When was the last time, if ever, that someone started a Tour of any reputable standing by winning the first three stages in a row? Step forward Peter Sagan of Slovakia, who at just 22 years of age he fast becoming the finest young talent in world cycling. With the time-bonuses that come for crossing the line first, the Liquigas-Connondale rider has built a 12sec lead over Henrich Haussler despite each of the wins coming in bunch gallops.
Which brings us to the second question: When was the last time, if ever, that someone started a Tour of any reputable standing by coming second in the first three stages? Step forward Haussler who if it wasn't for Sagan's parents moment of romance twenty-two years ago plus nine-months, he would be the man everyone was talking about winning three stages to start the Tour of California.
As it is, Sagan has made Haussler his whipping boy, while Haussler has made everyone else his. Stage four will bring about the obvious question: Can it happen again? Can Sagan win for a forth time, can Haussler finish second once more? It's highly unlikely but we'll all be hoping for it, right? Well, those running the event, those looking for a bit of variety, perhaps also the podium girls sick of the sight of Sagan, will all hope for a shake up to the result on the line this evening.
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Rodriguez adds a stage win and minor time gap to his continued accumulation of time bonuses
You have to hand it to Joaquim Rodriguez. Like everyone else he has known about the time bonus' available on the line from the beginning and he has been trying to go after them as much as possible to close his gap to the top of the general classification. Then yesterday, he got a gap on his rivals just before the line to win the stage and to add not just the time bonus, but also some genuine time and move into the Pink jersey.
Ryder Hesjedal came in six seconds back but it wasn't enough though I dare say he'll be content enough not to have to defend now. The key here for him is to remain as close to Rodriguez as possible on the climbs then try blow him away in the final time-trial.
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Le Tour de Scotland
Reports have surfaced that Scotland would like to host the opening stage of the 2017 Tour de France in Edinburgh with subsequent stages running through the country and down into England before they would gave the race back to the French. The Tour hasn't been on the British mainland since it opened in London in 2007 with previous stops in 1994 and 1974.
