Live Coverage: Paris-Nice, Stage 3

to Velonews.com’s Live Coverage of the third stage of the 66th edition of Paris-Nice, a 65.5-km jaunt between Fleurie and St Etienne.

The riders left Fleurie this morning at 11:45.

We had three riders dip their toes into the breakaway water today just 8km from the start. Kjell Carlstrom (Liquigas), Australian Bradley McGee (CSC) and France’s Clement Lhotellerie (Skil Shimano) bumped off the peloton and quickly built up a 2-minute lead.

By the 20th kilometer, they had over 5 minutes.

The three have passed over the first rated climb, the Cote de Plantigny at kilometer 28. Carlstrom took the points, followed by McGee and Lhotellerie. The peloton is 11:30 behind.

He may have been sent off by Skil-Shimano to protect Thierry Hupond’s's KOM lead. Or to try to improve upon Hupond’s almost-successful long break yesterday. In any case, the chase does not appear interested.

We wanted to start today by honoring Trek Bicycles founder Dick Burke, who died Monday night in Milwaukee.

Burke, who was originally in the appliance business, launched Trek in a Wisconsin barn in the 1970s, seeing a need for U.S.-made high end bikes. The company is now a $700 million operation, run by Dick’s son John.

We met Dick a few times and were struck by his passion, not just for his company but for the bike industry and the sport of cycling in general. We send our condolences to John and the rest of the family at this sad time.

It’s another cool and wet one in France. The high temperature forecast for the region is 50 degrees F and there is a 70 percent chance of rain.

We are already over the first rated climbm but there’s more to come on this tough stage.
At 94.5km, we have the second-category Cote de St Martin-en-haut, then the Cote de l’Aubepin, another second cat, at 108.5km.

The third-category Cote de la Croix blanche comes at km 122, then the crux is the first-category Col de la Croix de Chaubouret at kilometer 147.

Starting today, we have Hushovd in yellow, followed by two-stage winner Gert Steegmans at 3 seconds and Jerome Pineau at 23 seconds.

The lead of the three escapees is 10:55.

Back in Massachusetts, a long-planned tribute to early cycling great Major Taylor is set to be unveiled in Worcester this spring.

A group there has been trying since the late 1990s to build a monument to Taylor, who was born in Indiana, but lived in Worcester later in life. The 10-foot sculpture will be dedicated May 21. Greg LeMond and others will be at the unveling, according to the Worcester Telegram.

We journalists use the word “unveil” a little too often. But it’s great when a sculpture — as opposed to a new bike or a health care plan — is unveiled because often it is, literally, unveiled. So of course we often choose another word.

One of today’s intermediate sprints is dedicated to Andrei Kivilev, the Kazach rider who died in 2003 after crashing in St. Chamond, shortly before the Croix de Chaubouret climb.

The gap is now 7:55

The riders still have about 20km to go to the first sprint. And about 105 to the finish.

All the big teams seem content to sit in for a bit. One rider to watch later today is Cofidis’ Sylvain Chavanel.

Team director Francis Van Londersele says the young climber will wait until tomorrow’s Ventoux climb to make his mark. But he also warned that Chavanel will need to stay with the leaders on today’s cat. 1 final climb, the Croix de Chaubouret, to stay in contention.

“Sylvain just needs to be in this group. He’s in great form, he’s confident but he’s not going for the overall standings yet, ” he said.

At km79 in Brindas, Carlstrom took the 1st place points followed by Lhotellerie and McGee.

is back up to more than 9 minutes

Andrew Hood says the weather is much improved: ” Temperatures are in the mid-60s here in St. Etienne. High clouds, but only slight chance of rain. There’s a crisp breeze atop the day’s Cat. 1 climb that will surely be a factor later in the stage. The hurricane has left the building.”

Andrew drove the course this morning and says that final climb is a leg breaker: “The Cat. 1 Col de la Croix de Chambouret is very hard and could easily break apart the race if someone tries to drop the hammer.

“This stage typically produces the leading candidate for overall victory. Of course, with Ventoux back on the menu for the first time in 20 years, that changes everything.”

