Today may have been the last stage in Belgium and only the third stage but it will certainly go down in memory as the first pivotal stage in this tour.

Having done nothing so far in the tour Tecel were the first to attack with Macias, who looked strong as he broke from the peloton. In a stark contrast to the previous stage pretty much every rider who attacked today made the break, although Standard Chartered and Kulalu were riding hard early on which may have nullified the break. The break was easily established within the first 25 kilometres.

The full nine man break: Nazaret (BDB), Puccio (BZQ), Konovalovas (NEL), Wu (PCA), Hester (SSL), Valach (STM), Macias (TCL), Dean (TNA) and Rollin (HEY) who looked the strongest and was best placed in the GC @ "21.
The weather was again bleaky and showers were coming and going regularly.

With 112 km to go the only immediate sprint was up of which half the break contested. The break had an advantage of around 9 minutes over the peloton which was being driven along by Standard Chartered, Redbull Nissan, Iran Khodro and Kulalu. Behind there weren't as many points on offer as yesterday but some riders gave it a good go especially Andriato (BDB), Phinney (IKO) and Chavanel (PVE). Interestingly Redbull were riding hard on the front yet Napolitano didn't contest the sprint.

Results at intermediate sprint

After yesterdays efforts KOM jersey wearer Finetto (SSL) was protected by atleast three teammates including both Turks at the rear of the peloton.

Unlike yesterday the break was well in control. With strong riders such as Rosseler (SCD) and Vigano (RBL) on the front it was no surprise. With 80 kilometres to go the gap was 6 minutes 40 kilometres to go the gap was just over 2 minutes.

With 30 kilometres to go the rain came down... and it only came down harder. The Peloton was now being driven along solely by the sprinters teams, Standard Chartered, Kulalu and most of all Redbull, who had Vigano amongst others pulling back the break when he would usually be considered a leadout man.

About half way down the peloton believed to be started by Rasch there is huge crash almost splitting the peloton into two exactly, with 105 riders being involved in the pile up. The majority of sprinters were at the head of the race so they were unharmed, surely some GC favourites were caught up/.........OH MY......

Telecom Namibia riders Radochla and Craven have been called back that can only mean one thing.......Gadret Crashed. Gadret Crashed...Gadret Crashed
He had as well and so had GC favourite Rujano. Craven and Radochla were giving it there all but were going no where near fast enough as the sprint trains on the main peloton.

Amidst all this pandemonium a stage was being fought over. Redbull had the first sprint train with Trussov and Briggs ahead of Napolitano it was looking good.

But they launched way way to early and buckled, they really could have used Vigano in the leadout. Redbull gets swamped by the leadouts of Standard Chartered and Kulalu. Napolitano has to search for a new wheel to follow and..... can't do it.

After an epic leadout by Kwiatkowski, Hinault has a huge gap. Stage win for Standard Chartered, what a stage what a win.

The Gadret/ Rujano group comes in @ 4:01 led by Slovak Telecom, is this there GC over?

If the news wasn't bad enough for Pulso Verde it just got a whole lot worse........ Yesterdays 3rd place Schumacher (PVE) crashed heavily and had to withdrawal.

A great sprint from Andriato gets Banco do Brasil a podium and Richese with no leadout gets fourth.

Phinney holds on to yellow but the top 10 is very different.

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