Stage 3 - Wanze - Arenberg Porte du Hainaut

A frightening stage

Date: July 6 2010

Stage 3: Wanze - Arenberg Porte du Hainaut

Distance: 213km

We have decided that on the day when we return to the Nord department, cobbles will be on the menu. However, unlike in 2004, there will be four big sections over the last thirty kilometres, to avoid huge gaps opening up and also to provide a more exciting finish.

In total, there will be 13.2 kilometres of cobbles. Some riders have difficulty negotiating them and there is always the possibility of punctures or falls... This stage will frighten everyone and the race favourites may lose precious minutes. This “genuine classic” may be favourable to riders like Armstrong or Evans.

And let’s not forget that there are some teams who will, on the face of it, not have a role to play in the general standings, such as Quick Step, and who will have a stake in creating all sorts of chaos…