The third stage consisted of 198km of generally flat road. The distance was covered in an average speed of 41.5kph with a typical value of 180 – 210 TSS (Training Stress Score). The riders spent 4:40:21 in the saddle today. It is worth pointing out that these values are based on a typical rider sheltering in the peleton for the stage. Riders who engage in breakaways could score values as high as 250 – 300 on their TSS. Such efforts and even higher efforts of up 375 – 400 can be seen from time to time. For instance Paris Roubaix winner Johan van Summeren had a TSS of 375 for this years win. Such efforts take days to recover from. During a one day classic this is fine as the rider most likely has the rest of the week to recover but during the tour he has to get back on his bike the next day and do it all again.