The last Saab Word of the Day

For the final stage, here is the Saab Fly to the Finish word of the day...

"Paris"

Duh!

Good luck. See you in 09.

Final Standings 2008 Tour de France

Here's the list. George Hincapie finished 35th.

1. SASTRE Carlos 11 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 87h 52' 52"
2. EVANS Cadel 1 SILENCE - LOTTO 87h 53' 50" + 00' 58"
3. KOHL Bernhard 115 GEROLSTEINER 87h 54' 05" + 01' 13"
4. MENCHOV Denis 131 RABOBANK 87h 55' 02" + 02' 10"
5. VANDEVELDE Christian 191 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 87h 55' 57" + 03' 05"
6. SCHLECK Frank 17 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 87h 57' 20" + 04' 28"
7. SANCHEZ Samuel 27 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 87h 59' 17" + 06' 25"
8. KIRCHEN Kim 41 TEAM COLUMBIA 87h 59' 47" + 06' 55"
9. VALVERDE Alejandro 31 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 88h 00' 04" + 07' 12"
10. VALJAVEC Tadej 109 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 88h 01' 57" + 09' 05"
11. EFIMKIN Vladimir 104 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 88h 02' 47" + 09' 55"
12. SCHLECK Andy 16 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 88h 04' 24" + 11' 32"
13. KREUZIGER Roman 65 LIQUIGAS 88h 05' 51" + 12' 59"
14. CASAR Sandy 161 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 88h 12' 15" + 19' 23"
15. MOINARD Amaël 187 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 88h 16' 23" + 23' 31"
16. ASTARLOZA Mikel 22 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 88h 16' 32" + 23' 40"
17. SIUTSOU Konstantsin 49 TEAM COLUMBIA 88h 17' 47" + 24' 55"
18. BOTCHAROV Alexandre 83 CREDIT AGRICOLE 88h 20' 03" + 27' 11"
19. FOFONOV Dmitriy 85 CREDIT AGRICOLE 88h 21' 23" + 28' 31"
20. NIBALI Vincenzo 67 LIQUIGAS 88h 21' 25" + 28' 33"
21. GOUBERT Stephane 107 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 88h 24' 42" + 31' 50"
22. TEN DAM Laurens 138 RABOBANK 88h 25' 51" + 32' 59"
23. MONFORT Maxime 189 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 88h 28' 33" + 35' 41"
24. POPOVYCH Yaroslav 7 SILENCE - LOTTO 88h 29' 16" + 36' 24"
25. SCHUMACHER Stefan 111 GEROLSTEINER 88h 30' 12" + 37' 20"
26. SZMYD Sylvester 78 LAMPRE 88h 37' 35" + 44' 43"
27. BRUSEGHIN Marzio 74 LAMPRE 88h 38' 11" + 45' 19"
28. DESSEL Cyril 101 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 88h 39' 23" + 46' 31"
29. KNEES Christian 153 TEAM MILRAM 88h 40' 35" + 47' 43"
30. ARROYO David 32 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 88h 41' 15" + 48' 23"
31. AERTS Mario 2 SILENCE - LOTTO 88h 41' 50" + 48' 58"
32. FEDRIGO Pierrick 141 BOUYGUES TELECOM 88h 43' 11" + 50' 19"
33. FOTHEN Markus 113 GEROLSTEINER 88h 53' 56" + 1h 01' 04"
34. MOERENHOUT Koos 135 RABOBANK 88h 58' 30" + 1h 05' 38"
35. HINCAPIE George 47 TEAM COLUMBIA 89h 01' 07" + 1h 08' 15"
36. CARRARA Matteo 93 QUICK STEP 89h 02' 17" + 1h 09' 25"
37. VOIGT Jens 19 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 89h 04' 47" + 1h 11' 55"
38. PINEAU Jérôme 145 BOUYGUES TELECOM 89h 05' 50" + 1h 12' 58"
39. GONZALO RAMIREZ Eduardo 125 AGRITUBEL 89h 12' 58" + 1h 20' 06"
40. LE MEVEL Christophe 87 CREDIT AGRICOLE 89h 13' 16" + 1h 20' 24"
41. LÖVKVIST Thomas 48 TEAM COLUMBIA 89h 18' 19" + 1h 25' 27"
42. MONCOUTIE David 188 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 89h 19' 14" + 1h 26' 22"
43. ZABEL Erik 151 TEAM MILRAM 89h 19' 32" + 1h 26' 40"
44. VELO Marco 159 TEAM MILRAM 89h 19' 34" + 1h 26' 42"
45. ZUBELDIA Haimar 21 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 89h 19' 52" + 1h 27' 00"
46. GUSTOV Volodymir 14 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 89h 22' 51" + 1h 29' 59"
47. HESJEDAL Ryder 195 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 89h 26' 14" + 1h 33' 22"
48. AUGUSTYN John-Lee 52 BARLOWORLD 89h 29' 13" + 1h 36' 21"
49. TIRALONGO Paolo 79 LAMPRE 89h 29' 49" + 1h 36' 57"
50. MARTINEZ Egoi 24 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 89h 29' 52" + 1h 37' 00"
51. LOPEZ GARCIA David 36 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 89h 32' 29" + 1h 39' 37"
52. TXURRUKA Amets 28 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 89h 34' 51" + 1h 41' 59"
53. DUQUE Leonardo 186 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 89h 37' 16" + 1h 44' 24"
54. TSCHOPP Johann 148 BOUYGUES TELECOM 89h 40' 14" + 1h 47' 22"
55. DUPONT Hubert 103 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 89h 40' 16" + 1h 47' 24"
56. GUTIERREZ José Ivan 35 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 89h 41' 19" + 1h 48' 27"
57. ARVESEN Kurt-Asle 12 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 89h 42' 32" + 1h 49' 40"
58. VELITS Peter 158 TEAM MILRAM 89h 42' 41" + 1h 49' 49"
59. DI GREGORIO Rémy 163 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 89h 42' 46" + 1h 49' 54"
60. TANKINK Bram 137 RABOBANK 89h 43' 16" + 1h 50' 24"
61. CHAVANEL Sylvain 181 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 89h 47' 17" + 1h 54' 25"
62. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon 39 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 89h 48' 31" + 1h 55' 39"
63. WEENING Pieter 139 RABOBANK 89h 48' 44" + 1h 55' 52"
64. VOGONDY Nicolas 129 AGRITUBEL 89h 48' 56" + 1h 56' 04"
65. CANCELLARA Fabian 13 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 89h 50' 01" + 1h 57' 09"
66. PORTAL Nicolas 38 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 89h 51' 08" + 1h 58' 16"
67. POZZATO Filippo 61 LIQUIGAS 89h 52' 05" + 1h 59' 13"
68. MILLAR David 198 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 89h 52' 31" + 1h 59' 39"
69. POSTHUMA Joost 136 RABOBANK 89h 58' 02" + 2h 05' 10"
70. FREIRE Oscar 133 RABOBANK 89h 58' 38" + 2h 05' 46"
71. ELMIGER Martin 105 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 89h 59' 13" + 2h 06' 21"
72. ARRIETA Jose Luis 102 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 90h 00' 25" + 2h 07' 33"
73. VERDUGO Gorka 29 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 90h 01' 15" + 2h 08' 23"
74. LE BOULANGER Yoann 167 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 90h 01' 42" + 2h 08' 50"
75. LANG Sebastian 117 GEROLSTEINER 90h 02' 15" + 2h 09' 23"
76. FISCHER Murilo Antoniobil 64 LIQUIGAS 90h 05' 55" + 2h 13' 03"
77. LOWE Trent 196 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 90h 06' 33" + 2h 13' 41"
78. VAN DE WALLE Jurgen 99 QUICK STEP 90h 06' 42" + 2h 13' 50"
79. GERRANS Simon 86 CREDIT AGRICOLE 90h 07' 17" + 2h 14' 25"
80. PAURIOL Rémi 88 CREDIT AGRICOLE 90h 09' 25" + 2h 16' 33"
81. LELAY David 127 AGRITUBEL 90h 09' 35" + 2h 16' 43"
82. VAUGRENARD Benoît 169 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 90h 12' 25" + 2h 19' 33"
83. CIONI Dario 4 SILENCE - LOTTO 90h 13' 41" + 2h 20' 49"
84. FROOME Christopher 57 BARLOWORLD 90h 15' 25" + 2h 22' 33"
85. LEQUATRE Geoffroy 128 AGRITUBEL 90h 15' 56" + 2h 23' 04"
86. LEFEVRE Laurent 144 BOUYGUES TELECOM 90h 16' 08" + 2h 23' 16"
87. VAN SUMMEREN Johan 8 SILENCE - LOTTO 90h 19' 56" + 2h 27' 04"
88. CHEULA Gianpaolo 54 BARLOWORLD 90h 23' 04" + 2h 30' 12"
89. BARREDO Carlos 92 QUICK STEP 90h 23' 28" + 2h 30' 36"
90. CLEMENT Stef 142 BOUYGUES TELECOM 90h 25' 11" + 2h 32' 19"
91. PEREZ Ruben 26 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 90h 26' 47" + 2h 33' 55"
92. MARZANO Marco 75 LAMPRE 90h 27' 00" + 2h 34' 08"
93. SCHOLZ Ronny 118 GEROLSTEINER 90h 27' 04" + 2h 34' 12"
94. BALLAN Alessandro 72 LAMPRE 90h 28' 00" + 2h 35' 08"
95. PATE Danny 199 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 90h 29' 21" + 2h 36' 29"
96. TOSATTO Matteo 98 QUICK STEP 90h 30' 59" + 2h 38' 07"
97. VOECKLER Thomas 149 BOUYGUES TELECOM 90h 31' 05" + 2h 38' 13"
98. ROSSELER Sébastien 96 QUICK STEP 90h 32' 50" + 2h 39' 58"
99. HUSHOVD Thor 81 CREDIT AGRICOLE 90h 38' 12" + 2h 45' 20"
100. SCHRÖDER Björn 156 TEAM MILRAM 90h 41' 25" + 2h 48' 33"
101. FLORENCIO Xavier 143 BOUYGUES TELECOM 90h 46' 43" + 2h 53' 51"
102. BONNET William 82 CREDIT AGRICOLE 90h 48' 21" + 2h 55' 29"
103. OROZ Juan José 25 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 90h 49' 04" + 2h 56' 12"
104. ISASI Inaki 23 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 90h 50' 36" + 2h 57' 44"
105. MÜLLER Martin 155 TEAM MILRAM 90h 51' 23" + 2h 58' 31"
106. CIOLEK Gerald 44 TEAM COLUMBIA 90h 51' 26" + 2h 58' 34"
107. HUNTER Robert 58 BARLOWORLD 90h 56' 54" + 3h 04' 02"
108. HANSEN Adam 46 TEAM COLUMBIA 90h 57' 44" + 3h 04' 52"
109. O’GRADY Stuart 15 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 91h 00' 38" + 3h 07' 46"
110. DEAN Julian 193 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 91h 00' 49" + 3h 07' 57"
111. STEEGMANS Gert 97 QUICK STEP 91h 01' 15" + 3h 08' 23"
112. GILBERT Philippe 165 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 91h 02' 48" + 3h 09' 56"
113. WILLEMS Frederik 69 LIQUIGAS 91h 06' 30" + 3h 13' 38"
114. DUMOULIN Samuel 185 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 91h 07' 29" + 3h 14' 37"
115. COYOT Arnaud 33 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 91h 08' 45" + 3h 15' 53"
116. FÖRSTER Robert 112 GEROLSTEINER 91h 09' 03" + 3h 16' 11"
117. BONO Matteo 73 LAMPRE 91h 09' 28" + 3h 16' 36"
118. SORENSEN Nicki 18 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 91h 09' 53" + 3h 17' 01"
119. BRARD Florent 183 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 91h 10' 37" + 3h 17' 45"
120. BURGHARDT Marcus 42 TEAM COLUMBIA 91h 13' 20" + 3h 20' 28"
121. ROY Jérémy 168 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 91h 14' 24" + 3h 21' 32"
122. MC EWEN Robbie 6 SILENCE - LOTTO 91h 15' 28" + 3h 22' 36"
123. GRABSCH Ralf 152 TEAM MILRAM 91h 16' 09" + 3h 23' 17"
124. HOSTE Leif 5 SILENCE - LOTTO 91h 16' 45" + 3h 23' 53"
125. DE JONGH Steven 94 QUICK STEP 91h 17' 00" + 3h 24' 08"
126. HAUSSLER Heinrich 114 GEROLSTEINER 91h 18' 26" + 3h 25' 34"
127. RIGHI Daniele 77 LAMPRE 91h 19' 08" + 3h 26' 16"
128. KUSCHYNSKI Aleksandr 66 LIQUIGAS 91h 19' 39" + 3h 26' 47"
129. LANCASTER Brett Daniel 154 TEAM MILRAM 91h 20' 21" + 3h 27' 29"
130. QUINZIATO Manuel 68 LIQUIGAS 91h 20' 55" + 3h 28' 03"
131. LANGEVELD Sebastian 134 RABOBANK 91h 20' 59" + 3h 28' 07"
132. GERARD Arnaud 164 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 91h 22' 52" + 3h 30' 00"
133. FRISCHKORN William 194 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 91h 23' 39" + 3h 30' 47"
134. MAASKANT Martijn 197 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 91h 24' 22" + 3h 31' 30"
135. BICHOT Freddy 122 AGRITUBEL 91h 25' 17" + 3h 32' 25"
136. TERPSTRA Niki 157 TEAM MILRAM 91h 26' 32" + 3h 33' 40"
137. RIBLON Christophe 108 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 91h 28' 16" + 3h 35' 24"
138. ENGOULVENT Jimmy 84 CREDIT AGRICOLE 91h 28' 22" + 3h 35' 30"
139. AUGE Stéphane 182 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 91h 28' 44" + 3h 35' 52"
140. MORI Massimiliano 76 LAMPRE 91h 30' 14" + 3h 37' 22"
141. GARCIA ACOSTA Vicente 34 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 91h 32' 40" + 3h 39' 48"
142. SPRICK Matthieu 146 BOUYGUES TELECOM 91h 41' 10" + 3h 48' 18"
143. KRAUSS Sven 116 GEROLSTEINER 91h 44' 47" + 3h 51' 55"
144. EISEL Bernhard 45 TEAM COLUMBIA 91h 47' 44" + 3h 54' 52"
145. VANSEVENANT Wim 9 SILENCE - LOTTO 91h 48' 37" + 3h 55' 45"

And it's over - YES SPOILER

Here's how the last stage of the Tour went.

