Todays stage was a fairly flat ordeal, containing a couple of minor hills, but nothing likely to let a rider escape the group long term.
The riders of TYT had something of a day off during stage 3, no major attacks were seen by a Youtube rider, as a large bunch set off as a break from the main group.
They put a large gap between themselves and the following pack, and between they fought out the KOM points form todays stage, with the first and largest checkpoint (worth 8 points) going to Dirk Bellemakers.
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Team Bretagne gave chase to the pack, and very slowly started to grind them back in, they reduced the lead before having a strange change of heart, and leaving the riders of Rabobank CT to haul instead.
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With the line drawing ever closer it became more and more likely that the stage would be won by a member of the breakaway, as such many of the riders within started to try and attack, and claim a stage, it looked likely that Samarotins of Cofidis, who was the strongest sprinter in the front group.
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With the group still a few critical seconds ahead, noone from the break had managed to establish a lead personally, the sprint set off from within, whilst the Peloton started snapping at there heels, and as they crossed the line, the groups had re-merged, but it was indeed 2 riders from within the group who claimed victory, Samarotins came in second place, after a surprisingly strong sprint finish by the AG2R rider David Le Lay
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Today in many ways suited the riders here at TYT perfectly, no-one had to work excessively, and none of the sprinters were able to set up any form of attack to take a jersey out of reach from our riders. Il Cassano maintains the Under 25 jersey, and Bassie Adriaan still leads the KOM competition.
As the riders set off it was Bassie Adriaan who once again found himself in a small group out in front, attacking the peloton, a group of 4 riders initially managed to get away, shortly joined by the 5other riders to finish the 9man group that got out in front.
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The first two hills were fought competitively between Francis Mourey of FDJ, and Bassie, both finishing first on one of the climbs, and second on the other. Bassie did enough to retain his jersey with a fairly strong lead going into tomorrows final stage and looks well set to claim the jersey overall.
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With 100km to go multiple riders attempted to break for the escape group most notably Oliphant of Endura racing, who persistantly attacked, and for a short while managed to gain a 1minute lead over the break.
Voecklers ride was enough to place him in the leaders jersey going into tomorrows stage, however the final climb may well prove his lead to be insufficient for him to win overall.
The race has a very rapid start due to a checkpoint set extremely close to the start point and immediate attacks came from multiple riders, most notable, capable rider Miguel Rocha who has so far had a quiet season but will be looking to excel in the classics as a strong climber/cobbler.
Miguel Rocha claimed victory in the first checkpoint and then went on to claim second at the second intermediate stage, as the initial break put a large gap between themselves and the peloton.
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Not long after the second checkpoint, the initial group of 4, were caught by 5 riders from minor teams and the break looked strong, pushing there lead as far as 5minutes at one point.
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With the break starting to threaten the GC, Team Europcar set up at the front of the peloton, dricing a fast pace such that leader T.Voeckler
(Stage 4 winner, and current GC leader.) would have a good chance of overall victory, they rapidly closed the gap to under 2minutes as the teams drew close to the steeper hills at the end of the stage.
General Classification
The yellow jersey changed hands almost every stage during the tour, only one rider managing to hold on for consecutive days sprinter Florian Vachon maintaining his position after the group finish on stage 3.
Points Jersey
The jersey was not one that the TYT riders were interested in during the TDM, and the final winner was rider Yann Huguet of Skil-Shimano, claiming a podium place one the second stage, and multiple attacks for intermediate sprints were enough to comfortably secure him this jersey.
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King of the Mountains Bassie Adriaans attacks over the early stages of the tour, combined with his aggressive climbing whilst in the breakaways mean that Adriaan claims the KOM title, no rider was able to compete with Bassie during his attacks and he can be mighty proud of the jersey which he took on day one, and protected right to the end of the tour.
Tour Du Haut Var
The first day of the Tour du Haut Var, rarely produces the overall winner in the 2 day event, the seconds much hillier profile generally lends itself to a breakaway victory near the end.
The Directors at Youtube Twitter decided to use this race, as an opportunity to warm up some of there classics riders, whilst hoping for victory from veteran captain, Heinrich Leinstein, He had support from the likes of Chen and Rocha, whilst they named powerful sprinter Peter Pal should the days come down to a group finish.
Stage 1
The first day has no major climbs, but it does have a short steep sprint finish, which was likely to disrupt chance of sprinters victory, the team opted to try for a late breakaway win for Free Element,Il Cassano, who was asked to put in max effort today, before probably relaxing tomorrow in the peloton.
When the break set off, It was Miguel Rocha who was our representation, attacking hard up a steep first and second climbs, to claim 26 KOM points, leaving himself second overall in this competition.
Seeing an opportunity in the slowed peloton, Il Cassano made a break for it, Attacking off the front and desparately trying to cling on to the end of the race as the sprint trains who could set up, bare down from behind.
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Sadly, though not unpredictably, the attack caused a late kick of effort to stop his escape, and he was passed in the last kilometre, he was still able to take a good finishing position inside the top 15, where as Pal was sadly stuck, boxed in, down in 27th place.
