Trent Lowe, Dan Martin Route du Sud stage 3Despite the unrelenting heat and punishing grades of the Pyrénées range, Team Garmin-Chipotle H3O perfectly executed today’s plan to put Dan Martin (above center) in the 2008 Route du Sud leader’s jersey. With Trent Lowe (above left) to help deliver him on the final Super Bagneres climb, the young Irish neo-pro attacked in the final kilometers to finish the stage a brilliant and hard fought fourth, a move that put him in the race leader’s jersey.

The action for this four-climb stage kicked in early with a break forming in Bareges, just before the day’s first challenge, the Col du Tourmalet. With no real contenders in the dirty dozen or so, the peloton let the group get a gap of just over 13 minutes before the race leader’s team - Bretagne-Armor Lux - started the chase. Then, with 54 km to go, Christophe Moreau (above right) attacked on the Col du Val Louron taking race leader Noan Lelarge, Dan Martin and a few other top contenders with him.

As the Martin/Moreau counter-attack group quickly opened a gap on the peloton, a third chase group formed with Trent Lowe and Tom Peterson coming to Dan’s aid. Trent and Tom caught up with Dan on the Peyresourde descent with 10 km to go. Riding tempo, Tom and then finally Trent delivered Dan in fine form for the final effort. In the last 4 km, Dan countered an attack from Luca Pierfelici and handily dropped Moreau finishing just behind the remaining riders from the original breakaway.

Tomorrow’s final stage 207 km stage 4 from Saint Gaudens to Castres has no major challenges but does include three category three climbs and a finishing circuit in Castres. Every member of Team Garmin-Chipotle H3O will be working hard to protect young Dan from Christophe Moreau and the Agritubel boys.

Team Garmin-Chipotle H30 stage 3 results
1. Przemyslaw Niemiec 5h58′00″
2. Kevin De Weert +30″
3. Julien Loubet +1′31″

4. Dan Martin +1′37″
13. Trent Lowe +7′18
29. Tom Peterson +21′07″
31. Christophe Laurent +24′41″
38. Will Frischkorn +32′54″
43. Tom Danielson +34′39″
53. Tyler Farrar +34′39″
DNF Kilian Patour

Team Garmin-Chipotle H30 GC
1. Dan Martin 11h29′45″
2. Christophe Moreau +1′42
3. Luca Pierfelici +2′58
19. Trent Lowe +43′02″
32. Tom Peterson +59′21″
36. Christophe Laurent +1h02′01″
58. Tom Danielson +1h12′43″
77. Will Frischkorn +1h15′46″
83. Tyler Farrar +1h16′25″