As expected, today’s stage was one of the most spectacularly dramatic events in the history of the Tour de France as the peloton had a rough and violent encounter with the French/Belgian cobblestone sections. Unfortunately, Fränk Schleck crashed and possibly broke his collarbone but teammate, Fabian Cancellara rode his way back in to the leader’s jersey after an impressive attack with Andy Schleck at his tail. Together, they dropped Alberto Contador (Astana) with almost one minute. Thor Hushovd (Cervelo) took the stage win.

As holder of the leader’s jersey, Sylvain Chavanel’s Quick Step took control of the pace on the third stage of Tour de France which 213 kilometer long course winded across the French/Belgian cobblestone sections from Wanze to the legendary Arenberg – Porte du Hainaut.

However, Quick Step didn’t prevent Steve Cummings (Team Sky), Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions), Pavel Brutt (Katusha), Pierre Rolland (Bbox Bouygues Telecom), Roger Kluge (Milram), Stéphane Auge (Cofidis) and Imanol Erviti (Caisse d’Epargne) from escaping from the main pack in order to create a small gap before the raging peloton came thundering in on the first of seven cobblestone sections over a total of 13.2 kilometers.

When the peloton hit the bone breaking French/Belgian cobbles, Team Saxo Bank was the ice-breaking vessel through a frozen sea of hard rock with both Danish cobblestone specialist, Matti Breschel and Aussie Stuart O’Grady at the helm. Soon, Quick Step was reduced to one man, Sylvain Chavanel as Thor Hushovd’s Cervelo Test Team emerged at the front.

With thirty kilometers to go, the tragedy occurred. Team Saxo Bank’s Fränk Schleck crashed and meeting the rough surface of the cobbles, he may have broken his collarbone and he is now out of the race.

At the front of the peloton, Team Saxo Bank’s Fabian Cancellara picked up the pace and with teammate Andy Schleck on his tail, he immediately created a gap to overall favorites, Lance Armstrong (Radioshack) and Alberto Contador (Astana) who desperately fought to close the gap.

The front group with Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin), Gerraint Thomas (Sky), Cadel Evans (BMC), Thor Hushovd (Cervelo) and Team Saxo Bank’s Fabian Cancellara and Andy Schleck reached the finish line where the Norwegian sprinter took the win. More importantly, Alberto Contador (Astana) was distanced and Fabian Cancellara is back in the leader’s jersey.

”We sacrificed the whole team on today’s stage and I think we showed everyone that we are the strongest team in the peloton. Personally, I felt great being back on the cobbles and we can be satisfied with the outcome of the stage if you don’t count the unfortunate crash by Fränk (Schleck),” was the immediate response from Matti Breschel after the stage.