Sylvain Chavanel (file photo)
Stage 3: Orval – Vichy
The first climb of the race was the Cote de Croix du Chene, just 4.1% and 2.3 km long. It was on the Col de Besse that the peloton splintered. Contador was not with the lead group. Sylvain Chavanel was with a group that caught the 5 echappees. At 10 k from the finish, the group with Chavanel had 1’06” on the group with Contador. Chavanel won the sprint against Flecha at the finish line and now has the yellow jersey.