Everyone rode together, drank champagne and enjoyed the journey.

Sastre finished seven seconds behind Cadel Evans and 14 seconds behind stage winner Quickstep's Gert Steegmans.

The top ten in the stage were...

1. Gert Steegmans (BEL) QST
2. Gerald Cioleck (GER) THR
3. Oscar Freire (ESP) RAB
4. Robbie McEwen (AUS) SIL
5. Thor Hushovd (NOR) C.A
6. Julian Dean (NZL) GAR
7. Stefan Schumacher (GER) GST
8. Robert Forster (GER) GST
9. Leonardo Duque (COL) COF
10. Robert Hunter (RSA) BAR

The top ten in the 2008 Tour de France are...

1. Carlos Sastre (ESP) CSC - 3,559.5km in 87h52’52" (40.490km/h)
2. Cadel Evans (AUS) SIL at 58"
3. Bernhard Kohl (AUT) GST at 1’13"
4. Denis Menchov (RUS) RAB at 2’10"
5. Christian Vande Velde (USA) TSL at 3’05"
6. Frank Schleck (LUX) CSC at 4’28"
7. Samuel Sanchez (ESP) EUS at 6’25"
8. Kim Kirchen (LUX) THR at 6’55"
9. Alejandro Valverde (ESP) GCE at 7’12"
10. Tadej Valjavec (SLO) ALM at 9’05"

The full list will come in a second.

SPOILER - Overall Standings after Stage 20

The Tour is effectively over. If the gap were 0:20 or so I could see some riders trying to bridge that gap in Paris. But Carlos Sastre and the CSC team have cemented their win.

Unless Sastre falls and breaks something, the 2008 version of the Tour de France has been wrapped up.

Here's how they stand after today...

1. SASTRE Carlos 11 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 84h 01' 00"
2. EVANS Cadel 1 SILENCE - LOTTO 84h 02' 05" + 01' 05"
3. KOHL Bernhard 115 GEROLSTEINER 84h 02' 20" + 01' 20"
4. MENCHOV Denis 131 RABOBANK 84h 03' 00" + 02' 00"
5. VANDEVELDE Christian 191 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 84h 04' 12" + 03' 12"
6. SCHLECK Frank 17 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 84h 05' 28" + 04' 28"
7. SANCHEZ Samuel 27 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 84h 07' 32" + 06' 32"
8. KIRCHEN Kim 41 TEAM COLUMBIA 84h 08' 02" + 07' 02"
9. VALVERDE Alejandro 31 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 84h 08' 26" + 07' 26"
10. VALJAVEC Tadej 109 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 84h 10' 12" + 09' 12"
11. EFIMKIN Vladimir 104 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 84h 11' 02" + 10' 02"
12. SCHLECK Andy 16 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 84h 12' 32" + 11' 32"
13. KREUZIGER Roman 65 LIQUIGAS 84h 13' 49" + 12' 49"
14. CASAR Sandy 161 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 84h 20' 23" + 19' 23"
15. MOINARD Amaël 187 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 84h 24' 31" + 23' 31"
16. ASTARLOZA Mikel 22 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 84h 24' 40" + 23' 40"
17. SIUTSOU Konstantsin 49 TEAM COLUMBIA 84h 26' 02" + 25' 02"
18. BOTCHAROV Alexandre 83 CREDIT AGRICOLE 84h 28' 18" + 27' 18"
19. FOFONOV Dmitriy 85 CREDIT AGRICOLE 84h 29' 31" + 28' 31"
20. NIBALI Vincenzo 67 LIQUIGAS 84h 29' 33" + 28' 33"
21. GOUBERT Stephane 107 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 84h 32' 50" + 31' 50"
22. TEN DAM Laurens 138 RABOBANK 84h 33' 59" + 32' 59"
23. MONFORT Maxime 189 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 84h 36' 48" + 35' 48"
24. POPOVYCH Yaroslav 7 SILENCE - LOTTO 84h 37' 31" + 36' 31"
25. SCHUMACHER Stefan 111 GEROLSTEINER 84h 38' 34" + 37' 34"
26. SZMYD Sylvester 78 LAMPRE 84h 45' 43" + 44' 43"
27. BRUSEGHIN Marzio 74 LAMPRE 84h 46' 19" + 45' 19"
28. DESSEL Cyril 101 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 84h 47' 31" + 46' 31"
29. KNEES Christian 153 TEAM MILRAM 84h 48' 50" + 47' 50"
30. ARROYO David 32 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 84h 49' 23" + 48' 23"
31. AERTS Mario 2 SILENCE - LOTTO 84h 49' 58" + 48' 58"
32. FEDRIGO Pierrick 141 BOUYGUES TELECOM 84h 51' 19" + 50' 19"
33. FOTHEN Markus 113 GEROLSTEINER 85h 02' 04" + 1h 01' 04"
34. MOERENHOUT Koos 135 RABOBANK 85h 06' 45" + 1h 05' 45"
35. HINCAPIE George 47 TEAM COLUMBIA 85h 09' 22" + 1h 08' 22"
36. CARRARA Matteo 93 QUICK STEP 85h 10' 25" + 1h 09' 25"
37. VOIGT Jens 19 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 85h 12' 55" + 1h 11' 55"
38. PINEAU Jérôme 145 BOUYGUES TELECOM 85h 13' 58" + 1h 12' 58"
39. GONZALO RAMIREZ Eduardo 125 AGRITUBEL 85h 21' 06" + 1h 20' 06"
40. LE MEVEL Christophe 87 CREDIT AGRICOLE 85h 21' 24" + 1h 20' 24"
41. LÖVKVIST Thomas 48 TEAM COLUMBIA 85h 26' 27" + 1h 25' 27"
42. MONCOUTIE David 188 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 85h 27' 12" + 1h 26' 12"
43. ZABEL Erik 151 TEAM MILRAM 85h 27' 54" + 1h 26' 54"
44. VELO Marco 159 TEAM MILRAM 85h 27' 56" + 1h 26' 56"
45. ZUBELDIA Haimar 21 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 85h 28' 07" + 1h 27' 07"
46. GUSTOV Volodymir 14 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 85h 30' 49" + 1h 29' 49"
47. HESJEDAL Ryder 195 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 85h 34' 12" + 1h 33' 12"
48. AUGUSTYN John-Lee 52 BARLOWORLD 85h 37' 21" + 1h 36' 21"
49. TIRALONGO Paolo 79 LAMPRE 85h 37' 47" + 1h 36' 47"
50. MARTINEZ Egoi 24 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 85h 37' 50" + 1h 36' 50"
51. LOPEZ GARCIA David 36 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 85h 40' 27" + 1h 39' 27"
52. TXURRUKA Amets 28 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 85h 42' 59" + 1h 41' 59"
53. DUQUE Leonardo 186 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 85h 45' 38" + 1h 44' 38"
54. TSCHOPP Johann 148 BOUYGUES TELECOM 85h 48' 12" + 1h 47' 12"
55. DUPONT Hubert 103 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 85h 48' 24" + 1h 47' 24"
56. GUTIERREZ José Ivan 35 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 85h 49' 34" + 1h 48' 34"
57. ARVESEN Kurt-Asle 12 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 85h 50' 40" + 1h 49' 40"
58. VELITS Peter 158 TEAM MILRAM 85h 50' 49" + 1h 49' 49"
59. DI GREGORIO Rémy 163 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 85h 50' 54" + 1h 49' 54"
60. TANKINK Bram 137 RABOBANK 85h 51' 24" + 1h 50' 24"
61. CHAVANEL Sylvain 181 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 85h 55' 15" + 1h 54' 15"
62. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon 39 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 85h 56' 39" + 1h 55' 39"
63. WEENING Pieter 139 RABOBANK 85h 56' 52" + 1h 55' 52"
64. VOGONDY Nicolas 129 AGRITUBEL 85h 56' 54" + 1h 55' 54"
65. CANCELLARA Fabian 13 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 85h 58' 23" + 1h 57' 23"
66. PORTAL Nicolas 38 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 85h 59' 16" + 1h 58' 16"
67. MILLAR David 198 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 86h 00' 19" + 1h 59' 19"
68. POZZATO Filippo 61 LIQUIGAS 86h 00' 27" + 1h 59' 27"
69. POSTHUMA Joost 136 RABOBANK 86h 06' 10" + 2h 05' 10"
70. FREIRE Oscar 133 RABOBANK 86h 07' 00" + 2h 06' 00"
71. ELMIGER Martin 105 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 86h 07' 35" + 2h 06' 35"
72. ARRIETA Jose Luis 102 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 86h 08' 23" + 2h 07' 23"
73. VERDUGO Gorka 29 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 86h 09' 13" + 2h 08' 13"
74. LE BOULANGER Yoann 167 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 86h 09' 40" + 2h 08' 40"
75. LANG Sebastian 117 GEROLSTEINER 86h 10' 23" + 2h 09' 23"
76. FISCHER Murilo Antoniobil 64 LIQUIGAS 86h 14' 17" + 2h 13' 17"
77. LOWE Trent 196 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 86h 14' 31" + 2h 13' 31"
78. VAN DE WALLE Jurgen 99 QUICK STEP 86h 14' 50" + 2h 13' 50"
79. GERRANS Simon 86 CREDIT AGRICOLE 86h 15' 15" + 2h 14' 15"
80. LELAY David 127 AGRITUBEL 86h 17' 33" + 2h 16' 33"
81. PAURIOL Rémi 88 CREDIT AGRICOLE 86h 17' 33" + 2h 16' 33"
82. VAUGRENARD Benoît 169 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 86h 20' 24" + 2h 19' 24"
83. CIONI Dario 4 SILENCE - LOTTO 86h 20' 35" + 2h 19' 35"
84. FROOME Christopher 57 BARLOWORLD 86h 22' 10" + 2h 21' 10"
85. LEFEVRE Laurent 144 BOUYGUES TELECOM 86h 24' 06" + 2h 23' 06"
86. LEQUATRE Geoffroy 128 AGRITUBEL 86h 24' 18" + 2h 23' 18"
87. VAN SUMMEREN Johan 8 SILENCE - LOTTO 86h 27' 54" + 2h 26' 54"
88. CHEULA Gianpaolo 54 BARLOWORLD 86h 30' 43" + 2h 29' 43"
89. BARREDO Carlos 92 QUICK STEP 86h 31' 36" + 2h 30' 36"
90. CLEMENT Stef 142 BOUYGUES TELECOM 86h 33' 09" + 2h 32' 09"
91. MARZANO Marco 75 LAMPRE 86h 34' 58" + 2h 33' 58"
92. SCHOLZ Ronny 118 GEROLSTEINER 86h 35' 02" + 2h 34' 02"
93. PEREZ Ruben 26 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 86h 35' 09" + 2h 34' 09"
94. BALLAN Alessandro 72 LAMPRE 86h 36' 22" + 2h 35' 22"
95. PATE Danny 199 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 86h 37' 19" + 2h 36' 19"
96. VOECKLER Thomas 149 BOUYGUES TELECOM 86h 39' 03" + 2h 38' 03"
97. TOSATTO Matteo 98 QUICK STEP 86h 39' 07" + 2h 38' 07"
98. ROSSELER Sébastien 96 QUICK STEP 86h 41' 12" + 2h 40' 12"
99. HUSHOVD Thor 81 CREDIT AGRICOLE 86h 46' 34" + 2h 45' 34"
100. SCHRÖDER Björn 156 TEAM MILRAM 86h 49' 33" + 2h 48' 33"
101. FLORENCIO Xavier 143 BOUYGUES TELECOM 86h 54' 51" + 2h 53' 51"
102. BONNET William 82 CREDIT AGRICOLE 86h 56' 29" + 2h 55' 29"
103. OROZ Juan José 25 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 86h 57' 12" + 2h 56' 12"
104. ISASI Inaki 23 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 86h 58' 51" + 2h 57' 51"
105. MÜLLER Martin 155 TEAM MILRAM 86h 59' 21" + 2h 58' 21"
106. CIOLEK Gerald 44 TEAM COLUMBIA 86h 59' 48" + 2h 58' 48"
107. HUNTER Robert 58 BARLOWORLD 87h 05' 16" + 3h 04' 16"
108. HANSEN Adam 46 TEAM COLUMBIA 87h 05' 59" + 3h 04' 59"
109. O’GRADY Stuart 15 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 87h 08' 46" + 3h 07' 46"
110. DEAN Julian 193 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 87h 09' 11" + 3h 08' 11"
111. STEEGMANS Gert 97 QUICK STEP 87h 09' 37" + 3h 08' 37"
112. GILBERT Philippe 165 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 87h 09' 44" + 3h 08' 44"
113. WILLEMS Frederik 69 LIQUIGAS 87h 14' 28" + 3h 13' 28"
114. DUMOULIN Samuel 185 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 87h 15' 44" + 3h 14' 44"
115. COYOT Arnaud 33 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 87h 17' 00" + 3h 16' 00"
116. BONO Matteo 73 LAMPRE 87h 17' 16" + 3h 16' 16"
117. FÖRSTER Robert 112 GEROLSTEINER 87h 17' 25" + 3h 16' 25"
118. SORENSEN Nicki 18 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 87h 18' 01" + 3h 17' 01"
119. BRARD Florent 183 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 87h 18' 45" + 3h 17' 45"
120. BURGHARDT Marcus 42 TEAM COLUMBIA 87h 21' 35" + 3h 20' 35"
121. ROY Jérémy 168 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 87h 22' 22" + 3h 21' 22"
122. MC EWEN Robbie 6 SILENCE - LOTTO 87h 23' 50" + 3h 22' 50"
123. GRABSCH Ralf 152 TEAM MILRAM 87h 24' 17" + 3h 23' 17"
124. HOSTE Leif 5 SILENCE - LOTTO 87h 24' 43" + 3h 23' 43"
125. DE JONGH Steven 94 QUICK STEP 87h 25' 22" + 3h 24' 22"
126. HAUSSLER Heinrich 114 GEROLSTEINER 87h 26' 41" + 3h 25' 41"
127. RIGHI Daniele 77 LAMPRE 87h 26' 56" + 3h 25' 56"
128. KUSCHYNSKI Aleksandr 66 LIQUIGAS 87h 27' 54" + 3h 26' 54"
129. LANGEVELD Sebastian 134 RABOBANK 87h 28' 38" + 3h 27' 38"
130. LANCASTER Brett Daniel 154 TEAM MILRAM 87h 28' 43" + 3h 27' 43"
131. QUINZIATO Manuel 68 LIQUIGAS 87h 28' 53" + 3h 27' 53"
132. GERARD Arnaud 164 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 87h 30' 50" + 3h 29' 50"
133. FRISCHKORN William 194 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 87h 31' 47" + 3h 30' 47"
134. MAASKANT Martijn 197 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 87h 32' 08" + 3h 31' 08"
135. BICHOT Freddy 122 AGRITUBEL 87h 33' 32" + 3h 32' 32"
136. TERPSTRA Niki 157 TEAM MILRAM 87h 34' 30" + 3h 33' 30"
137. ENGOULVENT Jimmy 84 CREDIT AGRICOLE 87h 36' 30" + 3h 35' 30"
138. RIBLON Christophe 108 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 87h 36' 31" + 3h 35' 31"
139. AUGE Stéphane 182 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 87h 36' 42" + 3h 35' 42"
140. MORI Massimiliano 76 LAMPRE 87h 38' 12" + 3h 37' 12"
141. GARCIA ACOSTA Vicente 34 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 87h 40' 26" + 3h 39' 26"
142. SPRICK Matthieu 146 BOUYGUES TELECOM 87h 49' 18" + 3h 48' 18"
143. KRAUSS Sven 116 GEROLSTEINER 87h 52' 55" + 3h 51' 55"
144. EISEL Bernhard 45 TEAM COLUMBIA 87h 54' 58" + 3h 53' 58"
145. VANSEVENANT Wim 9 SILENCE - LOTTO 87h 55' 51" + 3h 54' 51"

SPOILER - Time Trial Winner - Stage 20

HOLY MOSES!

