Result: Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervelo) won Stage Three in a bunch sprint ahead of Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil) and José Joaquin Rojas (Movistar).
Here’s how it happened: After the hectic finish to Stage One and yesterday’s unusually close team time trial, today’s 198km stage from Olonne-Sur-Mer to Redon was as standard as it gets in the Tour de France.
A breakaway of five riders were allowed up the road for the entire day. With less than ten kilometres to the finish they were caught and a bunch sprint followed. Farrar was led all the way to the finish line by the World Champion and current yellow jersey wearer Thor Hushovd.
As Farrar crossed the line, he formed a ‘W’ with his hands in tribute to his best friend Wouter Weylandt who tragically lost his life on a stage of the Giro d’Italia in May.
The Big Winner: The Garmin-Cervelo team. After their victory in yesterday’s team time trial, this is their second stage win in a row, they had previously never won a stage of the Tour de France.
As one of cycling’s top teams, the lack of a Tour stage win was a massive gap on their C.V. With Thor Hushovd also wearing the yellow jersey, these past two days have more than made up for the previous unfrutiful years in France.
It was also Tyler Farrar’s first ever Tour de France stage win. He has now joined the club of riders who have won a stage in all three of cycling’s Grand Tours.
An Amercian stage winner on an American team, on Independence Day. Perfect.
The Big Loser: Mark Cavendish. His HTC-High Road team had complete control of the peloton coming into the final kilometre. But the lead-out train for the Manxman seemed to run out of riders too soon as one by one they wore themselves out on the front.
With 500 metres to go a couple of riders became entangled and were forced wide on the final corner which meant those behind had to slow right down. Amid the resulting confusion, Cavendish lost his position and the stage win was gone.
Despite his enormous amount of victories, Cavendish has made something of a habit of not winning the first sprint stage in Grand Tours. But rest assured, he will be back and he will undoubtedly add to his tally of 15 Tour de France stage wins before we reach Paris.
What about the Irish? Nicolas Roche finished safely in the bunch in 33rd place along with all the big favourites. He remains in 41st place overall, 53 seconds behind Thor Hushovd.
What happens tomorrow? The finish of Stage Four is rather similar to that of Stage One which was won by Philippe Gilbert. There is a 2km climb to the finish line up the Mur de Bretagne which means there will be time gaps appearing between riders. This should see a slight shakeup in the general classification and we will most likely see a new wearer of the yellow jersey.
In case Gilbert needed an extra incentive to win, it’s also his birthday tomorrow. It would take a very brave man to bet against him winning his second stage of the race.
Thanks for everything, you owe Dublin football nothing. Enjoy the break and best wishes going forward.
Seven all-ireland medals is some haul, Ciarán kilkenny at 27 years of age already has seven, he could end up with twelve, enjoy your retirement paddy
@Ronny Phelan: the poor old Mayo boys have none. Sad really.
@Sean: the only thing that’s sad is your obsession to bring up Mayo, even though this article has nothing to do with them.
@Sean: There happens to be an awful lot more than the Mayo boys without a single medal… Why single out the Mayo boys?
@Sean: it’s not about mayo, it’s about Paddy Andrews man. Jesus leave them alone. Great people and resilient.
Paddy is a dublin legend and a total gentleman in the flesh. As are all the lads.
Have a great and fulfilling life paddy!
@Ronny Phelan: 12 medals at 1.6 million a medal
@Ronny Phelan: 12 medals at 1.66 million a medal
@Jim Beatty: jesus you’re good at maths aren’t you. Wow man impressive
@Jim Beatty: well done Jim.
@Jim Beatty: paddy age means funding has had zero impact on his ability Jim. But once again don’t let facts get in the way of a bitter grown man having a cry on a public forum
@Jim Beatty: give yourself a chocolate gold medal in senior infants maths there lad. Cost 50c.
