Tour de France 2008 - Stage 3 Go Will!

What an amazingly exciting stage today! I was going to go into work this morning and just catch the last 10K or so on the computer. I decided to check before loading up the work lap top, and low and behold, Will is out in the break! He took off from the start and got followed by 3 guys. The four of them got out to over a 14 minute lead and the peloton couldn't get them back. I was so thrilled for Will!!!


(Photo from Slipstreamsports.com)

My phone started to ring right at the end of the stage and I had a guess as to who it was but I couldn't find my phone fast enough to start cheering with him! John had left Ladysmith at 3am this morning and was watching the last hour. It was so fun to talk to him as Will crossed the line! John is so fun and keeps me so connected to cycling and has turned me into the fan I am. Years of following C and CSC and now Garmin and I'm not sure it gets much better. :-)

Will got 2nd in today's stage and John was quick to make sure I added a huge congrats to Will from him in my email I sent. (So funny with John as he knew I was going to be sending one!) Even my mom called this afternoon and told me to pass along big congrats! I'm going to wait a couple days on that one though as Will's poor crackberry is sure to explode soon!

I so hoped he could come around the guy at the end and he was 2nd by 1/2 a wheel. Just awesome racing! It was hard to watch Will afterwards (see below videos) be disappointed but he wouldn't be the racer without that hope. I am so proud and excited for him. His first Tour, he nails the break from the start, he does great work and getting it to the end, and the man finishes 2nd. Wow. Not a bad day for the rookie at all. If it's any indication for future stages, oh my!!!

And for Will's efforts today - he got the Most Aggressive Rider vote! It was so sweet to see him up on the podium. And the man moved up into 3rd overall on GC! I hope he had a minute to let it all soak in! And then the team moved up into first place! Woo hoo! Just a really sweet day and I am still giddy with excitement.



(Photo from Slipstreamsports.com)

Tomorrow is the Time Trial and I would expect that Fabian is going to kill it. Millar is on form right now though and so is Christian. How great it will be if they can smoke it and take over the lead. I'm also hoping Pate has a great ride but they might be holding him back for stages to come. So many great guys on the team.

I still have a load of work to get done so I am off to wrap it up. I'm sure I'll be glued to the computer with the TV on in the background with calls with John through out the morning. :-)

VN: A conversation with Ryder Hesjedal
HeraldSun: Highs and Trent Lowe's in the saddle
JulianDean: Stage 2 - Down But Not Out...

Live Chatter: CN - VN - DP - PdC1 - PdC2 - PdC Post Race

Stage 3 - Monday, July 7: Saint-Malo - Nantes, 208km
Results
1 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 5.05.27
2 William Frischkorn (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
8 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole 2.03
17 Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
19 Julian Dean (NZl) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
24 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia
25 David Millar (GBr) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
26 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
42 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
48 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
69 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
70 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
76 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
77 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
81 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
110 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 2.41
114 Danny Pate (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
118 Adam Hansen (Aus) Team Columbia
125 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 4.55
126 Trent Lowe (Aus) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
157 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Team Columbia
Most aggressive rider
1 William Frischkorn (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
General classification after stage 3
1 Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel 13.27.05
2 Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) Barloworld 0.35
3 William Frischkorn (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 1.42
8 David Millar (GBr) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 1.46
11 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
14 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole 1.52
19 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia
20 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
25 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
31 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
34 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
56 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 2.30
57 Julian Dean (NZl) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 2.37
65 Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 2.46
66 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
91 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 3.45
98 Adam Hansen (Aus) Team Columbia 4.23
103 Trent Lowe (Aus) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 4.44
104 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
122 Danny Pate (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 6.05
128 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Team Columbia 6.24
156 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 8.51
Teams classification
1 Garmin Chipotle 40.24.42

Garmin: Tour stage 3: Most Aggressive Frischkorn 2nd on stage, 3rd overall! Millar 8th, Team 1st overall!!
CSC: Nicki Sorensen Crashed in Dramatic Stage
CycleTo: Tour de France, Stage 3, Final 1km (video)
Spinnin'Wheel: Tour de France 2008 Stage 3: When Argyle Attacks!
Bicycling: Way to Go, Will Frischkorn
PEZ: Carmichael Sez: There's Always a Chance
TheWallStreetJournal: Tour de France Rookie Nearly Steals a Stage
TheBlogPage: Will Frischkorn? Who's he?
VN: Andrew Hood's Tour de France Notebook, stage 3
Bicycle.net: Team Garmin Counting On David Millar For Yellow Jersey Bid
BruceHildenbrand: Will's Wild Ride

VN: FreshTourKorn - Too eager
WillFrischkorn: Space Legs
RyderHesjedal: Chaos!

GrahamWatsonPhotos: Stage 3
TeamCSCSaxoBank: Tour de France
TeamGarminPhotos: Tour de France

VeloNews TV:
Tour de France 2008: Stage 3 race highlight
Stage 3: Post race w/2nd place stage finisher - Garmin's Will Frischkorn
Stage 3: Post race with Garmin's team manager Jonathan Vaughters.
Stage 3: VN TV RD w/ Team Columbia's George Hincapie.
Stage 3: VN TV RD w/ Garmin Chipotle's Magnus Backstedt.
Rider Poll: Thoughts on this year's lack of bonus time.

Versus:
Will Frischkorn Post-Stage 3 Interview
No Time Bonuses?
Wiping The Slate Clean (Slipstream)
Wrapped Around The Brakes (Maaskant)
Danny Pate Pre-Stage 3 Interview

CV TV (formerly TBR):
Will Frischkorn Interview Stage 3 - Drove the break and nearly took the stage
Columbia's Eisel Provides Some Nice Comic Relief After A Tough Stage 3.
Christian Vande Velde Gives Us Some Details From Stage 3.