Evans gained only marginally on Sastre in the Stage 20 Time Trial and Carlos Sastre will go on to win the Tour de France. His decisive win in the Alpe d'Huez stage set him up to take the Yellow Jersey in Paris.

While Sastre lost 2:34 to Schumacher - the stage winner - he held off the rest of the guys around him and will likely win the Tour by 1:05 tomorrow.

Cadel Evans is going to - barring any disasters tomorrow - be on the podium in second place for the second year in a row.

Here are the standings of the Stage 20 time trial...

The finishing times are REALLY tight. Only a gap of 11:00 between first and last. Wow.

1. SCHUMACHER Stefan 111 GEROLSTEINER 1h 03' 50"
2. CANCELLARA Fabian 13 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 1h 04' 11" + 00' 21"
3. KIRCHEN Kim 41 TEAM COLUMBIA 1h 04' 51" + 01' 01"
4. VANDEVELDE Christian 191 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 1h 04' 55" + 01' 05"
5. MILLAR David 198 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 1h 05' 27" + 01' 37"
6. MENCHOV Denis 131 RABOBANK 1h 05' 45" + 01' 55"
7. EVANS Cadel 1 SILENCE - LOTTO 1h 05' 55" + 02' 05"
8. LANG Sebastian 117 GEROLSTEINER 1h 06' 09" + 02' 19"
9. KOHL Bernhard 115 GEROLSTEINER 1h 06' 11" + 02' 21"
10. HINCAPIE George 47 TEAM COLUMBIA 1h 06' 18" + 02' 28"
11. LÖVKVIST Thomas 48 TEAM COLUMBIA 1h 06' 19" + 02' 29"
12. SASTRE Carlos 11 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 1h 06' 24" + 02' 34"
13. HESJEDAL Ryder 195 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 1h 06' 26" + 02' 36"
14. PATE Danny 199 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 1h 06' 44" + 02' 54"
15. VOIGT Jens 19 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 1h 06' 48" + 02' 58"
16. FROOME Christopher 57 BARLOWORLD 1h 06' 50" + 03' 00"
17. MOINARD Amaël 187 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 1h 06' 54" + 03' 04"
18. SIUTSOU Konstantsin 49 TEAM COLUMBIA 1h 06' 57" + 03' 07"
19. CHAVANEL Sylvain 181 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 1h 07' 00" + 03' 10"
20. POSTHUMA Joost 136 RABOBANK 1h 07' 03" + 03' 13"
21. SANCHEZ Samuel 27 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 1h 07' 04" + 03' 14"
22. BRUSEGHIN Marzio 74 LAMPRE 1h 07' 09" + 03' 19"
23. KREUZIGER Roman 65 LIQUIGAS 1h 07' 11" + 03' 21"
24. FEDRIGO Pierrick 141 BOUYGUES TELECOM 1h 07' 17" + 03' 27"
25. ROSSELER Sébastien 96 QUICK STEP 1h 07' 21" + 03' 31"
26. MONFORT Maxime 189 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 1h 07' 24" + 03' 34"
27. VALJAVEC Tadej 109 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 1h 07' 26" + 03' 36"
28. HOSTE Leif 5 SILENCE - LOTTO 1h 07' 40" + 03' 50"
29. POPOVYCH Yaroslav 7 SILENCE - LOTTO 1h 07' 48" + 03' 58"
30. SCHLECK Andy 16 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 1h 07' 52" + 04' 02"
31. BARREDO Carlos 92 QUICK STEP 1h 07' 55" + 04' 05"
32. LANCASTER Brett Daniel 154 TEAM MILRAM 1h 08' 00" + 04' 10"
33. EFIMKIN Vladimir 104 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 1h 08' 02" + 04' 12"
34. O’GRADY Stuart 15 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 1h 08' 02" + 04' 12"
35. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon 39 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 1h 08' 03" + 04' 13"
36. VALVERDE Alejandro 31 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 1h 08' 15" + 04' 25"
37. RIBLON Christophe 108 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 1h 08' 17" + 04' 27"
38. LEFEVRE Laurent 144 BOUYGUES TELECOM 1h 08' 22" + 04' 32"
39. VAUGRENARD Benoît 169 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 1h 08' 25" + 04' 35"
40. LE BOULANGER Yoann 167 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 1h 08' 27" + 04' 37"
41. SZMYD Sylvester 78 LAMPRE 1h 08' 35" + 04' 45"
42. CLEMENT Stef 142 BOUYGUES TELECOM 1h 08' 39" + 04' 49"
43. CASAR Sandy 161 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 1h 08' 39" + 04' 49"
44. FOTHEN Markus 113 GEROLSTEINER 1h 08' 44" + 04' 54"
45. VAN DE WALLE Jurgen 99 QUICK STEP 1h 08' 48" + 04' 58"
46. MOERENHOUT Koos 135 RABOBANK 1h 08' 51" + 05' 01"
47. VELITS Peter 158 TEAM MILRAM 1h 08' 52" + 05' 02"
48. FOFONOV Dmitriy 85 CREDIT AGRICOLE 1h 09' 06" + 05' 16"
49. TANKINK Bram 137 RABOBANK 1h 09' 12" + 05' 22"
50. NIBALI Vincenzo 67 LIQUIGAS 1h 09' 18" + 05' 28"
51. MONCOUTIE David 188 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 1h 09' 22" + 05' 32"
52. SCHRÖDER Björn 156 TEAM MILRAM 1h 09' 23" + 05' 33"
53. ELMIGER Martin 105 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 1h 09' 26" + 05' 36"
54. SCHLECK Frank 17 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 1h 09' 28" + 05' 38"
55. VERDUGO Gorka 29 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 1h 09' 29" + 05' 39"
56. VELO Marco 159 TEAM MILRAM 1h 09' 31" + 05' 41"
57. ZUBELDIA Haimar 21 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 1h 09' 33" + 05' 43"
58. ARVESEN Kurt-Asle 12 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 1h 09' 37" + 05' 47"
59. BONNET William 82 CREDIT AGRICOLE 1h 09' 41" + 05' 51"
60. PINEAU Jérôme 145 BOUYGUES TELECOM 1h 09' 42" + 05' 52"
61. HANSEN Adam 46 TEAM COLUMBIA 1h 09' 42" + 05' 52"
62. TIRALONGO Paolo 79 LAMPRE 1h 09' 47" + 05' 57"
63. GUTIERREZ José Ivan 35 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 1h 09' 51" + 06' 01"
64. DUPONT Hubert 103 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 1h 09' 53" + 06' 03"
65. LELAY David 127 AGRITUBEL 1h 09' 56" + 06' 06"
66. TEN DAM Laurens 138 RABOBANK 1h 09' 56" + 06' 06"
67. ASTARLOZA Mikel 22 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 1h 09' 57" + 06' 07"
68. MÜLLER Martin 155 TEAM MILRAM 1h 09' 59" + 06' 09"
69. GOUBERT Stephane 107 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 1h 10' 09" + 06' 19"
70. VOGONDY Nicolas 129 AGRITUBEL 1h 10' 17" + 06' 27"
71. CHEULA Gianpaolo 54 BARLOWORLD 1h 10' 19" + 06' 29"
72. PEREZ Ruben 26 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 1h 10' 21" + 06' 31"
73. PORTAL Nicolas 38 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 1h 10' 22" + 06' 32"
74. DESSEL Cyril 101 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 1h 10' 22" + 06' 32"
75. OROZ Juan José 25 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 1h 10' 23" + 06' 33"
76. KNEES Christian 153 TEAM MILRAM 1h 10' 26" + 06' 36"
77. GERRANS Simon 86 CREDIT AGRICOLE 1h 10' 32" + 06' 42"
78. AUGE Stéphane 182 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 1h 10' 33" + 06' 43"
79. VAN SUMMEREN Johan 8 SILENCE - LOTTO 1h 10' 33" + 06' 43"
80. FLORENCIO Xavier 143 BOUYGUES TELECOM 1h 10' 37" + 06' 47"
81. BOTCHAROV Alexandre 83 CREDIT AGRICOLE 1h 10' 43" + 06' 53"
82. MARTINEZ Egoi 24 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 1h 10' 43" + 06' 53"
83. BRARD Florent 183 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 1h 10' 51" + 07' 01"
84. TXURRUKA Amets 28 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 1h 10' 59" + 07' 09"
85. POZZATO Filippo 61 LIQUIGAS 1h 11' 03" + 07' 13"
86. FISCHER Murilo Antoniobil 64 LIQUIGAS 1h 11' 04" + 07' 14"
87. ARROYO David 32 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 1h 11' 07" + 07' 17"
88. GERARD Arnaud 164 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 1h 11' 11" + 07' 21"
89. LE MEVEL Christophe 87 CREDIT AGRICOLE 1h 11' 11" + 07' 21"
90. KUSCHYNSKI Aleksandr 66 LIQUIGAS 1h 11' 14" + 07' 24"
91. ARRIETA Jose Luis 102 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 1h 11' 15" + 07' 25"
92. LEQUATRE Geoffroy 128 AGRITUBEL 1h 11' 18" + 07' 28"
93. CIOLEK Gerald 44 TEAM COLUMBIA 1h 11' 19" + 07' 29"
94. DI GREGORIO Rémy 163 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 1h 11' 19" + 07' 29"
95. HUNTER Robert 58 BARLOWORLD 1h 11' 24" + 07' 34"
96. FREIRE Oscar 133 RABOBANK 1h 11' 27" + 07' 37"
97. SCHOLZ Ronny 118 GEROLSTEINER 1h 11' 28" + 07' 38"
98. AERTS Mario 2 SILENCE - LOTTO 1h 11' 28" + 07' 38"
99. FÖRSTER Robert 112 GEROLSTEINER 1h 11' 34" + 07' 44"
100. DUQUE Leonardo 186 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 1h 11' 36" + 07' 46"
101. SORENSEN Nicki 18 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 1h 11' 37" + 07' 47"
102. GONZALO RAMIREZ Eduardo 125 AGRITUBEL 1h 11' 39" + 07' 49"
103. WEENING Pieter 139 RABOBANK 1h 11' 41" + 07' 51"
104. PAURIOL Rémi 88 CREDIT AGRICOLE 1h 11' 44" + 07' 54"
105. ROY Jérémy 168 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 1h 11' 50" + 08' 00"
106. ISASI Inaki 23 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 1h 11' 52" + 08' 02"
107. GRABSCH Ralf 152 TEAM MILRAM 1h 11' 53" + 08' 03"
108. LANGEVELD Sebastian 134 RABOBANK 1h 11' 55" + 08' 05"
109. AUGUSTYN John-Lee 52 BARLOWORLD 1h 11' 58" + 08' 08"
110. GUSTOV Volodymir 14 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 1h 11' 58" + 08' 08"
111. GILBERT Philippe 165 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 1h 12' 00" + 08' 10"
112. QUINZIATO Manuel 68 LIQUIGAS 1h 12' 02" + 08' 12"
113. MC EWEN Robbie 6 SILENCE - LOTTO 1h 12' 05" + 08' 15"
114. TERPSTRA Niki 157 TEAM MILRAM 1h 12' 09" + 08' 19"
115. ZABEL Erik 151 TEAM MILRAM 1h 12' 10" + 08' 20"
116. BALLAN Alessandro 72 LAMPRE 1h 12' 16" + 08' 26"
117. MARZANO Marco 75 LAMPRE 1h 12' 16" + 08' 26"
118. COYOT Arnaud 33 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 1h 12' 21" + 08' 31"
119. LOPEZ GARCIA David 36 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 1h 12' 26" + 08' 36"
120. FRISCHKORN William 194 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 1h 12' 27" + 08' 37"
121. TOSATTO Matteo 98 QUICK STEP 1h 12' 28" + 08' 38"
122. LOWE Trent 196 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 1h 12' 48" + 08' 58"
123. HUSHOVD Thor 81 CREDIT AGRICOLE 1h 12' 56" + 09' 06"
124. KRAUSS Sven 116 GEROLSTEINER 1h 13' 02" + 09' 12"
125. DE JONGH Steven 94 QUICK STEP 1h 13' 04" + 09' 14"
126. BICHOT Freddy 122 AGRITUBEL 1h 13' 07" + 09' 17"
127. MAASKANT Martijn 197 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 1h 13' 11" + 09' 21"
128. EISEL Bernhard 45 TEAM COLUMBIA 1h 13' 11" + 09' 21"
129. STEEGMANS Gert 97 QUICK STEP 1h 13' 13" + 09' 23"
130. DUMOULIN Samuel 185 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 1h 13' 15" + 09' 25"
131. CIONI Dario 4 SILENCE - LOTTO 1h 13' 20" + 09' 30"
132. CARRARA Matteo 93 QUICK STEP 1h 13' 20" + 09' 30"
133. DEAN Julian 193 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 1h 13' 24" + 09' 34"
134. BONO Matteo 73 LAMPRE 1h 13' 28" + 09' 38"
135. BURGHARDT Marcus 42 TEAM COLUMBIA 1h 13' 48" + 09' 58"
136. GARCIA ACOSTA Vicente 34 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 1h 13' 48" + 09' 58"
137. HAUSSLER Heinrich 114 GEROLSTEINER 1h 13' 54" + 10' 04"
138. MORI Massimiliano 76 LAMPRE 1h 14' 10" + 10' 20"
139. WILLEMS Frederik 69 LIQUIGAS 1h 14' 29" + 10' 39"
140. TSCHOPP Johann 148 BOUYGUES TELECOM 1h 14' 42" + 10' 52"
141. RIGHI Daniele 77 LAMPRE 1h 14' 44" + 10' 54"
142. VANSEVENANT Wim 9 SILENCE - LOTTO 1h 14' 46" + 10' 56"
143. ENGOULVENT Jimmy 84 CREDIT AGRICOLE 1h 14' 54" + 11' 04"
144. SPRICK Matthieu 146 BOUYGUES TELECOM 1h 15' 02" + 11' 12"
145. VOECKLER Thomas 149 BOUYGUES TELECOM 1h 15' 09" + 11' 19"

Saab Fly to the finish sweepstakes - Stage 20

Word is...