@my name: who said I was on about Paddy
Once again don’t let the facts get in the way
You don’t have a clue what you are on about
@Jim Beatty: you’re still crying in public I see
@my name: and you are still doing a ‘trump’ on it, by not been able to accept reality
Your hero trump lost the election, your favourite GAA team is financially doped, get over it
@my name: what did Dublin football win before the financial doping
Fcuk all …
@Jim Beatty: stop liking your own posts Jim. Kilkenny (even though you’re miles off topic again) comes from great stock no matter what you think of him. When you were on here as @@. You said he couldn’t play football even though he was current footballer of the year. And was man of the match n that final
If you know anything at all about football you’ll have heard of Sean Purcell, Kilkenny is related to him so he has pedigree to burn
@my name: the name of the sport is Gaelic FOOTball
Kilkenny might go through his full inter county career with less than a dozen foot passes which is a poor indictment on his FOOTballing ability
He is the best hand passer in the country but it is not basketball he is playing
@my name: you operated another handle on here for a while yourself, have you forgotten that already
@Jim Beatty: you clearly haven’t a clue about football Jim and just hope you don’t coach any kids your view of how the game is played. Check out his scoring stats, you’ll be doing yourself a favour
@my name: it’s football mate
And the fact that you hero worship a player that can go a full 70 mins of FOOTball without kick passing once shows how little you know about the game
You really should stay 1 million miles away from coaching kids
Here is another astonishing stat for you. Ciaran Kilkenny played the full 70 min again Mayo in the 2019 semi final and he did not kick once, not even ONCE. Wow
The lad belongs on a basketball court
@Jim Beatty: you’re making a show of your utter lack of football knowledge. He’s an integral part of Dublin’s build up play, the amount of scores he sets up is second to none Jim. Did you check his scoring stats, how many All Stars have his peers deemed him a worthy winner of, footballer of the year is the only hint I’ll give you. You should really go and work it out for yourself buddy. It’s might however take you some time but hang in with it, it’ll change your world
@my name: so you are saying I am wrong about the game against mayo in 2019
He did not kick the ball once
Are you now saying this is a lie ?
Like you claimed Tom Ryan was lying when he said that the 20 million had greatly help Dublin win all irelands
You are so deluded, your hero trump has nothing on you
@Jim Beatty: who won the game Jim? Point out where I called you a liar. I’m saying you have no comprehension of football tactics
@my name: it’s you that has no comprehension of what football is
You laud a player that goes 70 min in an all ireland semi final and does not kick the ball once
You should not be allowed next or near any kids for coaching with that sort of football philosophy
It’s called football for a reason, the ball is to be kicked
It is not called hand pass ball
@Jim Beatty: nobody, and I mean nobody, can lecture a dub on football.. We are the globetrotters of the GAA. We will continue to try and show you the path… You and every other culchie shud up and pay attention.. No offence to culchies..
@Jim Beatty: hand passing has been part of the game since 1884 buddy. You have that little of a clue about football or the tactics involved in the winning of a game. Ciaran Kilkenny walks on to any team in the country
@Jim Beatty: I’m saying you’re wrong as he kicked the ball in for Con to score his second against the numpty Keegan.
Facts he said! Facts! Have yourself a nice cuppa tea and a bickie there Jimbo
@TheHospitalPass: there’s Jim calling everyone Trump and saying they’re spouting lies.
The lad couldn’t tell a truth if he tried. Here’s your evidence Jimbo
https://youtu.be/3MXu3WlUfGI
@TheHospitalPass: the couple of shoulders he throws to Keegan going back into position are beauts
@Jim Beatty: god Jim you couldn’t make it up. After your rant last night, what happens today? Kilkenny with another FOOTballer of the year nominations
A brilliant servant and career with his county. Thank you very much Paddy
Great player, great name, thanks for helping to keep Sam at home for so long
Brilliant career.
I can see MDMA, Kevin Mc, Philly Mc, Cian O Sullivan, Rory O Caroll announcing a retirement before next season starts.
Thanks so much for everything. You played with 100% heart every time. I wish you all the best for your future
Brilliant servant to and ambassador for the game. An agile and nippy forward who could shoot off both feet and who came back from a nasty broken jaw injury in 2019. Thanks for all of the memories Paddy.
Paddy thanks for all the great days.you dreamed as a kid to win one all Ireland.you have 7.congratulalations winner
Fantastic player ; would walk on any other team in the country!
Mad that he played corner back in the startled earwig game. Thought he deserved an All Star in 2015
@Conor Pocock: he was the difference between Mayo and Dublin in the replay until Dublin walked away with it with 10 minutes to go.
I wonder how this announcement will sit with Joe Brolly, he has a grá for the dubs so he might allow it, I think it’s primarily Mayo he hates (ps I’m not from Mayo, so I think more power to them all if they want to make public announcements of retirement, there’s no harm in it, and gives them an opportunity to thank those that have helped them, and they can receive a bit of well deserved recognition for their efforts too)
Up the rebels we be back soon :)
@Mark Murphy: back down home with no medal.
@Cosmos20202020: if the other 31 counties want a Sam medal, they should come to Dublin for the weekend, they might find one in their change.
Well done on a great career, and thanks for the enjoyment you provided.