COURSE: This twisting course, half in Belgium, half in France,is evocative of the spring classics. It includes sections of the Tour ofFlanders course (the Meerbeke finish line at 42km, and part of the Murde Grammont at 61km) and two sectors of Paris-Roubaix cobblestones at Wandignies (146km) and Gruson (185km).

FAVORITES: Should the cobblestones and weather be factors, expecta breakaway with riders like Tom Boonen and Leif Hoste to succeed, especiallywith a technical finale that makes it hard for teams to organize a chase.Otherwise, the 1400-meter-long finish straight should favor Petacchi.

STAGE 3 July 06 Waterloo - Wasquehal (121.173mi/195km)

HISTORY: The Tour hasn’t included any Roubaix style cobblestonessince the 1980s, and if a big peloton hits the pavé in wet conditions,there could be some unfortunate crashes.