast or slow, it is still painful.
More painful was the heartbreaking finish for the lead four Frederik Willems, Matthieu Ladagnous, Stephane Auge, and Freddy Bichot who were working hard in the break only to watch the pack swoop by in the final few hundred meters. If they just kept it together a little longer….
Cancellara’s blast from about 400 meters to go to the finish is a legendary sight. All of the sprint teams were lined up, but a well timed attack had everyone reaching. Boonen, Zabel and Napolitano were winding up their sprints hoping to pipp Cancellara on the line, but the World TT Champion held them off. Previously, CSC was talking of not trying to keep the Yellow Jersey. The reason is that they want to save the team’s efforts for later in the race when Sastre or Schleck would hopefully get the lead. The team which is loaded with talent now says they they will keep the jersey as long as possible. Hope is that they pass it to the other teammates later in the race. This win now shows that CSC will work to keep the jersey as long as possible.