"Time Trial"

Good luck.

See you in a few hours

The race is well underway. Trouble with a time trial is that if I give info here about the results of any one rider, that will affect what you know has to happen with other riders.

I don't want to give spoilers, so that's all for now. Come back at 9PM to get the results.

And even more from letour.fr

Just giving you some interesting stuff I've seen on letour.fr...

In 1989, Greg LeMond posted the fastest ever time in a race against the clock over 20km at the Tour de France when he won the final stage in the year of France’s bicentenary celebrations. He overtook Laurent Fignon and famously won the title by eight seconds.
In 1990, Greg LeMond overtook Claudio Chiappucci to take the yellow jersey. The stage was won by Erik Breukink and the American won the title without winning a stage.
In 2003, David Millar won the final time trial on a day or torrential rain but the general classification was confirmed when Lance Armstrong finished third and Jan Ullrich – who had been a challenger to the Texan for three weeks – crashed on a roundabout and lost any chance of making up the deficit to the overall leader.
In 2006, Floyd Landis’ took the yellow jersey off the shoulders of Oscar Pereiro on the penultimate day but it was a victory that wouldn’t last… as the American would surrender the title retrospectively after testing positive for testosterone.

In 1968, Jan Janssen became the first Dutchman to win the Tour de France. He claimed the final stage, a time trial from Izier to Paris, and overtook Herman van Springel on the final day to take the title by 38”.
In 1977, Bernard Thevenet confirmed his victory over Hennie Kuiper by winning the last individual test.
In 1978, Joop Zoetemelk was 14 seconds ahead of Bernard Hinault before the final time trial but the rider from Brittany ended up winning the Tour by 3’56”.

According to the early results of our poll on LeTour.fr, many believe that this final time trial will determine a new leader of the general classification. In the post-WWII period (ie. races since 1947), the final time trial has contributed to a change of race leader 12 times.
In 1958, Charly Gaul won the final time trial and inherited the lead from Vito Favero in Dijon.
In 1962, Jacques Anquetil won the stage in Lyon and overtook Joseph Planckaert in the general classification.
In 1964, the final stage was a time trial from Versailles to Paris. Anquetil was just 14 seconds ahead Poulidor but his victory on the last day sealed his fifth victory.

More from letour.fr

13:15 - Redant – “We’re racing for yellow…”

Cadel Evans rode the course early today, starting at about 10.30am. “We left the hotel at nine,” said Silence-Lotto directeur sportif Hendrik Redant, “and we were on the course after a bit of a drive. Cadel rode the entire course to make sure he understands what lies ahead today. He does it as always: paying close attention to all the corners and even stopping, turning back and riding some again to make sure he understand what the best path to take is.
“There were some corners that he rode three or four times.
“It’s a course that suits him and I’m confident about his chances. We know what we’re here for: we’re racing for the yellow jersey!”
13:10 - Evans Has Just Returned From Reconnaissance...

LeTour.fr recently spoke to the man who will be calling the shots for Cadel Evans who is due to start the time trial at 4.17pm. Hendrik Redant explained, "The course suits him with plenty of power pieces, sections where he can really stamp on the pedals. This is where he’s going to gain a bit of time."
The Belgian directeur sportif will not follow any other riders from the Silence-Lotto team and is looking forward to the challenge that’s facing him this afternoon when he’s going to call the race for Evans. "I’ll be there in the car like I have been all through the Tour. Today it’s a little different but the atmosphere in the team is tranquil. Cadel is calm and I’m confident."

Stage 20 underway

Here's some neat info from letour.fr...

11:25 - Battle For ’Lanterne Rouge’ Begins... The first two men to start the 20th stage are on their way. Wim Vansevenant (SIL) has been the ’Lanterne Rouge’ (ie. the last rider in the general classification) in the two previous editions of the Tour de France. He has held the same position for much of the 2008 race but the rider who finished last in stage 19, Bernhard Eisel (COL), has stolen his ’title’ with two stages remaining this year.
Eisel is three hours, 47 minutes and 11 seconds behind Sastre after 3,362km of racing. Vansevenant is ranked 144th three hours, 46 minutes and 29 seconds behind the overall leader.

And......

11:56 - Vansevenant Could Be The First Triple ’Lanterne Rouge’

Before the 2008 Tour, six riders have finished as the last rider in the general classification of the Tour. The latest is Wim Vansevenant (2006 and 2007); he is currently ranked second last after 19 stages but challenging to become the first rider to finish last three times.
The other double ’lanterne rouge’ winners are: Masson (1922 and 1923); Schambacher (1979 and 1980); Hermans (1987 and 1989); Casper (2001 and 2004) and Flores (2002 and 2005).

I guess many of us focus too much on the first place rider and not on the maneuvering that's necessary to finish last.

More shortly.

As with yesterday, I'll post a couple more and then post the spoilers to appear AFTER 9PM EST.

Stage 20 Overview, Picks and Comment

Today is Stage 20. If Cadel Evans can make up a couple minutes he'll win the 2008 Tour de France. I don't think that will happen.

As of Friday's result, here are the top six and their position...

1. SASTRE Carlos 11 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 82h 54' 36"
2. SCHLECK Frank 17 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 82h 56' 00" + 01' 24"
3. KOHL Bernhard 115 GEROLSTEINER 82h 56' 09" + 01' 33"
4. EVANS Cadel 1 SILENCE - LOTTO 82h 56' 10" + 01' 34"
5. MENCHOV Denis 131 RABOBANK 82h 57' 15" + 02' 39"
6. VANDEVELDE Christian 191 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 82h 59' 17" + 04' 41"
7. VALVERDE Alejandro 31 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 83h 00' 11" + 05' 35"

Bernhard Kohl is only back a minute and a half and has been really aggressive this tour. He could catch Sastre easy.

Cadel Evans is back 1:34 and he could go faster than Kohl and be in first.

But the wild-card here is Christian Vandevelde. He is back four minutes and 41 seconds. BUT, he can fly and didn't exert himself much in stage 19.

This means that if he can finish a couple minutes ahead of Evans, the Tour could be closer than LeMond Hinault and will require a sprint finish on Sunday.

Stay tuned!

Oh, today's time trial is 53KM from Cerilly to Saint Amand Montrond. The stage is rolling terrain and is LONG for a time trial.

That favors Menchov, Vandevelde and Kohl. Evans will have to be well rested and give something special to get himself into yellow.

Saab Fly to the finish sweepstakes - Stage 18 and 19

Saab has been really forgiving this year and is allowing us to put in codes even after a day has passed.

The word for yesterday (really two words) is "Green Jersey". That's for stage 18.

The word for today is "Saddle".

Good luck.

SPOILER - Overall Standings After Stage 19

Here's the list. And Saab Sweeps word coming up.

Please note that the BOTTOM of the GC has changed. Bernhard Eisel is now last after William Vansevenant held that spot for about 18 stages. Crazy.

