The final climb up “Brittany’s Alpe d’Huez” in Mûr-de-Bretagne provided the promised fireworks. Fränk Schleck finished in a select group of ten riders who formed when Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank SunGard) attacked 1.3 kilometers from the finish in a failed attempt to gain back time he lost on the first two stages. Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) responded first, and as other jumped to follow suit, Fränk did the same. Cadel Evans (BMC) would narrowly edge out Contador for the stage win. Fränk finished seventh on the stage and leapfrogged to third on the overall general classification where remains four seconds behind race leader Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervélo).

“The sprint uphill felt good, and I was happy to follow,” said Fränk. “It didn’t surprise me tremendously that Contador attacked. This was more or less what we expected.”

It was a wet, dreary day in Brittany as the field set off from Lorient. The lumpy stage of 172 kilometers was deceptively challenging. Yesterday, Sports Director Kim Andersen said he expected the stage to deliver surprises.

A five-rider break disappeared up the road nine kilometers into the race. Omega Pharma-Lotto and BMC shared pace-making responsibilities to keep the quintet’s advantage between two and three minutes until the final thirty kilometers. As the peloton began the run-in to the finish, Garmin-Cervélo sent Dave Zabriskie to take a long pull. His turn brought the gap down to 1:30 as the field rode under the 20 kilometer banner.

Fifteen kilometers from the finish, Fabian Cancellara shepherded the Schlecks toward the front of the bunch. Cancellara, Stuart O’Grady, Linus Gerdemann and Maxime Monfort set a frenzied pace that saw riders get gapped off the back. With the pace increase came an increase in nerves, and the overall contenders began to scramble to the front to ensure their safety.

The early break rejoined the field four kilometers from the line, and BMC took a turn at the front on the false flat before the climb proper. As the pack hit the climb, the pace makers turned the screws further. Contador jumped from a field that already appeared to be sprinting full gas uphill.

“I was a bit trapped in the bunch when Contador attacked for the first time, and I missed the selection,” explained Andy Schleck. “A punch like this isn’t my speciality, so it wasn’t surprising that I lost a couple seconds today. It’s far from a disaster. Seven or eight seconds shouldn’t have much consequence in the overall result of the Tour.”

Hushovd surprised with his ability to hang with the front group and retain his hold on the yellow jersey. He continues to lead Evans by one second. Fränk's finish allows him to advance to third overall while Andy and Jakob Fuglsang round out the top-ten on general classification in ninth and tenth respectively.

“The places are not important yet although third on general classification for Fränk is nice,” explained Andersen. “It is the time that is important. Andy is only 12 seconds back at this junction, and this is nothing to worry about.”

Stage five is another relatively short day that could deliver a surprise as the race hugs the coast from kilometer 70. Winds often pick up strongly off the English Channel, and if conditions necessitate echelons, riders may see gaps formed. Easier conditions are likely to deliver a hotly contested sprint finish in Cap Fréhel.