The sprinters will go at again with another flat stage.



Or perhaps we will see the first breakaway win today.



13 riders create the BOTD, however no EA-Sony riders.



A very calm day until 11kms to go when Lofkvist puts in a daring attack.



But when he is pulled back along with the breakaway our other Swed Larsson tries to catch the peloton off guard.



The peloton reacts right away and doesn't give Larsson an inch,
so the sprinters will decide stage 5.



EBH leads the way followed by a fading Alessandro Petacchi,
André Greipel, and a charging Tyler Farrar.



Boasson Hagen easily wins his second stage of the tour, Farrar comes from behind to take 2nd, with Romain Feillu in 3rd. EA-Sony again is nonexistent in the bunch sprint, but does stay out of trouble.

Stage

Sprint

Mountain stage #3 is by far the toughest on the legs,
with an average incline on the final climb around 9%,
we will surely see who is best climber.



Over the first climb 4 riders take the challenge of being in the breakaway.



EA-Sony does most of the pace making today,
and brings the breakaway back with 60kms to go.



Jimmy Licina attacks looking for back to back stages wins with 50kms to go.



However today the peloton isn't going to let Licina just ride away.



The peloton is cut to just 11 men chasing Licina.



Make that 10 riders as Laurent Didier crashes.



As we start the climb Licina stills holds a minute lead.



Licina pulls out 30 more seconds while the chasers are struggling to organize, which allows a few groups behind to catch up.



Markus Fothen attacks after Licina with 10kms to go.



250 meters later the yellow jersey of Albasini attacks,
Peterson and Kessiakoff react right away.
These attacks sadly bring back Licina.



When everything settles back down Mitja Mahoric attacks,
Tomas Peterson follows.



As we reach the top Albasini finally decides
to track down Peterson and Mahoric.



And Albasini is on fire, flying right by the leaders
and leaving his followers in his dust.



Peterson is giving his all to close the gap.



But it's not enough, Albasini outclimbs everybody today.



Over a minute later Peterson hangs on for 2nd,
Kessiakoff struggles today and finishes 7th.

Stage

GC

By now you are probably getting sick of all these flat stages, I know I am.
But no worries we only have a few more to go.



11 riders form the morning breakaway, Brice Feillu represents EA-Sony.



By the sprint point their lead is 7 minutes.



But by the final climb, won by Feillu, it's cut all the way down to 2 minutes.



Bad news for Sky, as yesturday's winner EBH suffers a flat with 20kms to go.




When Sky drops off the front to get Hagen back this causes a fury of attacks started by Cancellara. Followed by Talansky and William Bonnet.



HTC quickly jumps on the front to bring everyone back,
however Cancellara isn't going to give up that easily.
This time he is followed by Larsson and Romain Feillu.



This time Sky gets back on the front and cuts down
the late attacks with 5kms to go.



So another bunch sprint is ahead,
and EBH does manage to make his way back to the front just in time.



From left to right, Farrar (Followed by Sabatini), Freire,
Vanendert (Leading out Greipel and Bennati),
then on the way far right is Cavendish.
EBH is trailing in the distance.



Out of cannon comes Edvald Boasson Hagen to challenge Tyler Farrar.



Back to back to wins for Hagen making a total of 3 for the Tour in just 6 stages.



Then out of nowhere a split occurs, Martin, Deignan, and Lofkvist
lose time along with a few other top 10 GC hopefuls.

Stage

GC

Sprint

Mountain

One last mountain stage before two flat stages and an ITT round out this tour.



Jimmy Licina tries the opening breakaway to get tatics going for EA-Sony.



Licina easily rides away from the other breakaway riders
on his way through the first sprint point.



However the peloton is really unhappy with Licina out front.
Probably has to do with him being 10th in GC.



No action for the majority of the first climb
until Jacek Morajko attacks, Licina follows.



Licina leads Marc Goos and Morajko over top,
they have opened a two minute gap.



But by the sprint point at the base of the
final climb their lead is cut to 45 seconds.



When they are caught a few meters into the climb,
EA-Sony sets another man on the attack. This time Kessiakoff puts the pressure on, his attack cuts the peloton down to 8 riders chasing.



5kms from the top and Kessiakoff is caught.



As the American flags wave Peterson kicks.



But he can't break free, so it leaves him along with Michael Albasini, Volodymir Gustov, and Wilco Kelderman in one group over the top.



When it looked like a bunch sprint was dead ahead,
Peterson takes a sharp turn and opens up a gap on this tricky downhill.



And his gutsy descend is enough to get him his first stage win with EA-Sony!



Kelderman finishes 2nd and the sprint behind for 3rd, won by Davide Rebellin, surprisingly gets the same time as Kelderman.
These organizers lately have been awful.



Kessiakoff comes home in 7th, more than 2 minutes behind Peterson.
Which means he will drop from 4th to 7th in GC.

Stage

GC

Mountain