Stage 3

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Stage 3

July 8 Luxembourg - Sarrebruck 181 km

The race today provided some good lessons in team racing and strategies. Lampre sent Dierckxsens up the road in the first attack at the first kilometer like I said they would. Their strategy was to move Dierckxsens up on Combativity while protecting the Yellow Jersey.

After that break was brought back in, another break containing Berges (leader of Combativity) went up the road. I hope you noticed that Lampre responded in defense of the Yellow Jersey but not in defense of the Combativity Title. If they had responded for the Combativity Title, they would have brought the break back in as quickly as possible. But they intentionally kept the break up the road as a control to protect the Yellow Jersey. They knew that, with the break up the road, no one else who would be more of a threat to the Yellow Jersey would try to escape. Plus permitting Berges to ride off the front today would give him an extra lead in Combativity but make him too tired tomorrow to defend a challenge from Dierckxsens. So watch for Dierckxsens to make another attempt for a break tomorrow.

Lampre did a very good job of controlling the race today to meet their goals. A good professional will always race to achieve his goals and not just charge at the front. This is a thinking man's game and not a game for dummies. The Tour is like 21 chess masters playing chess with different strategies and different quality playing pieces in at least 7 different games at the same time on the same board at 35 miles per hour for up to 7 hours each day. If that doesn't blow your mind, I don't know what will. As coach (chess master) you have to keep track of all of that and be constantly guessing what every one is doing at the same time. If you guess wrong, you lose. Sound fun? I love it.

I hope you also noticed that, at the end when Telekom couldn't bring a break back, the other teams with sprinters joined in until it was brought back. You do what you have to do, when you have to do it, the way you should do it or you lose.

It was a great race and I really loved the team tactics. I also hope you noticed that Zabel losing the sprint to both McEwen and Freire proves, once again, that no one is invincible. Zabel has won the Points Title six times but will have to win it again or lose it. No one is going to give him anything.

Notice the changes which took place today. They will effect the team strategies for tomorrow. Zabel moved into second on GC and is now only 2" short of wearing the Yellow Jersey. Expect the race for the Yellow Jersey between Lampre and Telekom to heat up.

The Points Title had the greatest movement. Zabel is still in first place but Freire has moved into second, McEwen moved ahead of Bertogliati (now fifth) to remain in third, O'Grady moved into fourth, and Cook moved into sixth. The sprinters are developing the battle for the Points Title quite quickly and it promises to be interesting. Will Telekom have to change or modify their strategy? Keep an eye on it.

For Combativity, Berges extended his lead with Chavanel moving into second and Hushovd moving into third. Watch for Dierckxsens and Mengin along with others to make a move tomorrow.

For KOM, Berges moved into first with Chavanel moving into fifth place. The rest of the titles remained the same. Now you need to change the markings on your rider list and see if there have been any changes in team strategy.

Pay attention to the racing action in relation to your rider list. If a team sends a rider on attack early in a flat stage, they are almost certainly not going to contend for the GC win later in the race. You can bet that team is riding for subtitles and stage wins. This is particularly true of the weaker teams. For example, Freire winning today's sprint along with having Tom Steels on the team should indicate that Mapei will put all their effort into stage wins and the Points Title. Keep that list by you when reading about the racing action.

As a note, keep an eye on Hushovd to see if he starts the next stage or finishes it after cramping today. He could be our first DNF.

Tomorrow

The Metz/Reims stage will be 174.5 km with sprints at 57.5, 100.5, and 130 km and two cat 4 climbs at .3 and 93.5 km. I don't see anything which could present any tactical interest.

Watch for an early break with riders like Dierckxsens, Mengin, Verbrugghe, and Durand. If a break is not off, watch the sprinters go after the sprint points in the road primes. Be sure to watch the team reactions to who ever gets on break and see where riders are on GC. See if you can figure out their team strategies.

I also like to pick out a rider and watch him. I mentioned a possible future star named Zubeldia a few years ago when he showed he was a very good time trialist and climber. He and his team rode their first Tour last year but had a terrible time of it. It seemed that everything which

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