TDF Stages 1-3 (spoiler if you have not heard about stage 3!)

Well, the TDF is off and running or should I have said riding! Seems like a lot of folks have given up and are not watching since there are no real dominating Americans racing this year. To that I say "WHAT?" For the, I think first time ever we have two American sponsored teams racing that have a good chance at putting riders on the podium. Not so sure about in Paris but there is still a chance. Team Garmin-Chipotle which up until a few weeks ago was call Team Slipstream and Team Columbia which was Team High Road a couple weeks ago and last year was T-Mobile.
These two teams have the potential to place someone and win stages.

So, Stage 1 of the TDF was won by Alejandro Valverde. He is one of the favorites to be on the podium in Paris. He would wear the yellow jersey (race leader) in Stage 2.

Stage 2 was won by my Norske man Thor Hushvold, ok, then there, don't ya know! He had a great lead out and won the sprint! This still left Alejandro Valverde in the yellow jersey.

SPOILER............Don't read if you do not want to know what happened and would rather watch the recap show on Versus tonight!
Stage 3 was something! I of course follow along on the work computer, while working! As many of you know there is ALWAYS a break-away group and usually the break-away group gets caught at some point during the end of the race but NOT TODAY! Four guys broke out and an American was one of them! Yes, you heard it.....Team Garmin Chipotle had William Frischkorn in the break-away. Romain Feillu won the stage, Frischkorn was second and Samuel Dumoullin was third. This takes the yellow away from Valverde and puts it on Dumoullin's back which means leads the GC (general classification) at this point and Frischkorn jumps up to 3rd in the GC! Valverde drops to 4th. Frischkorn is only 1m42s back from Dumoullin. The other top American GC overall standings include George Hincappie (Team Columbia) and Christian Vandevelde (Garmin Chipotle) both 1m52s back and in 19th and 25th spots respectively. Way to go guys!

More news.....Garmin Chipotle leads the team division and Frischkorn was named the more combative rider after stage 3, no this does not mean he likes to hit people, but it means he was the most aggressive meaning attacking or pushing the lead and riding out front.

There is a lot of tour left so this could be a fun one to watch unfold!