The three are now approaching the feed zone in Thurins, which is at the 86km mark. Last time check has them at just under 9 minutes.

Slipstream-Chipotle has a couple riders to watch on the GC, Trent Lowe, the young Australian now sitting 5th and of course David Millar, sitting 7th.

Team boss says both riders have a shot. “We hope to get them to the base of the Ventoux (Thursday) to be able to give it a run. It will be hard for Millar. Lowe is climbing well right now and he could surprise people. He was easily staying with Contador at Valencia. I know that’s not Ventoux, but it’s a good sign.”

The 16km final climb will certainly bust up the bunch if it hasn’t already. The lower and middle sections of the climb are open to strong winds, mostly cross-tailwinds. The upper reaches pass through dense forest and will protect attacking riders. The summit is mostly flat for about 4km before dropping 15km to the finish.

The three are now starting the first real climb, the Cote de St Martin en Haut. It’s raining steadily but they seem to be holding their own as they start up. Behind, the pack seems to be picking up speed, we may see the time gap start to shrink.

Paris-Nice of course is not the only girl in town this week. Over in Italy the Tirenno-Adriatico gets underway today. Many of the Milan San-Remo favorites, including Paolo Bettini, Tom Boonen, Igor Astarloa and Oscar Freire, are tuning up there. Thor Hushovd, of course, is using Paris-Nice as a tune up.

That’s the latest gap. The three leaders have crossed over the Cote, at 94.5km. Clement Lhotellerie was first over.

With about 63 km to go the three are working well together. The sun is shining a bit, although there still are some sprinkles.

To bring you back up to speed, we have three riders off the front. The trio, which took off just 8km from the start, now has about 7:10:
Kjell Carlstrom (Liquigas),
Bradley McGee (CSC) and
Clement Lhotellerie (Skil Shimano)

The three are starting up the next climb. Their gap is just over 7 minutes.

Caisse d’Epargne’s Luis Sanchez told Andrew Hood he’s hopeful ahead of Thursday’s stage: “I’m been going OK. I had a small crash with 5km to go Monday, but made it through yesterday. It’s been very hard so far. (Today) will not be easy. You can only hope the legs respond and someone doesn’t gain too much time. Ventoux should decide everything. You never know how you will do so early in the season.”

Sanchez won a stage last year into Cannes and finished third.

the three are climbing well, working together, on the handlebar tops in the small rings … the gap is 7:30

is still altogether. We see some Rabo riders up there at the front, but there’s still not a lot of urgency

After the break passed over, Benat Intxautsi grabbed the 4th place KOM points, ahrad of yesterday’s long break hero, Thierry Hupond, who is in the KOM jersey.

We are thankful that we are doing text coverage so we don’t have to pronounce Intxautsi’s name. Spelling it is good finger exercise, however. If any fans can provide a pronouncer, we’d appreciate it.

The three are over the Cote de l’Aubepin and are descending with still about 7 minute’s gap. Lhotellerie took the points at the top, followed by McGee and Carlstrom.

before the leaders hit the 3rd category Cote de la Croix Blanche.

is getting a bit of a gap on the not-too-fast descent. The wind is blustery and the rain is stinging the riders. McGee looks like he’s enjoyed better days.

A few riders are spilling out the back as the peloton digs up the climb. Tyler Farrar, who was briefly in the leader’s jersey at the Tour of California this year, is struggling to stay in contact.

is leading the chase, perhaps hoping to spring Robert Gesink — another 2008 TOC hero — on the last climbs.

haven’t had a time check in a while. The trio is heading toward the penultimate climb, they were giving each other a lot of room on the descent, with McGee often hanging back …

over the rail on the descent. he’s getting up with a new bike.

the French road champion is gapping the peloton on the climb

Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) also fell on the descent, but he appears to be back up and rolling

the gap to the three, with 40k to go

Moreau knows these roads. He won a Dauphine Libere stage in St Etienne last year.

Our leader is visible near the front of the peloton.

Is getting sucked up on the descent

Carlstrom took the Andrei Kivilev memorial sprint at 131km. They are at about 5 minutes gap.

the race leader used the tricky, wet descent to bridge up to Moreau and friends. There are now the four of them with a bit of gap.

has hit the big climb.

