Tour de France 2012: Stage 3

Stage 3 is the first stage of the 2012 Tour de France actually in France. So already we've accomplished something. The stage runs from the northwestern town of Orchies to the even further northwestern town of Boulogne-sur-mer. The distance is 197 km (122 miles) in length, with several climbs in the category 3 and 4 range.

Stage Predictions
Today's stage looks to favor riders Sylvain Chavanel (France) and Philippe Gilbert (Belgium). However, it should also be noted that today's stage provides team Liquigas with some good opportunities. Stage 3 also favors their lead rider, Vincenzo Nibali (Italy), as well as their young Slovakian superstar Peter Sagan, who's certainly been racking up the wins so far this Tour. Who is to say he won't do it again today, in the first of the more mountainous stages of this year's Tour.

Stage Highlights
• Though it takes a while to lose the fervent peloton, a break away of about five men is established. Notable in this break away are riders Michael Morkov (Denmark) and Andriy Grivko (Ukraine). It's safe to assume that Morkov, who has been vigilant about getting, and staying in, the King of the Mountains polka dot jersey, is in this break away, on the first of the more mountainous stages of this Tour, to rack up all of the points that he can. This is only Morkov's second Grand Tour!

Grivko, on the other hand, who started the stage 38 seconds behind the yellow jersey, has the opportunity to take yellow today. Grivko is not the only rider to be 38 (or even less!) seconds away from being in yellow, so for him to make this attack so early on, should be sending a clear message to yellow jersey holder, Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland).
• At the 79km (49 miles) mark there is a large crash within the peloton. Many riders are knocked to the ground. Miraculously, all of the riders involved in the crash were able to get back on their bikes and back to the peloton. The official team leader of Astana did lose a lot of time in the overall ranking. • Despite all of the climbs in this stage, there was one opportunity for points toward the green jersey. The usual suspects were out; at about 5km to the sprint line, the lead-out trains were formed. Of course Mark Cavendish (Isle of Man) crossed first, earning 10 points toward the green jersey. I (bitterly) admit that Peter Sagan (Slovakia) - who has clearly not chosen a specialty yet, so he's going for every title in the Tour - was close by at the finish line. I maintain that he is not a sprinter, and thus, will not get the best of Cavendish. My mother, however, still holds that Sagan has it in him to beat Cavendish, so Cav better start considering Sagan a real threat. As usual, she is wrong.
• Morkov, as predicted, is taking up all of the mountain points available in today's stage. I can't remember a rider being this eager to be King of the Mountains! He has been named the most aggressive rider of the day by the Tour, and "Scout" by me.
• A tricky descent punctures the wheel of team leader Ryder Hesjedal (Canada) (best name in the biz) and he is left stranded as none of his Garmin-Sharp teammates are around. Eventually, he makes it back to the peloton without any serious time loss. Not a serious accident in the end, but misfortune seems to be targeting the Tour team leaders in this stage. (So no bueno.)
• Another crash in the peloton taking out sprinter Tyler Farrar (USA) for quite some time.
• Third crash of the day. This time the crash occurred at the front of the peloton, which has the potential to take out more riders. Reports come in that Simon Gerrans (Australia) and Gianpaolo Caruso (Italy) are badly injured.
• The only two riders remaining in the break away are the ones who need to be, Morkov and Grivko. Both are eventually caught before the last climb. Nearing the finish line, the peloton is getting fast and furious.
• Another punctured wheel, this time, for Philippe Gilbert. In related news, there has been a nation wide inquiry into France's one bicycle tire manufacturing company when news surfaced that they have been making tires using 99% latex and 1% actual rubber (for appearances).
• Team RadioShack-Nissan-Trek has been up front in the peloton for most of the stage again today. 40 year old Tour veteran Jens Voigt (Germany) seems to be pulling all of the youngsters in the peloton through each stage. "A willing work horse" -As old timey commentator Phil Liggett calls him. Can't decide whether that is a compliment or not.
• Down to the final mile, a break away is attempted by Sylvain Chavanel, but he is quickly caught by the peloton. The race to the finish line comes down to Michael Albinsini (Australia) and Sagan, but once again, with what appears to be incredible ease, Sagan crosses the finish line in first.

Jersey Lineup End of Stage 2
• Yellow Jersey (best overall): Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland) RadioShack Nissan Trek
• White Jersey (best young rider): Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC • Green Jersey (best sprinter): Peter Sagan (Slovakia) Liquigas • Polka Dot Jersey (King of the Mountains): Michael Morkov (Denmark) Saxo Bank

Top 10 after Stage 2
1) Fabian Cancellara(Switzerland) RNT
2) Bradley Wiggins(Britain) Sky
3) Sylvain Chavanel(France) OmegaPharma-QuickStep
4) Tejay van Garderen(USA) BMC
5) Edvald Boasson Hagen(Norway) Sky
6) Denis Menchov(Russia) Katusha
7) Cadel Evans(Australia) BMC
8) Vincenzo Nibali(Italy) Liquigas
9) Ryder Hesjedal(Canada) BMC
10) Andréas Klöden (Germany) RadioShack Nissan Trek