I pulled a number of interesting quotes about how the split occurred and how the decision was made or justified for the three Astana members to work in the break putting time into their team leader Alberto Contador.

Mark Cavendish, winner of stage 2 and 3 for Team Columbia-HTC
“There was no tactic to split the field,” Cavendish said in the finish in La Grande-Motte. “We knew it was going to be windy, so it was a case of staying in the front. Saxo Bank rode all day, they did a perfect job, and there was no other team of sprinters who wanted to take the race on. It was lucky for us.”

Cavendish insisted the split had not been part of the team’s objectives for the day. “We didn’t plan it, it just so happened that we were at the front when the wind changed. At that time, it seemed like the perfect moment, so we went. But it wasn’t planned 10 minutes before, or even 30 seconds before, it just happened at the right time and that’s when we hit it.”
CyclingNews.com

From Micahel Rogers, GC leader for Team Columbia-HTC:
“The other teams weren’t going to help us close the gap [to the break] but with 40km {actually at 32km to go – ed.] to go we made a right [turn] and the wind was coming from the left hand side,” explained the Australian. “I asked the guys to just do 5km as hard as they could. We opened up an echelon and the rest was done.”
CyclingNews.com

From George Hincapie, friend and former teammate of Lance Armstrong who now rides for Team Columbia- HTC
“I saw Lance. I mean, he was obviously excited [to be in the move] but we were there, ju
st doing our job.
CyclingNews.com

Johan Bruyneel, Astana Team Manger
“Strategically it would be a good situation for us if Cancellara could stay in the jersey,” said the Astana director. “That would help us a lot in the days after [Tuesday’s] team time trial.”
CyclingNews.com

“If it had been Levi or Kloden in the same position, we would have ridden the same. It doesn’t matter who is in that situation,” Bruyneel said. “We let the others work in the break, because I thought it would come back together. But when the gap was still big with 10km to go, that’s when we put Zubeldia and Popovych to work. Then it was good for us and the other teams had to work harder to chase.”
VeloNews.com

Lance Armstrong, you know who he is…
“You know what the wind’s doing, you see a turn [in the road is] coming, so it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that you have to go to the front.”
“I was just trying to stay up front, out of trouble. [Columbia] were on the front, chasing the breakaway. It wasn’t an attack: they turned, saw the wind and accelerated. It wasn’t as if it was an ambush – they were already [at the front], so if anything it was an acceleration.
“I’ve won the Tour de France seven times, why wouldn’t you ride at the front? It makes no sense that you wouldn’t ride there.

“I’d prefer to stay out of the drama of who’s the leader of the team. I’ve won the Tour seven times, I think I deserve a little bit of credit. But Alberto’s a great rider too and we’ve got to go with the two leaders, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of opportunities like today.”
CyclingNews.com

“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that you have to go to the front,” Armstrong said. “I have won the Tour de France seven times, why wouldn’t we ride at the front.”
VeloNews.com

“We knew the wind was going to be a factor,” said Armstrong, noting Columbia’s move. “When you see a team at the front like that, you have to pay attention.”
Associated Press

Armstrong said it was “not my objective” to gain ground on Contador, insisting he was “just trying to stay up front and out of trouble. … I turned around and was surprised there was a split.”
Associated Press

Alberto Contador, Astana team leader
“I do not want to assess the tactics of the team, everyone can form his own conclusions. The Tour is not going to be decided on what happened today, it is just another part of the race,” he said, adding that his time loss was insignificant.

What do you think? Was Rogers and Hincapie on a different page then teammate Cavendish or was there plan of attach? What bout the descison Astana made to have their riders work in the break and put time into Alberto Contador? Did a friend let his old boss in on the plan of attach or was it chance that Lance was in the right spot at the right time?
CyclingNews.com