1. SASTRE Carlos 11 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 82h 54' 36"
2. SCHLECK Frank 17 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 82h 56' 00" + 01' 24"
3. KOHL Bernhard 115 GEROLSTEINER 82h 56' 09" + 01' 33"
4. EVANS Cadel 1 SILENCE - LOTTO 82h 56' 10" + 01' 34"
5. MENCHOV Denis 131 RABOBANK 82h 57' 15" + 02' 39"
6. VANDEVELDE Christian 191 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 82h 59' 17" + 04' 41"
7. VALVERDE Alejandro 31 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 83h 00' 11" + 05' 35"
8. SANCHEZ Samuel 27 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 83h 00' 28" + 05' 52"
9. VALJAVEC Tadej 109 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 83h 02' 46" + 08' 10"
10. EFIMKIN Vladimir 104 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 83h 03' 00" + 08' 24"
11. KIRCHEN Kim 41 TEAM COLUMBIA 83h 03' 11" + 08' 35"
12. SCHLECK Andy 16 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 83h 04' 40" + 10' 04"
13. KREUZIGER Roman 65 LIQUIGAS 83h 06' 38" + 12' 02"
14. CASAR Sandy 161 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 83h 11' 44" + 17' 08"
15. ASTARLOZA Mikel 22 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 83h 14' 43" + 20' 07"
16. BOTCHAROV Alexandre 83 CREDIT AGRICOLE 83h 17' 35" + 22' 59"
17. MOINARD Amaël 187 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 83h 17' 37" + 23' 01"
18. SIUTSOU Konstantsin 49 TEAM COLUMBIA 83h 19' 05" + 24' 29"
19. NIBALI Vincenzo 67 LIQUIGAS 83h 20' 15" + 25' 39"
20. FOFONOV Dmitriy 85 CREDIT AGRICOLE 83h 20' 25" + 25' 49"
21. GOUBERT Stephane 107 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 83h 22' 41" + 28' 05"
22. TEN DAM Laurens 138 RABOBANK 83h 24' 03" + 29' 27"
23. MONFORT Maxime 189 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 83h 29' 24" + 34' 48"
24. POPOVYCH Yaroslav 7 SILENCE - LOTTO 83h 29' 43" + 35' 07"
25. SCHUMACHER Stefan 111 GEROLSTEINER 83h 34' 44" + 40' 08"
26. SZMYD Sylvester 78 LAMPRE 83h 37' 08" + 42' 32"
27. DESSEL Cyril 101 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 83h 37' 09" + 42' 33"
28. ARROYO David 32 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 83h 38' 16" + 43' 40"
29. KNEES Christian 153 TEAM MILRAM 83h 38' 24" + 43' 48"
30. AERTS Mario 2 SILENCE - LOTTO 83h 38' 30" + 43' 54"
31. BRUSEGHIN Marzio 74 LAMPRE 83h 39' 10" + 44' 34"
32. FEDRIGO Pierrick 141 BOUYGUES TELECOM 83h 44' 02" + 49' 26"
33. FOTHEN Markus 113 GEROLSTEINER 83h 53' 20" + 58' 44"
34. CARRARA Matteo 93 QUICK STEP 83h 57' 05" + 1h 02' 29"
35. MOERENHOUT Koos 135 RABOBANK 83h 57' 54" + 1h 03' 18"
36. HINCAPIE George 47 TEAM COLUMBIA 84h 03' 04" + 1h 08' 28"
37. PINEAU Jérôme 145 BOUYGUES TELECOM 84h 04' 16" + 1h 09' 40"
38. VOIGT Jens 19 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 84h 06' 07" + 1h 11' 31"
39. GONZALO RAMIREZ Eduardo 125 AGRITUBEL 84h 09' 27" + 1h 14' 51"
40. LE MEVEL Christophe 87 CREDIT AGRICOLE 84h 10' 13" + 1h 15' 37"
41. ZABEL Erik 151 TEAM MILRAM 84h 15' 44" + 1h 21' 08"
42. MONCOUTIE David 188 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 84h 17' 50" + 1h 23' 14"
43. VELO Marco 159 TEAM MILRAM 84h 18' 25" + 1h 23' 49"
44. ZUBELDIA Haimar 21 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 84h 18' 34" + 1h 23' 58"
45. GUSTOV Volodymir 14 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 84h 18' 51" + 1h 24' 15"
46. LÖVKVIST Thomas 48 TEAM COLUMBIA 84h 20' 08" + 1h 25' 32"
47. AUGUSTYN John-Lee 52 BARLOWORLD 84h 25' 23" + 1h 30' 47"
48. MARTINEZ Egoi 24 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 84h 27' 07" + 1h 32' 31"
49. HESJEDAL Ryder 195 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 84h 27' 46" + 1h 33' 10"
50. TIRALONGO Paolo 79 LAMPRE 84h 28' 00" + 1h 33' 24"
51. LOPEZ GARCIA David 36 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 84h 28' 01" + 1h 33' 25"
52. TXURRUKA Amets 28 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 84h 32' 00" + 1h 37' 24"
53. TSCHOPP Johann 148 BOUYGUES TELECOM 84h 33' 30" + 1h 38' 54"
54. DUQUE Leonardo 186 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 84h 34' 02" + 1h 39' 26"
55. DUPONT Hubert 103 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 84h 38' 31" + 1h 43' 55"
56. DI GREGORIO Rémy 163 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 84h 39' 35" + 1h 44' 59"
57. GUTIERREZ José Ivan 35 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 84h 39' 43" + 1h 45' 07"
58. ARVESEN Kurt-Asle 12 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 84h 41' 03" + 1h 46' 27"
59. VELITS Peter 158 TEAM MILRAM 84h 41' 57" + 1h 47' 21"
60. TANKINK Bram 137 RABOBANK 84h 42' 12" + 1h 47' 36"
61. WEENING Pieter 139 RABOBANK 84h 45' 11" + 1h 50' 35"
62. VOGONDY Nicolas 129 AGRITUBEL 84h 46' 37" + 1h 52' 01"
63. CHAVANEL Sylvain 181 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 84h 48' 15" + 1h 53' 39"
64. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon 39 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 84h 48' 36" + 1h 54' 00"
65. PORTAL Nicolas 38 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 84h 48' 54" + 1h 54' 18"
66. POZZATO Filippo 61 LIQUIGAS 84h 49' 24" + 1h 54' 48"
67. CANCELLARA Fabian 13 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 84h 54' 12" + 1h 59' 36"
68. MILLAR David 198 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 84h 54' 52" + 2h 00' 16"
69. FREIRE Oscar 133 RABOBANK 84h 55' 33" + 2h 00' 57"
70. ARRIETA Jose Luis 102 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 84h 57' 08" + 2h 02' 32"
71. ELMIGER Martin 105 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 84h 58' 09" + 2h 03' 33"
72. POSTHUMA Joost 136 RABOBANK 84h 59' 07" + 2h 04' 31"
73. VERDUGO Gorka 29 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 84h 59' 44" + 2h 05' 08"
74. LE BOULANGER Yoann 167 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 85h 01' 13" + 2h 06' 37"
75. LOWE Trent 196 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 85h 01' 43" + 2h 07' 07"
76. FISCHER Murilo Antoniobil 64 LIQUIGAS 85h 03' 13" + 2h 08' 37"
77. LANG Sebastian 117 GEROLSTEINER 85h 04' 14" + 2h 09' 38"
78. GERRANS Simon 86 CREDIT AGRICOLE 85h 04' 43" + 2h 10' 07"
79. PAURIOL Rémi 88 CREDIT AGRICOLE 85h 05' 49" + 2h 11' 13"
80. VAN DE WALLE Jurgen 99 QUICK STEP 85h 06' 02" + 2h 11' 26"
81. CIONI Dario 4 SILENCE - LOTTO 85h 07' 15" + 2h 12' 39"
82. LELAY David 127 AGRITUBEL 85h 07' 37" + 2h 13' 01"
83. VAUGRENARD Benoît 169 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 85h 11' 59" + 2h 17' 23"
84. LEQUATRE Geoffroy 128 AGRITUBEL 85h 13' 00" + 2h 18' 24"
85. FROOME Christopher 57 BARLOWORLD 85h 15' 20" + 2h 20' 44"
86. LEFEVRE Laurent 144 BOUYGUES TELECOM 85h 15' 44" + 2h 21' 08"
87. VAN SUMMEREN Johan 8 SILENCE - LOTTO 85h 17' 21" + 2h 22' 45"
88. CHEULA Gianpaolo 54 BARLOWORLD 85h 20' 24" + 2h 25' 48"
89. MARZANO Marco 75 LAMPRE 85h 22' 42" + 2h 28' 06"
90. SCHOLZ Ronny 118 GEROLSTEINER 85h 23' 34" + 2h 28' 58"
91. BARREDO Carlos 92 QUICK STEP 85h 23' 41" + 2h 29' 05"
92. VOECKLER Thomas 149 BOUYGUES TELECOM 85h 23' 54" + 2h 29' 18"
93. BALLAN Alessandro 72 LAMPRE 85h 24' 06" + 2h 29' 30"
94. CLEMENT Stef 142 BOUYGUES TELECOM 85h 24' 30" + 2h 29' 54"
95. PEREZ Ruben 26 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 85h 24' 48" + 2h 30' 12"
96. TOSATTO Matteo 98 QUICK STEP 85h 26' 39" + 2h 32' 03"
97. PATE Danny 199 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 85h 30' 35" + 2h 35' 59"
98. HUSHOVD Thor 81 CREDIT AGRICOLE 85h 33' 38" + 2h 39' 02"
99. ROSSELER Sébastien 96 QUICK STEP 85h 33' 51" + 2h 39' 15"
100. SCHRÖDER Björn 156 TEAM MILRAM 85h 40' 10" + 2h 45' 34"
101. FLORENCIO Xavier 143 BOUYGUES TELECOM 85h 44' 14" + 2h 49' 38"
102. BONNET William 82 CREDIT AGRICOLE 85h 46' 48" + 2h 52' 12"
103. OROZ Juan José 25 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 85h 46' 49" + 2h 52' 13"
104. ISASI Inaki 23 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 85h 46' 59" + 2h 52' 23"
105. CIOLEK Gerald 44 TEAM COLUMBIA 85h 48' 29" + 2h 53' 53"
106. MÜLLER Martin 155 TEAM MILRAM 85h 49' 22" + 2h 54' 46"
107. HUNTER Robert 58 BARLOWORLD 85h 53' 52" + 2h 59' 16"
108. DEAN Julian 193 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 85h 55' 47" + 3h 01' 11"
109. HANSEN Adam 46 TEAM COLUMBIA 85h 56' 17" + 3h 01' 41"
110. STEEGMANS Gert 97 QUICK STEP 85h 56' 24" + 3h 01' 48"
111. GILBERT Philippe 165 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 85h 57' 44" + 3h 03' 08"
112. WILLEMS Frederik 69 LIQUIGAS 85h 59' 59" + 3h 05' 23"
113. O’GRADY Stuart 15 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 86h 00' 44" + 3h 06' 08"
114. DUMOULIN Samuel 185 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 86h 02' 29" + 3h 07' 53"
115. BONO Matteo 73 LAMPRE 86h 03' 48" + 3h 09' 12"
116. COYOT Arnaud 33 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 86h 04' 39" + 3h 10' 03"
117. FÖRSTER Robert 112 GEROLSTEINER 86h 05' 51" + 3h 11' 15"
118. SORENSEN Nicki 18 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 86h 06' 24" + 3h 11' 48"
119. BURGHARDT Marcus 42 TEAM COLUMBIA 86h 07' 47" + 3h 13' 11"
120. BRARD Florent 183 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 86h 07' 54" + 3h 13' 18"
121. ROY Jérémy 168 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 86h 10' 32" + 3h 15' 56"
122. MC EWEN Robbie 6 SILENCE - LOTTO 86h 11' 45" + 3h 17' 09"
123. RIGHI Daniele 77 LAMPRE 86h 12' 12" + 3h 17' 36"
124. DE JONGH Steven 94 QUICK STEP 86h 12' 18" + 3h 17' 42"
125. GRABSCH Ralf 152 TEAM MILRAM 86h 12' 24" + 3h 17' 48"
126. HAUSSLER Heinrich 114 GEROLSTEINER 86h 12' 47" + 3h 18' 11"
127. KUSCHYNSKI Aleksandr 66 LIQUIGAS 86h 16' 40" + 3h 22' 04"
128. LANGEVELD Sebastian 134 RABOBANK 86h 16' 43" + 3h 22' 07"
129. QUINZIATO Manuel 68 LIQUIGAS 86h 16' 51" + 3h 22' 15"
130. HOSTE Leif 5 SILENCE - LOTTO 86h 17' 03" + 3h 22' 27"
131. MAASKANT Martijn 197 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 86h 18' 57" + 3h 24' 21"
132. FRISCHKORN William 194 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 86h 19' 20" + 3h 24' 44"
133. GERARD Arnaud 164 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 86h 19' 39" + 3h 25' 03"
134. BICHOT Freddy 122 AGRITUBEL 86h 20' 25" + 3h 25' 49"
135. LANCASTER Brett Daniel 154 TEAM MILRAM 86h 20' 43" + 3h 26' 07"
136. ENGOULVENT Jimmy 84 CREDIT AGRICOLE 86h 21' 36" + 3h 27' 00"
137. TERPSTRA Niki 157 TEAM MILRAM 86h 22' 21" + 3h 27' 45"
138. MORI Massimiliano 76 LAMPRE 86h 24' 02" + 3h 29' 26"
139. AUGE Stéphane 182 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 86h 26' 09" + 3h 31' 33"
140. GARCIA ACOSTA Vicente 34 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 86h 26' 38" + 3h 32' 02"
141. RIBLON Christophe 108 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 86h 28' 14" + 3h 33' 38"
142. SPRICK Matthieu 146 BOUYGUES TELECOM 86h 34' 16" + 3h 39' 40"
143. KRAUSS Sven 116 GEROLSTEINER 86h 39' 53" + 3h 45' 17"
144. VANSEVENANT Wim 9 SILENCE - LOTTO 86h 41' 05" + 3h 46' 29"
145. EISEL Bernhard 45 TEAM COLUMBIA 86h 41' 47" + 3h 47' 11"

SPOILER - Stage 19 Wrap-Up and Winner

Here are the dispatches from letour.fr regarding the stage today...

17:14 - Sastre: 38th In Stage - First Overall...

As expected, there has been no change to the top order of the general classification after the 19th stage. The overall leader Carlos Sastre finished 38th in the stage, 1’13" behind Sylvain Chavanel. The Spaniard will be the last rider to start the 20th stage - a 53km time trial.
17:12 - Top 10 In Stage 19

The peloton finished 1’13" behind the two escapees who joined forces at the 81km mark. The top 10 in the 19th stage is:
1. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) COF
2. Jeremy Roy (FRA) FDJ at same time
3. Gerald Ciolek (GER) COL at 1’13"
4. Erik Zabel (GER) MRM at 1’13"
5. Heinrich Haussler (GER) GST at 1’13"
6. Leonardo Duque (COL) COF at 1’13"
7. Filippo Pozzato (ITA) LIQ at 1’13"
8. Thor Hushovd (NOR) C.A at 1’13"
9. Robert Forster (GER) GST at 1’13"
10. Julian Dean (NZL) GAR at 1’13"

Overall standings coming up.

Stage 19 - Things are winding down

I had an epiphany today about blogging the Tour and what value I add to the cycling and reading public. It may not be all that important a topic for people to follow via blogs because there are so many outlets providing dispatches, video and commentary.

My thoughts are informed ones, of course. But I'm not Phil Ligget and I haven't raced a road bike for many years. Even when I rode with Sean Kelly in Ireland in 1998, I had trouble keeping up with him.

So here's the plan for the next few days. Since the tour is only three days from the end (and really just two as the last day is pure ceremony if anyone is up by a minute or so after Saturday), I'm going to just give you the standings and my picks.

If you'd rather I post what's occurring minute by minute, you can either call 206-888-2715 or leave a comment here on the blog.

Otherwise, stay tuned for Stage 19 results.

OH, the upcoming posts won't appear until 9PM as I STILL believe in not giving spoilers.

Thanks for reading!

Stage 19 Overview, Picks and Comment

It's only 163KM and has a couple short climbs. So today's 19th stage will only be dangerous for the leaders if riders take it upon themselves to snatch the win right here and right now.

Based on the standings, the only people I see trying to do that are Kim Kirchen and Denis Menchov. Both have the power to go and stay away. Kirchen could do very well in the time trial and Menchov will just need to get four minutes ahead to reach the podium on Sunday.

That's what I see happening.

Sadly, it looks like George Hincapie won't be able to make up an hour and eight minutes on Sastre today.

C'est la vie.

Oh, the stage goes from Roanne to Montlucon.

SPOILER - Overall Standings After Stage 18

Even though Burghardt finished about six minutes ahead of the pack, the standings didn't change much. Oh, around Burghardt they did. He moved from 134th all the way up to 123rd. OK. He didn't do much damage to Carlos Sastre or the others because they all finished together.

As for poor Cunego, he only dropped to 20th position. But so close to top 10 and now NOT.

Here's how they stand after 18 stages of the 2008 Tour de France.

