Tuesday's highlight was provided by Australian rider Stuart O'Grady, who in the space of 24 hours turned the worst day of his career into arguably the best.

On Monday, he and his team let slip a wonderful opportunity to claim the famous yellow jersey.

With four riders in a 16-man break, they contrived to let dangerman Marc Wauters escape inside the last kilometre.

Why? Because they did not know exactly how far up the standings Wauters was.

Bad management and bad tactics on the road cost them and left O'Grady feeling like a man who had lost the World Cup in a penalty shoot-out.

Romance of Le Tour

Another day means another stage and, for the Australian, another chance.

While he managed to stay in the lead group on the tough run into Seraing, poor old Wauters slipped back and lost six and a half minutes - and with it the lead.

It wasn't such a bad day for him, though. He got to ride through his home town in yellow and found time to greet his family at the roadside.

Just goes to show there is an element of romance left in sport.