Tour de France 2009 Thread - Page 2

LA GRANDE MOTTE, France -- Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong proved his Tour de France credentials once again when he climbed to third overall following a spectacular third stage on Monday. Briton Mark Cavendish snatched the stage victory after 122 miles from Marseille to La Grande Motte but the day's big winner was Armstrong, the only favorite who was not caught out by a sharp break from Team Columbia. Swiss Fabian Cancellara of the Saxo Bank team retained the overall leader's yellow jersey, finishing ahead of German Tony Martin and American Armstrong by 33 and 40 seconds respectively. Alberto Contador, who was trapped after Team Columbia's move, dropped to fourth overall. Spaniard Contador, named Astana's team leader ahead of Armstrong, slipped 19 seconds behind the 37-year-old Texan. "I am not OK with that theory saying there can be only one team leader," said Armstrong. "I have won seven Tours de France, I will have to be counted in." The peloton split into two around 24 miles from the finish after a sudden burst of acceleration by Team Columbia in strong crosswinds which surprised nearly all the favourites. "That was awesome, that was the best team effort I've been a part of in 10 years as a pro," Australian Michael Rogers said on his Twitter page. Astana's Levi Leipheimer was also trapped. "I've never seen the group split so suddenly, one second we were calm and then Columbia hit it in a very short section of crosswind," he said. Among the leading contenders, only Armstrong, back in the saddle after 3½ years in retirement, was in the front group of some 25 riders who caught four early breakaways. But the American did not help Columbia widen the gap, initially staying in the middle of the small pack with team mates Haimar Zubeldia and Yaroslav Popovych. With 9 miles remaining, however, Popovych and Zubeldia started to work with Columbia as the gap finally reached 41 seconds on the finish line. Cavendish, already a stage winner on Sunday, was the first to cross it, ahead of Norway's Thor Hushovd, who was no match for the Briton's raw power. Frenchman Cyril Lemoine was third.