1. SASTRE Carlos 11 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 79h 16' 14"
2. SCHLECK Frank 17 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 79h 17' 38" + 01' 24"
3. KOHL Bernhard 115 GEROLSTEINER 79h 17' 47" + 01' 33"
4. EVANS Cadel 1 SILENCE - LOTTO 79h 17' 48" + 01' 34"
5. MENCHOV Denis 131 RABOBANK 79h 18' 53" + 02' 39"
6. VANDEVELDE Christian 191 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 79h 20' 55" + 04' 41"
7. VALVERDE Alejandro 31 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 79h 21' 49" + 05' 35"
8. SANCHEZ Samuel 27 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 79h 22' 06" + 05' 52"
9. VALJAVEC Tadej 109 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 79h 24' 24" + 08' 10"
10. EFIMKIN Vladimir 104 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 79h 24' 38" + 08' 24"
11. KIRCHEN Kim 41 TEAM COLUMBIA 79h 24' 49" + 08' 35"
12. SCHLECK Andy 16 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 79h 26' 18" + 10' 04"
13. KREUZIGER Roman 65 LIQUIGAS 79h 28' 16" + 12' 02"
14. CASAR Sandy 161 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 79h 33' 22" + 17' 08"
15. ASTARLOZA Mikel 22 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 79h 36' 21" + 20' 07"
16. BOTCHAROV Alexandre 83 CREDIT AGRICOLE 79h 39' 13" + 22' 59"
17. MOINARD Amaël 187 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 79h 39' 15" + 23' 01"
18. SIUTSOU Konstantsin 49 TEAM COLUMBIA 79h 40' 43" + 24' 29"
19. NIBALI Vincenzo 67 LIQUIGAS 79h 41' 53" + 25' 39"
20. CUNEGO Damiano 71 LAMPRE 79h 42' 02" + 25' 48"
21. FOFONOV Dmitriy 85 CREDIT AGRICOLE 79h 42' 03" + 25' 49"
22. GOUBERT Stephane 107 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 79h 44' 19" + 28' 05"
23. TEN DAM Laurens 138 RABOBANK 79h 45' 41" + 29' 27"
24. MONFORT Maxime 189 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 79h 51' 02" + 34' 48"
25. POPOVYCH Yaroslav 7 SILENCE - LOTTO 79h 51' 21" + 35' 07"
26. SCHUMACHER Stefan 111 GEROLSTEINER 79h 56' 22" + 40' 08"
27. SZMYD Sylvester 78 LAMPRE 79h 58' 46" + 42' 32"
28. DESSEL Cyril 101 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 79h 58' 47" + 42' 33"
29. ARROYO David 32 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 79h 59' 54" + 43' 40"
30. KNEES Christian 153 TEAM MILRAM 80h 00' 02" + 43' 48"
31. AERTS Mario 2 SILENCE - LOTTO 80h 00' 08" + 43' 54"
32. BRUSEGHIN Marzio 74 LAMPRE 80h 00' 48" + 44' 34"
33. FEDRIGO Pierrick 141 BOUYGUES TELECOM 80h 05' 40" + 49' 26"
34. FOTHEN Markus 113 GEROLSTEINER 80h 14' 58" + 58' 44"
35. CARRARA Matteo 93 QUICK STEP 80h 18' 43" + 1h 02' 29"
36. MOERENHOUT Koos 135 RABOBANK 80h 19' 32" + 1h 03' 18"
37. HINCAPIE George 47 TEAM COLUMBIA 80h 24' 42" + 1h 08' 28"
38. PINEAU Jérôme 145 BOUYGUES TELECOM 80h 25' 54" + 1h 09' 40"
39. VOIGT Jens 19 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 80h 27' 45" + 1h 11' 31"
40. GONZALO RAMIREZ Eduardo 125 AGRITUBEL 80h 31' 05" + 1h 14' 51"
41. LE MEVEL Christophe 87 CREDIT AGRICOLE 80h 31' 51" + 1h 15' 37"
42. ZABEL Erik 151 TEAM MILRAM 80h 37' 22" + 1h 21' 08"
43. MONCOUTIE David 188 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 80h 39' 28" + 1h 23' 14"
44. VELO Marco 159 TEAM MILRAM 80h 40' 03" + 1h 23' 49"
45. ZUBELDIA Haimar 21 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 80h 40' 12" + 1h 23' 58"
46. GUSTOV Volodymir 14 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 80h 40' 29" + 1h 24' 15"
47. LÖVKVIST Thomas 48 TEAM COLUMBIA 80h 41' 46" + 1h 25' 32"
48. AUGUSTYN John-Lee 52 BARLOWORLD 80h 46' 27" + 1h 30' 13"
49. DI GREGORIO Rémy 163 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 80h 47' 41" + 1h 31' 27"
50. MARTINEZ Egoi 24 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 80h 48' 45" + 1h 32' 31"
51. FLECHA Juan Antonio 132 RABOBANK 80h 49' 15" + 1h 33' 01"
52. HESJEDAL Ryder 195 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 80h 49' 24" + 1h 33' 10"
53. TIRALONGO Paolo 79 LAMPRE 80h 49' 38" + 1h 33' 24"
54. LOPEZ GARCIA David 36 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 80h 49' 39" + 1h 33' 25"
55. TXURRUKA Amets 28 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 80h 53' 38" + 1h 37' 24"
56. VOGONDY Nicolas 129 AGRITUBEL 80h 54' 43" + 1h 38' 29"
57. TSCHOPP Johann 148 BOUYGUES TELECOM 80h 55' 08" + 1h 38' 54"
58. DUQUE Leonardo 186 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 80h 55' 40" + 1h 39' 26"
59. DUPONT Hubert 103 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 81h 00' 09" + 1h 43' 55"
60. GUTIERREZ José Ivan 35 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 81h 01' 21" + 1h 45' 07"
61. ARVESEN Kurt-Asle 12 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 81h 02' 41" + 1h 46' 27"
62. VELITS Peter 158 TEAM MILRAM 81h 03' 35" + 1h 47' 21"
63. TANKINK Bram 137 RABOBANK 81h 03' 50" + 1h 47' 36"
64. WEENING Pieter 139 RABOBANK 81h 06' 49" + 1h 50' 35"
65. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon 39 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 81h 10' 04" + 1h 53' 50"
66. PORTAL Nicolas 38 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 81h 10' 32" + 1h 54' 18"
67. POZZATO Filippo 61 LIQUIGAS 81h 11' 02" + 1h 54' 48"
68. CHAVANEL Sylvain 181 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 81h 11' 06" + 1h 54' 52"
69. CANCELLARA Fabian 13 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 81h 13' 28" + 1h 57' 14"
70. CIONI Dario 4 SILENCE - LOTTO 81h 15' 21" + 1h 59' 07"
71. MILLAR David 198 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 81h 16' 30" + 2h 00' 16"
72. FREIRE Oscar 133 RABOBANK 81h 17' 11" + 2h 00' 57"
73. ARRIETA Jose Luis 102 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 81h 18' 46" + 2h 02' 32"
74. ELMIGER Martin 105 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 81h 19' 47" + 2h 03' 33"
75. POSTHUMA Joost 136 RABOBANK 81h 20' 45" + 2h 04' 31"
76. VERDUGO Gorka 29 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 81h 21' 22" + 2h 05' 08"
77. LE BOULANGER Yoann 167 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 81h 22' 17" + 2h 06' 03"
78. LOWE Trent 196 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 81h 23' 21" + 2h 07' 07"
79. FISCHER Murilo Antoniobil 64 LIQUIGAS 81h 24' 51" + 2h 08' 37"
80. LANG Sebastian 117 GEROLSTEINER 81h 25' 52" + 2h 09' 38"
81. GERRANS Simon 86 CREDIT AGRICOLE 81h 26' 21" + 2h 10' 07"
82. PAURIOL Rémi 88 CREDIT AGRICOLE 81h 27' 27" + 2h 11' 13"
83. VAN DE WALLE Jurgen 99 QUICK STEP 81h 27' 40" + 2h 11' 26"
84. LELAY David 127 AGRITUBEL 81h 29' 15" + 2h 13' 01"
85. MARZANO Marco 75 LAMPRE 81h 30' 48" + 2h 14' 34"
86. VAUGRENARD Benoît 169 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 81h 33' 37" + 2h 17' 23"
87. LEQUATRE Geoffroy 128 AGRITUBEL 81h 34' 38" + 2h 18' 24"
88. FROOME Christopher 57 BARLOWORLD 81h 35' 03" + 2h 18' 49"
89. LEFEVRE Laurent 144 BOUYGUES TELECOM 81h 37' 22" + 2h 21' 08"
90. VAN SUMMEREN Johan 8 SILENCE - LOTTO 81h 38' 59" + 2h 22' 45"
91. WEGMANN Fabian 119 GEROLSTEINER 81h 39' 57" + 2h 23' 43"
92. CHEULA Gianpaolo 54 BARLOWORLD 81h 41' 28" + 2h 25' 14"
93. SCHOLZ Ronny 118 GEROLSTEINER 81h 45' 12" + 2h 28' 58"
94. BARREDO Carlos 92 QUICK STEP 81h 45' 19" + 2h 29' 05"
95. VOECKLER Thomas 149 BOUYGUES TELECOM 81h 45' 32" + 2h 29' 18"
96. BALLAN Alessandro 72 LAMPRE 81h 45' 44" + 2h 29' 30"
97. CLEMENT Stef 142 BOUYGUES TELECOM 81h 46' 08" + 2h 29' 54"
98. PEREZ Ruben 26 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 81h 46' 26" + 2h 30' 12"
99. TOSATTO Matteo 98 QUICK STEP 81h 48' 17" + 2h 32' 03"
100. PATE Danny 199 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 81h 52' 13" + 2h 35' 59"
101. HUSHOVD Thor 81 CREDIT AGRICOLE 81h 55' 16" + 2h 39' 02"
102. ROSSELER Sébastien 96 QUICK STEP 81h 55' 29" + 2h 39' 15"
103. SCHRÖDER Björn 156 TEAM MILRAM 82h 01' 48" + 2h 45' 34"
104. FLORENCIO Xavier 143 BOUYGUES TELECOM 82h 05' 52" + 2h 49' 38"
105. BONNET William 82 CREDIT AGRICOLE 82h 08' 26" + 2h 52' 12"
106. OROZ Juan José 25 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 82h 08' 27" + 2h 52' 13"
107. ISASI Inaki 23 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 82h 08' 37" + 2h 52' 23"
108. MÜLLER Martin 155 TEAM MILRAM 82h 08' 38" + 2h 52' 24"
109. CIOLEK Gerald 44 TEAM COLUMBIA 82h 10' 07" + 2h 53' 53"
110. HUNTER Robert 58 BARLOWORLD 82h 15' 30" + 2h 59' 16"
111. DEAN Julian 193 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 82h 17' 25" + 3h 01' 11"
112. HANSEN Adam 46 TEAM COLUMBIA 82h 17' 55" + 3h 01' 41"
113. STEEGMANS Gert 97 QUICK STEP 82h 18' 02" + 3h 01' 48"
114. GILBERT Philippe 165 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 82h 19' 22" + 3h 03' 08"
115. WILLEMS Frederik 69 LIQUIGAS 82h 21' 13" + 3h 04' 59"
116. O’GRADY Stuart 15 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 82h 22' 22" + 3h 06' 08"
117. DUMOULIN Samuel 185 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 82h 24' 07" + 3h 07' 53"
118. KUSCHYNSKI Aleksandr 66 LIQUIGAS 82h 24' 46" + 3h 08' 32"
119. BONO Matteo 73 LAMPRE 82h 25' 26" + 3h 09' 12"
120. COYOT Arnaud 33 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 82h 26' 17" + 3h 10' 03"
121. FÖRSTER Robert 112 GEROLSTEINER 82h 27' 29" + 3h 11' 15"
122. SORENSEN Nicki 18 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 82h 28' 02" + 3h 11' 48"
123. BURGHARDT Marcus 42 TEAM COLUMBIA 82h 28' 12" + 3h 11' 58"
124. BICHOT Freddy 122 AGRITUBEL 82h 28' 31" + 3h 12' 17"
125. FEILLU Romain 124 AGRITUBEL 82h 28' 59" + 3h 12' 45"
126. BRARD Florent 183 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 82h 29' 32" + 3h 13' 18"
127. TERPSTRA Niki 157 TEAM MILRAM 82h 30' 27" + 3h 14' 13"
128. RIGHI Daniele 77 LAMPRE 82h 33' 23" + 3h 17' 09"
129. ROY Jérémy 168 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 82h 33' 23" + 3h 17' 09"
130. MC EWEN Robbie 6 SILENCE - LOTTO 82h 33' 23" + 3h 17' 09"
131. DE JONGH Steven 94 QUICK STEP 82h 33' 56" + 3h 17' 42"
132. GRABSCH Ralf 152 TEAM MILRAM 82h 34' 02" + 3h 17' 48"
133. HAUSSLER Heinrich 114 GEROLSTEINER 82h 34' 25" + 3h 18' 11"
134. QUINZIATO Manuel 68 LIQUIGAS 82h 37' 48" + 3h 21' 34"
135. LANGEVELD Sebastian 134 RABOBANK 82h 38' 21" + 3h 22' 07"
136. BRANDT Christophe 3 SILENCE - LOTTO 82h 38' 25" + 3h 22' 11"
137. HOSTE Leif 5 SILENCE - LOTTO 82h 38' 41" + 3h 22' 27"
138. MAASKANT Martijn 197 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 82h 40' 35" + 3h 24' 21"
139. FRISCHKORN William 194 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 82h 40' 58" + 3h 24' 44"
140. GERARD Arnaud 164 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 82h 41' 17" + 3h 25' 03"
141. LANCASTER Brett Daniel 154 TEAM MILRAM 82h 42' 21" + 3h 26' 07"
142. ENGOULVENT Jimmy 84 CREDIT AGRICOLE 82h 43' 14" + 3h 27' 00"
143. MORI Massimiliano 76 LAMPRE 82h 45' 40" + 3h 29' 26"
144. GARCIA ACOSTA Vicente 34 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 82h 47' 35" + 3h 31' 21"
145. AUGE Stéphane 182 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 82h 47' 47" + 3h 31' 33"
146. KRAUSS Sven 116 GEROLSTEINER 82h 47' 59" + 3h 31' 45"
147. RIBLON Christophe 108 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 82h 49' 52" + 3h 33' 38"
148. EISEL Bernhard 45 TEAM COLUMBIA 82h 49' 53" + 3h 33' 39"
149. SPRICK Matthieu 146 BOUYGUES TELECOM 82h 55' 54" + 3h 39' 40"
150. VANSEVENANT Wim 9 SILENCE - LOTTO 83h 02' 02" + 3h 45' 48"

George Hincapie is still 37th.

SPOILER - Stage 18 Winner and Standings

Nice finish overall by the two breakaway riders and Cunego. Cunego found a way to pull back a little time, but he's still back a lot further than he was at the beginning of the day.

How horrible it must be to stand in 14th position with three or four days to go in the Tour and now be somewhere down in the middle of the pack.

Here's how the top five crossed the line in today's 18th Stage...

1. Marcus Burghardt (GER) COL - 196.5km in 4h30’21" (43.61km/h)
2. Carlos Barredo (ESP) QST - at same time
3. Roman Feillu (FRA) AGR - at 3’33"
4. Christophe Le Mevel (FRA) C.A - at 3’33"
5. Mikel Astarloza (ESP) EUS - at 3’35"

YES, Team Columbia won ANOTHER stage. This might hurt the CSC team lead, but I THINK they measure team points or position based on the cumulative times of all the riders. I don't know what they do if a rider drops out.

Be nice if someone would comment and let me know.

Thanks,

Jeff

Only 15KM To Go

The two leaders are ahead by 10:20 and Cunego is behind the peloton by 12:20. There is 15KM left in the stage from where the leaders are spinning and the peloton is nearly 20KM from the end.

From here on out I'll delay the reports until 9PM EST.

But a ten-minute lead might be able to stand because the final climb of the day is at the 8.5KM to go mark.

GO TEAM COLUMBIA. Where is George?

Not really slip sliding away

Even though the peloton is letting some riders jump clear, the yellow jersey isn't in real jeopardy.

With two leaders - Burghardt and Barredo leading, there is a threesome nearly four minutes behind and the peloton is about 11 minutes back.

Sadly, Cunego is ANOTHER ten minutes behind the peloton. But his teammates are helping pull him back into the pack. We'll see if that works.

Oh, all this is happening 108KM into a stage that's nearly 200KM long (197KM to be exact).

Unfortunate for Cunego

While he may not have had a great chance at getting on the podium, a crash has all but taken Cunego out of the race.

According to a dispatch at letour.fr...

13:38 - Cunego Was 14th Overall...

After 3,000.5km of racing, Damiano Cunego was ranked 14th overall. His deficit to Sastre was 12’26" at the start of the day. He crashed at the 28km mark and is racing again with the help of three Lampre team-mates but the last time check had him 9’40" behind a fast moving peloton.

Supreme BUMMER.

After 63KM - Update

The riders have gone 63KM so far in the 18th stage of the 2008 Tour de France and the peloton is all together.

There was a breakaway early on in the race and seven riders were clear by about 48 seconds.

There were also two major crashes - not in terms of numbers but in terms of severity. In one crash Sandy Casar was knocked out of the lead group and rejoined the peloton.

In the other, Damiano Cunego fell and was slow to get up. It took him nearly six minutes to get rolling again and is off the back of the race by seven minutes at this point.

Just Four Days Left

Today's Stage 18 is going to be a trial for the guys who are in the spots 5-10. They're all about 6+ minutes back and to have a whisper of a hope they must blast the peloton open and race for glory today.

In a second I'll give some info about the racing action today. So hold tight while I get race radio tuned in and Tivo buzzing.

