Tour de France Preview Stage 4, July 7th

"Sometimes you're the hammer, sometimes you're the nail." - Lance Armstrong after the Arenberg Stage 3.

Well I predicted some dreams would end on the cobbles today, and for a while it looked like all of the anticipation was going to be much about nothing. The first sections of cobblestones went almost without incident, then all hell broke loose. The action was happening so fast and so furious, I couldn't keep up with the two computers and live TV I had running concurrently. Big winners on the day Andy Schleck (previously the big whiner about today's stage), Cadel Evans, and Bradley Wiggins, Mechov and Pistelero, all of whom gained time back and vaulted up the overall standings. Lance had an unfortunate flat 10k from the finish when everyone was full on gas through the most decisive cobbles of the day. Chavanel lost his Yellow jersey just one day after so gallantly earning the right to wear it. Whew!! We're only heading into day 5!

Stage 4, July 7th Cambrai to Reims is pretty straight up and should see this tour's first real sprint finish. Cavendish has been unimpressive, Farrar is busted up. Look for Freire or "The God of Thunder", Thor Hushovd to take the stage win and the peloton to take a breath.