The third stage of the Tour de France was this year's longest, covering 236.5km from Waregem to Compiègne. While the course closely parralled the route of the great spring classic Paris-Roubaix (although in reverse), it avoided the the pave' that makes the Hell of the North as tough as it is.

Let's just say the pace was not frantic

Photo: Casey B. Gibson

Still, the stage finished in the town used as the start of Paris-Roubaix and a small stretch of well-groomed cobbles at the finish may have been all it took to inspire the yellow jersey holder, Fabian Cancellara (CSC) to make a surprising dash to the finish line. Was it because he won Paris-Roubaix in 2006? Who knows, but he pulled it off and our man Casey Gibson was there to capture some of the color of the day.