Once we get over the day’s biggest climb, the descent is wide-open over good roads, so that will help an organized chase against the break, if it still has a gap. The course turns into the wind and they will be battling head-crosswinds coming into St. Etienne

It’s a fast finish in St. Etienne, with some fast, tight turns in the final 5km. There’s a sweeping right-hander with 600m to go. From there, it’s a slight rise in a straight run to the line.

a group of ten formed, with Hushovd, but Moreau is not giving up

the leader can’t stay with the front group as it hits the climb

with 29.5km to go we have the three long-break men away with about 4 minutes, then a group of six containing Damiano Cunego, Moreau and Yaroslv Popovych. Hushovd has (gracefully) blown. The peloton is still being led by Rabobank. They are on the last climb

in the lead group, at 3.11, Lhotellerie is trying to get away from his companions on the climb

is working hard, with Lhotellerie at the front. It’s a tough climb, but they have 3.13 and they look fresh. Can they make it?

the Popyvych-Conego group has been caught. Rabobank pulled ‘em back

An Agritubel rider is taking a shot

Sylvain Chavanel is attacking, with Cunego … the pack is blowing apart at the front and the back

gap is 3.11

Kjell Carlstrom and Clement Lhotellerie have dropped the CSC rider

started the day in 6th, 30 seconds out of first.

David Millar is no longer with what’s left of the peloton. Slipstream’s White Jersey Trent Lowe also is off the pace.

on the road we have Carlstrom and Lhotellerrie, followed by Brad McGee.

Behind, a group is battling it out on the lower slopes. It contains Kreuziger, Sylvain Chavanel, Gonzalo, Ramirez, Carlos Barredo and Cunego.

Chavanel is the big GC threat here. He could be in yellow if this holds. They have about 21 km to go to the finish.

Chavanel is sitting on him, looking to be at his limit

The sun is out and the riders are in no condition to enjoy it. Actually, Hushovd might be enjoying it; he gave a big smile to the cameras a minute ago as his time in yellow ends …

the lead two – Carlstrom and Lhotellerie – have passed the 20k to go. haven’t seen a time gap in a bit … they are riding well, they likely will go over the top with a gap, and Lhotellerie will get some more KOM points.

the Cunego-Chavanel group has caught McGee

they have more than a minute gap. can they hold it?

whether he stays away to the finish or not, he will take over the polka dot jersey from his teammate, Thierry Hupond

the lead duo had a 1.40 gap over Chavanel and Cunego at the summit

The Liquigas rider is the third rider with Damiano Cunego and Sylvain Chavanel. the three have about 40 seconds on the next group over the climb.

the Chavanel-Cunego group is being caught on the descent by an elite group. This group will make up the top of the GC list at the end of the day

has 3 Cofidis teammates in this group and he appears to be the best placed GC rider here …

so on the road, we still have Carlstrom and Lhotellerie off the front, with about 1 1/2 minutes on a group of 15 containing Chavanel, Popyvych, Moreau, Gesink and others.

has 1.06, they are flying down this descent

three Cofidis at the front, trying to pull back the two and get Chavanel as much times possible

nothing like a flat on a 80kmh descent. he stays up

It’s not clear where he is. Race radio is reporting he’s in the lead 15, but we don’t see him … he’s ahead of Chavanel on GC

is entering St. Etiennne. they have about 2k to go

has 1.16 on the chase

with 1k to go

They will finish in the sun – a happy sight

seems uninterested in the sprint, he’s been pulling for the last 2 k

takes the win, after 150+ km off the front

are in the chase, separated by a couple seconds on GC

was in the lead group, but behind Chavanel – Kroon may be in yellow …

The top five placings:
1. Carlstrom
2. Lhotellerie
3. Pierre Rolland(France, CA)
4. Rebellin
5. Kreuziger

he was not quite in contact with the chase group when they crossed the line. He started the day 7 seconds AHEAD of Chavanel …

Kroon is second by 2 seconds

thanks for following along on another exciting day. Tune in tomorrow for the race’s real Hump Day, the 176km ride from Montelimar to Mont Ventoux.