Tour de France riders embark on cobblestone treachery in 3rd stage

Tour riders enter cobblestone showdown

WANZE, Belgium — Tour de France riders have started the most treacherous stage of the first week — facing seven bumpy sections of cobblestones as the race heads home to France.

France’s Sylvain Chavanel is wearing the yellow jersey for Tuesday’s 132-mile rolling ride from Wanze to Arenberg Porte du Hainaut. He was among the lucky riders who avoided crashes a day earlier.

Seven-time Tour champion Lance Armstrong and defending champ Alberto Contador of Spain were among dozens of riders who hit the asphalt. Armstrong is fifth overall, and Contador is seventh.

American Christian Vande Velde was one of two riders who crashed out. The Garmin-Transitions team leader broke two ribs in a spill during Monday’s ride from Brussels to Spa.

The three-week race ends on July 25 in Paris.