*You could do this too, by the way. I'm just serving as a delivery boy for TDF info. When I've been blogging FROM the Tour de France, the updates have a lot more personal flavor to them because I'm surrounded by people, the weather and the food.

When I'm sitting at my desk with a cup of Earl Grey at my elbow, the recaps probably lack a little umph.

Well, I'm trying. If you have something to say or want to share your own Tour memories, leave them in the comments. Back shortly.

An Open Note to Bicycling Magazine

The idiots at Bicycling Magazine who send out their daily Tour email don't understand the protocol behind NOT spoiling the race result.

Day after day I get an email from them with the stage result trumpeted in the subject line.

I weep for the audience who hasn't had the time to watch the latest stage and I shake my fist at Bicycling for not waking up.

How hard would it be for the people running emails at Rodale to just put - STAGE 17 Results - in the subject line instead of - Sastre Takes Yellow From Schleck?

That's like telling other people who got booted from Top Chef or what happened in the latest episode of Burn Notice.

I know you're living in Floyd Landis country and might not have the knowledge of how technology should be used. But let this serve as your friendly reminder that some people don't flip to the last page of a book to see how it turns out.

Thanks in advance for fixing your methods.

Stage 18 Overview, Picks and Comment

Stage 18 runs back out of Alpe d'Huez country and across a handful of mountains. The stage is a hilly 197KM jaunt and will prove difficult for some who had trouble in the previous mountain stages.

Carlos Sastre has to hang on and ride at the front with such a small lead. He might even entertain thoughts of attacking and putting more time into Schleck and Evans.

George Hincapie is done for the 2008 race - he's still in it but won't win. Bummer.

My thoughts for today's stage are that it's anyone's game. This and stage 19 are the riders' last chances to win a stage and maybe even take home the overall victory.

You won't see Cadel far from the front. You MIGHT see riders like Denis Menchov and Christian Vandevelde team up to blast away from the front.

Like I said, anyone's game.

SPOILER - Overall Standings After Stage 17

Here's the shake-out after Carlos Sastre's heroic effort up Alpe d'Huez today.

One more rider dropped out (there are 150 left) and George Hincapie lost some more time but moved up in the GC places. He's now 37th.

1. SASTRE Carlos 11 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 74h 39' 03"
2. SCHLECK Frank 17 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 74h 40' 27" + 01' 24"
3. KOHL Bernhard 115 GEROLSTEINER 74h 40' 36" + 01' 33"
4. EVANS Cadel 1 SILENCE - LOTTO 74h 40' 37" + 01' 34"
5. MENCHOV Denis 131 RABOBANK 74h 41' 42" + 02' 39"
6. VANDEVELDE Christian 191 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 74h 43' 44" + 04' 41"
7. VALVERDE Alejandro 31 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 74h 44' 38" + 05' 35"
8. SANCHEZ Samuel 27 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 74h 44' 55" + 05' 52"
9. VALJAVEC Tadej 109 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 74h 47' 13" + 08' 10"
10. EFIMKIN Vladimir 104 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 74h 47' 27" + 08' 24"
11. KIRCHEN Kim 41 TEAM COLUMBIA 74h 47' 38" + 08' 35"
12. SCHLECK Andy 16 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 74h 49' 18" + 10' 15"
13. KREUZIGER Roman 65 LIQUIGAS 74h 51' 16" + 12' 13"
14. CUNEGO Damiano 71 LAMPRE 74h 51' 29" + 12' 26"
15. CASAR Sandy 161 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 74h 56' 11" + 17' 08"
16. BOTCHAROV Alexandre 83 CREDIT AGRICOLE 75h 02' 02" + 22' 59"
17. MOINARD Amaël 187 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 75h 02' 04" + 23' 01"
18. ASTARLOZA Mikel 22 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 75h 02' 25" + 23' 22"
19. SIUTSOU Konstantsin 49 TEAM COLUMBIA 75h 03' 32" + 24' 29"
20. NIBALI Vincenzo 67 LIQUIGAS 75h 04' 42" + 25' 39"
21. FOFONOV Dmitriy 85 CREDIT AGRICOLE 75h 04' 52" + 25' 49"
22. GOUBERT Stephane 107 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 75h 07' 08" + 28' 05"
23. TEN DAM Laurens 138 RABOBANK 75h 08' 13" + 29' 10"
24. MONFORT Maxime 189 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 75h 13' 51" + 34' 48"
25. POPOVYCH Yaroslav 7 SILENCE - LOTTO 75h 14' 10" + 35' 07"
26. SCHUMACHER Stefan 111 GEROLSTEINER 75h 19' 11" + 40' 08"
27. SZMYD Sylvester 78 LAMPRE 75h 21' 35" + 42' 32"
28. DESSEL Cyril 101 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 75h 21' 47" + 42' 44"
29. ARROYO David 32 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 75h 22' 26" + 43' 23"
30. KNEES Christian 153 TEAM MILRAM 75h 22' 51" + 43' 48"
31. AERTS Mario 2 SILENCE - LOTTO 75h 22' 57" + 43' 54"
32. BRUSEGHIN Marzio 74 LAMPRE 75h 23' 37" + 44' 34"
33. FEDRIGO Pierrick 141 BOUYGUES TELECOM 75h 28' 12" + 49' 09"
34. FOTHEN Markus 113 GEROLSTEINER 75h 37' 47" + 58' 44"
35. CARRARA Matteo 93 QUICK STEP 75h 41' 32" + 1h 02' 29"
36. MOERENHOUT Koos 135 RABOBANK 75h 42' 21" + 1h 03' 18"
37. HINCAPIE George 47 TEAM COLUMBIA 75h 47' 31" + 1h 08' 28"
38. PINEAU Jérôme 145 BOUYGUES TELECOM 75h 48' 43" + 1h 09' 40"
39. VOIGT Jens 19 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 75h 50' 34" + 1h 11' 31"
40. GONZALO RAMIREZ Eduardo 125 AGRITUBEL 75h 53' 54" + 1h 14' 51"
41. LE MEVEL Christophe 87 CREDIT AGRICOLE 75h 57' 57" + 1h 18' 54"
42. TIRALONGO Paolo 79 LAMPRE 75h 59' 05" + 1h 20' 02"
43. ZABEL Erik 151 TEAM MILRAM 76h 00' 11" + 1h 21' 08"
44. MONCOUTIE David 188 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 76h 02' 00" + 1h 22' 57"
45. VELO Marco 159 TEAM MILRAM 76h 02' 52" + 1h 23' 49"
46. ZUBELDIA Haimar 21 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 76h 03' 01" + 1h 23' 58"
47. GUSTOV Volodymir 14 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 76h 03' 18" + 1h 24' 15"
48. LÖVKVIST Thomas 48 TEAM COLUMBIA 76h 04' 35" + 1h 25' 32"
49. AUGUSTYN John-Lee 52 BARLOWORLD 76h 09' 16" + 1h 30' 13"
50. DI GREGORIO Rémy 163 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 76h 10' 13" + 1h 31' 10"
51. MARTINEZ Egoi 24 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 76h 11' 34" + 1h 32' 31"
52. FLECHA Juan Antonio 132 RABOBANK 76h 12' 04" + 1h 33' 01"
53. LOPEZ GARCIA David 36 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 76h 12' 11" + 1h 33' 08"
54. HESJEDAL Ryder 195 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 76h 12' 13" + 1h 33' 10"
55. TXURRUKA Amets 28 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 76h 16' 10" + 1h 37' 07"
56. VOGONDY Nicolas 129 AGRITUBEL 76h 17' 15" + 1h 38' 12"
57. TSCHOPP Johann 148 BOUYGUES TELECOM 76h 17' 40" + 1h 38' 37"
58. DUQUE Leonardo 186 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 76h 18' 29" + 1h 39' 26"
59. DUPONT Hubert 103 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 76h 22' 58" + 1h 43' 55"
60. GUTIERREZ José Ivan 35 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 76h 23' 53" + 1h 44' 50"
61. ARVESEN Kurt-Asle 12 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 76h 25' 30" + 1h 46' 27"
62. VELITS Peter 158 TEAM MILRAM 76h 26' 24" + 1h 47' 21"
63. TANKINK Bram 137 RABOBANK 76h 26' 39" + 1h 47' 36"
64. WEENING Pieter 139 RABOBANK 76h 29' 21" + 1h 50' 18"
65. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon 39 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 76h 32' 36" + 1h 53' 33"
66. PORTAL Nicolas 38 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 76h 33' 21" + 1h 54' 18"
67. POZZATO Filippo 61 LIQUIGAS 76h 33' 51" + 1h 54' 48"
68. CHAVANEL Sylvain 181 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 76h 33' 55" + 1h 54' 52"
69. CANCELLARA Fabian 13 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 76h 35' 23" + 1h 56' 20"
70. CIONI Dario 4 SILENCE - LOTTO 76h 38' 10" + 1h 59' 07"
71. MILLAR David 198 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 76h 39' 19" + 2h 00' 16"
72. FREIRE Oscar 133 RABOBANK 76h 40' 00" + 2h 00' 57"
73. MARZANO Marco 75 LAMPRE 76h 40' 15" + 2h 01' 12"
74. ARRIETA Jose Luis 102 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 76h 41' 18" + 2h 02' 15"
75. ELMIGER Martin 105 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 76h 42' 36" + 2h 03' 33"
76. POSTHUMA Joost 136 RABOBANK 76h 43' 17" + 2h 04' 14"
77. VERDUGO Gorka 29 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 76h 43' 54" + 2h 04' 51"
78. LE BOULANGER Yoann 167 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 76h 44' 49" + 2h 05' 46"
79. LOWE Trent 196 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 76h 46' 10" + 2h 07' 07"
80. FISCHER Murilo Antoniobil 64 LIQUIGAS 76h 47' 40" + 2h 08' 37"
81. LANG Sebastian 117 GEROLSTEINER 76h 48' 41" + 2h 09' 38"
82. GERRANS Simon 86 CREDIT AGRICOLE 76h 48' 53" + 2h 09' 50"
83. PAURIOL Rémi 88 CREDIT AGRICOLE 76h 49' 59" + 2h 10' 56"
84. VAN DE WALLE Jurgen 99 QUICK STEP 76h 50' 12" + 2h 11' 09"
85. LELAY David 127 AGRITUBEL 76h 52' 04" + 2h 13' 01"
86. VAUGRENARD Benoît 169 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 76h 54' 39" + 2h 15' 36"
87. LEQUATRE Geoffroy 128 AGRITUBEL 76h 57' 27" + 2h 18' 24"
88. FROOME Christopher 57 BARLOWORLD 76h 57' 35" + 2h 18' 32"
89. LEFEVRE Laurent 144 BOUYGUES TELECOM 76h 59' 54" + 2h 20' 51"
90. WEGMANN Fabian 119 GEROLSTEINER 77h 01' 28" + 2h 22' 25"
91. VAN SUMMEREN Johan 8 SILENCE - LOTTO 77h 01' 31" + 2h 22' 28"
92. CHEULA Gianpaolo 54 BARLOWORLD 77h 02' 59" + 2h 23' 56"
93. VOECKLER Thomas 149 BOUYGUES TELECOM 77h 07' 00" + 2h 27' 57"
94. SCHOLZ Ronny 118 GEROLSTEINER 77h 08' 01" + 2h 28' 58"
95. BALLAN Alessandro 72 LAMPRE 77h 08' 33" + 2h 29' 30"
96. CLEMENT Stef 142 BOUYGUES TELECOM 77h 08' 40" + 2h 29' 37"
97. PEREZ Ruben 26 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 77h 09' 15" + 2h 30' 12"
98. TOSATTO Matteo 98 QUICK STEP 77h 10' 49" + 2h 31' 46"
99. PATE Danny 199 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 77h 13' 15" + 2h 34' 12"
100. BARREDO Carlos 92 QUICK STEP 77h 14' 58" + 2h 35' 55"
101. ROSSELER Sébastien 96 QUICK STEP 77h 18' 01" + 2h 38' 58"
102. HUSHOVD Thor 81 CREDIT AGRICOLE 77h 18' 05" + 2h 39' 02"
103. SCHRÖDER Björn 156 TEAM MILRAM 77h 24' 20" + 2h 45' 17"
104. FLORENCIO Xavier 143 BOUYGUES TELECOM 77h 28' 41" + 2h 49' 38"
105. OROZ Juan José 25 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 77h 30' 59" + 2h 51' 56"
106. BONNET William 82 CREDIT AGRICOLE 77h 31' 15" + 2h 52' 12"
107. ISASI Inaki 23 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 77h 31' 26" + 2h 52' 23"
108. MÜLLER Martin 155 TEAM MILRAM 77h 31' 27" + 2h 52' 24"
109. CIOLEK Gerald 44 TEAM COLUMBIA 77h 32' 39" + 2h 53' 36"
110. HUNTER Robert 58 BARLOWORLD 77h 38' 19" + 2h 59' 16"
111. STEEGMANS Gert 97 QUICK STEP 77h 39' 30" + 3h 00' 27"
112. DEAN Julian 193 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 77h 40' 14" + 3h 01' 11"
113. HANSEN Adam 46 TEAM COLUMBIA 77h 40' 44" + 3h 01' 41"
114. GILBERT Philippe 165 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 77h 41' 54" + 3h 02' 51"
115. RIGHI Daniele 77 LAMPRE 77h 42' 50" + 3h 03' 47"
116. WILLEMS Frederik 69 LIQUIGAS 77h 43' 45" + 3h 04' 42"
117. O’GRADY Stuart 15 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 77h 45' 11" + 3h 06' 08"
118. DUMOULIN Samuel 185 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 77h 47' 07" + 3h 08' 04"
119. KUSCHYNSKI Aleksandr 66 LIQUIGAS 77h 47' 35" + 3h 08' 32"
120. BONO Matteo 73 LAMPRE 77h 47' 58" + 3h 08' 55"
121. FÖRSTER Robert 112 GEROLSTEINER 77h 48' 54" + 3h 09' 51"
122. COYOT Arnaud 33 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 77h 49' 06" + 3h 10' 03"
123. BICHOT Freddy 122 AGRITUBEL 77h 49' 33" + 3h 10' 30"
124. SORENSEN Nicki 18 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 77h 50' 34" + 3h 11' 31"
125. TERPSTRA Niki 157 TEAM MILRAM 77h 51' 36" + 3h 12' 33"
126. BRARD Florent 183 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 77h 52' 04" + 3h 13' 01"
127. MC EWEN Robbie 6 SILENCE - LOTTO 77h 54' 25" + 3h 15' 22"
128. FEILLU Romain 124 AGRITUBEL 77h 55' 05" + 3h 16' 02"
129. MORI Massimiliano 76 LAMPRE 77h 55' 07" + 3h 16' 04"
130. ROY Jérémy 168 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 77h 55' 55" + 3h 16' 52"
131. DE JONGH Steven 94 QUICK STEP 77h 56' 45" + 3h 17' 42"
132. GRABSCH Ralf 152 TEAM MILRAM 77h 56' 51" + 3h 17' 48"
133. HAUSSLER Heinrich 114 GEROLSTEINER 77h 57' 14" + 3h 18' 11"
134. BURGHARDT Marcus 42 TEAM COLUMBIA 77h 57' 51" + 3h 18' 48"
135. QUINZIATO Manuel 68 LIQUIGAS 78h 00' 20" + 3h 21' 17"
136. LANGEVELD Sebastian 134 RABOBANK 78h 01' 10" + 3h 22' 07"
137. BRANDT Christophe 3 SILENCE - LOTTO 78h 01' 14" + 3h 22' 11"
138. HOSTE Leif 5 SILENCE - LOTTO 78h 01' 41" + 3h 22' 38"
139. MAASKANT Martijn 197 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 78h 01' 44" + 3h 22' 41"
140. FRISCHKORN William 194 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 78h 03' 47" + 3h 24' 44"
141. GERARD Arnaud 164 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 78h 04' 06" + 3h 25' 03"
142. LANCASTER Brett Daniel 154 TEAM MILRAM 78h 04' 53" + 3h 25' 50"
143. ENGOULVENT Jimmy 84 CREDIT AGRICOLE 78h 06' 03" + 3h 27' 00"
144. GARCIA ACOSTA Vicente 34 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 78h 10' 07" + 3h 31' 04"
145. AUGE Stéphane 182 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 78h 10' 36" + 3h 31' 33"
146. KRAUSS Sven 116 GEROLSTEINER 78h 10' 48" + 3h 31' 45"
147. EISEL Bernhard 45 TEAM COLUMBIA 78h 12' 25" + 3h 33' 22"
148. RIBLON Christophe 108 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 78h 12' 41" + 3h 33' 38"
149. SPRICK Matthieu 146 BOUYGUES TELECOM 78h 18' 26" + 3h 39' 23"
150. VANSEVENANT Wim 9 SILENCE - LOTTO 78h 24' 24" + 3h 45' 21"

SPOILER - Top 10 in Stage 17

George Hincapie is nowhere to be found right now. I hope he didn't crack.

Here's the top ten in stage 17 of the 2008 Tour de France...

1. Carlos Sastre (ESP) CSC - 210.5km in 6h’07’58" (34.323km/h)
2. Samuel Sanchez (ESP) EUS - at 2’03"
3. Andy Schleck (LUX) CSC at 2’03"
4. Alejandro Valverde (ESP) GCE - at 2’13"
5. Frank Schleck (LUX) CSC - at 2’13"
6. Vladimir Efimkin (RUS) ALM - at 2’15"
7. Cadel Evans (AUS) SIL - at 2’15"
8. Denis Menchov (RUS) RAB - at 2’15"
9. Christian Vande Velde (USA) GAR - at 2’15"
10. Bernhard Kohl (AUT) GST - at 2’15"

SPOILER - SASTRE WINS

He's blasted the pack and won his second stage in the Tour de France. His first occurred in 2003.

Nice work Carlos. You've put two minutes into the field and might just hang on for a few stages or even to Paris.

What about your time trialing ability? Hmmmmmm. That could be the clincher or could give Evans back the yellow on the Champs-Elysees.

Complete standings shortly.

SPOILER - 1KM TO GO

Sastre is only 1KM from the finish. The CSC rider is going to win this stage.

Results and standings in a few moments.

SPOILER - 3KM to go in Stage 17

Sastre is still ahead - now by 2:20 - with only 3KM to go.

At this pace he's smashing the top five and will be the seventh yellow jersey wearer of this year's Tour.

Evans is trying to eat into that time by pedaling furiously, but it's not reeling Sastre back yet.

SPOILER - 5KM left in the race

The other post was a little premature as the peloton and Sastre had a few KM to go before hitting the first of 21 bends in the vicious Alpe d'Huez ascent. He's now 5KM from the finish and looks to have the race well in hand. As long as he doesn't crack on the mountain.

Race radio tells me that Sastre has a lead of 1:50 over the field and that puts him 1:01 ahead of Schleck and 1:03 or so ahead of Evans.

This was unexpected. Not as unexpected as KFC sauceless hot wings, but still kinda whacky.

SPOILER - The Situation on Alpe d'Huez

On the mountain it looks like we will have a change AGAIN in the yellow jersey.

Before even mounting the Alpe d'Huez, Sastra was 0:48 ahead of the peloton and not slowing. If he wins the stage, it will be his second of the 2008 TDF and will put him in the lead.

He started the day behind by 0:49. In the time it took me to write this he has built his lead to 0:55.

Where is George?????

Fly to the Finish Sweepstakes Stage 17 Word

The Saab contest word of the day is "Soar".

Let me tell you that some of these words are lame. Did I already tell you that the other day? Well, it bears repeating.

LAME!

Out of Bourg d'Oisans and on to Alpe d'Huez

The low level slopes of Alpe d'Huez are ahead of the peloton. There are two riders ahead - Sastre and Pineau.

With the scant lead Sastre has, he could be the overall leader if he finishes with the same gap he possesses now.

The rest of my info will be in SPOILER form and won't show up here until after 9PM tonight.

Oh, Saab word of the day is coming.

Lead is cut by CSC

Fabian Cancellara and the rest of the CSC crew has demolished the lead. The yellow jersey peloton is now made up of these guys and more -

Evans, Arvesen, Frank, Andy, Kohl, Valverde, Menchov, Fofonov, Siutsou, Moncoutie, Aerts, Arroyo, Kirchen, Efimkin, Valjavec, Weening, Mounard, Vandevelde.

I'm hoping Hincapie is close.

The leader is just one rider, Velits, and he's just over a minute ahead. Two hors category climbs loom and here comes destruction.

Hincapie CRASH

George crashed but quickly got up and rejoined the peloton.

Phew. Hope my predictions aren't causing people to run into danger.

As the four breakaway riders arrived at the Col de la Croix de Fer, they were nearly 7:00 ahead of the peloton.

The hors category climb is 29KM and I fear it will further splinter the riders. It's time for George to attack.

Col du Galiber

At the top of this first hors category climb the results were as follows...

1. Stefan Schumacher (GST) 20pts - and 5,000 Euros for ’Souvenir Henri Desgrange’
2. Remy Di Gregorio (FDJ) 18pts
3. Peter Velits (MRM) 16pts
4. Ruben Perez (EUS) 14pts
5. Bernhard Kohl (GST) 12pts - at 4’45"
6. Thomas Voeckler (BTL) 10pts
7. John-Lee Augustyn (BAR) 8pts
8. Amets Txurruka (EUS) 7pts - at 4’55"
9. Kantstantin Siutsou (COL) 6pts
10. Carlos Barredo (QST) 5pts - at 5’00"

Schumacher, Perez, Velits and Di Gregorio lead the yellow jersey's peloton by four minutes on the descent.

Even after Perez crashed over the side of the mountain!

Kohl has broken away and is the virtual leader on the road as of right now at the top of Galiber. More in a second, I don't think the Kohl lead can last.

First climb of the day

Courtesy of letour.fr...

The points for the first climb of stage 17 were won by:
1. Stefan Schumacher (GST) 4pts
2. Remy Di Gregorio (FDJ) 3pts
3. Ruben Perez (EUS) 2pts
4. Peter Velits (MRM) 1pt

The peloton seems as if it doesn't care about the group ahead, and based on the riders' positions that makes sense. But some teams want to ensure a team title in the 2008 Tour, so I bet CSC will start reeling these breakaway riders back in at some point before the next climb.

All that's left are hors category mountains culminating with the Alpe d'Huez.

Stage 17 Overview, Picks and Comment

Today's Alpe d'Huez stage is a mere 210KM. Think about that.

In 2004 I drove up Alpe d'Huez in a rental car. The car was suicidal by the time we finished the 20+ switchbacks.

It's daunting, it's dangerous, it will crack the pack.

I have NOT looked at any dispatches yet today and I KNOW the stage is about over. But I'll start giving recaps in a minute up to the base of the Alpe d'Huez. Then the rest of me posts will be after 9PM so as not to spoil your enjoyment of the race.

Oh, just in case you were wondering, Alpe d'Huez is only ONE of THREE hors category climbs in today's Stage 17.

It runs from Embrun to Alpe d'Huez and there's a catagory 3 climb right at the beginning.

My thoughts?

A peloton that's blasted to bits. Hincapie wins the stage. We lose nine riders just on the stage itself. The top ten riders will be separated by five minutes, but the gap to the top man will be 4 minutes PLUS. It will end up being Denis Menchov who breaks away with Hincapie and takes 2nd.

Wild predictions? Sure. But since I haven't been right yet, I might as well throw in some fun. Enjoy.

Stage 16 - STANDINGS

Here's what the field looked like at the start of today's Alpe d'Huez stage.

Another handful of riders gone and only 151 cyclists still in the race.

1. SCHLECK Frank 17 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 68h 30' 16"
2. KOHL Bernhard 115 GEROLSTEINER 68h 30' 23" + 00' 07"
3. EVANS Cadel 1 SILENCE - LOTTO 68h 30' 24" + 00' 08"
4. SASTRE Carlos 11 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 68h 31' 05" + 00' 49"
5. MENCHOV Denis 131 RABOBANK 68h 31' 29" + 01' 13"
6. VANDEVELDE Christian 191 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 68h 33' 31" + 03' 15"
7. KIRCHEN Kim 41 TEAM COLUMBIA 68h 33' 39" + 03' 23"
8. VALVERDE Alejandro 31 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 68h 34' 27" + 04' 11"
9. SANCHEZ Samuel 27 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 68h 34' 54" + 04' 38"
10. VALJAVEC Tadej 109 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 68h 35' 39" + 05' 23"
11. EFIMKIN Vladimir 104 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 68h 37' 14" + 06' 58"
12. CUNEGO Damiano 71 LAMPRE 68h 37' 59" + 07' 43"
13. ASTARLOZA Mikel 22 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 68h 38' 19" + 08' 03"
14. SCHLECK Andy 16 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 68h 39' 17" + 09' 01"
15. NIBALI Vincenzo 67 LIQUIGAS 68h 39' 23" + 09' 07"
16. KREUZIGER Roman 65 LIQUIGAS 68h 40' 07" + 09' 51"
17. MONFORT Maxime 189 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 68h 41' 35" + 11' 19"
18. CASAR Sandy 161 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 68h 42' 48" + 12' 32"
19. BOTCHAROV Alexandre 83 CREDIT AGRICOLE 68h 47' 05" + 16' 49"
20. TEN DAM Laurens 138 RABOBANK 68h 48' 00" + 17' 44"
21. MOINARD Amaël 187 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 68h 48' 26" + 18' 10"
22. SIUTSOU Konstantsin 49 TEAM COLUMBIA 68h 49' 26" + 19' 10"
23. POPOVYCH Yaroslav 7 SILENCE - LOTTO 68h 50' 04" + 19' 48"
24. KNEES Christian 153 TEAM MILRAM 68h 50' 35" + 20' 19"
25. FOFONOV Dmitriy 85 CREDIT AGRICOLE 68h 51' 26" + 21' 10"
26. SCHUMACHER Stefan 111 GEROLSTEINER 68h 52' 21" + 22' 05"
27. BRUSEGHIN Marzio 74 LAMPRE 68h 55' 15" + 24' 59"
28. GOUBERT Stephane 107 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 68h 55' 20" + 25' 04"
29. CARRARA Matteo 93 QUICK STEP 68h 55' 34" + 25' 18"
30. SZMYD Sylvester 78 LAMPRE 69h 02' 55" + 32' 39"
31. DESSEL Cyril 101 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 69h 03' 05" + 32' 49"
32. FEDRIGO Pierrick 141 BOUYGUES TELECOM 69h 04' 06" + 33' 50"
33. ARROYO David 32 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 69h 04' 16" + 34' 00"
34. FOTHEN Markus 113 GEROLSTEINER 69h 05' 31" + 35' 15"
35. GONZALO RAMIREZ Eduardo 125 AGRITUBEL 69h 07' 56" + 37' 40"
36. AERTS Mario 2 SILENCE - LOTTO 69h 08' 58" + 38' 42"
37. VOIGT Jens 19 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 69h 14' 34" + 44' 18"
38. HINCAPIE George 47 TEAM COLUMBIA 69h 15' 15" + 44' 59"
39. MOERENHOUT Koos 135 RABOBANK 69h 24' 06" + 53' 50"
40. LE MEVEL Christophe 87 CREDIT AGRICOLE 69h 25' 41" + 55' 25"
41. FLECHA Juan Antonio 132 RABOBANK 69h 26' 06" + 55' 50"
42. TIRALONGO Paolo 79 LAMPRE 69h 26' 30" + 56' 14"
43. PINEAU Jérôme 145 BOUYGUES TELECOM 69h 28' 35" + 58' 19"
44. VELO Marco 159 TEAM MILRAM 69h 30' 36" + 1h 00' 20"
45. ZUBELDIA Haimar 21 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 69h 30' 45" + 1h 00' 29"
46. TSCHOPP Johann 148 BOUYGUES TELECOM 69h 31' 42" + 1h 01' 26"
47. LÖVKVIST Thomas 48 TEAM COLUMBIA 69h 32' 19" + 1h 02' 03"
48. ZABEL Erik 151 TEAM MILRAM 69h 35' 03" + 1h 04' 47"
49. GUSTOV Volodymir 14 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 69h 36' 10" + 1h 05' 54"
50. AUGUSTYN John-Lee 52 BARLOWORLD 69h 37' 00" + 1h 06' 44"
51. DI GREGORIO Rémy 163 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 69h 37' 36" + 1h 07' 20"
52. GUTIERREZ José Ivan 35 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 69h 37' 55" + 1h 07' 39"
53. MARTINEZ Egoi 24 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 69h 39' 18" + 1h 09' 02"
54. DUQUE Leonardo 186 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 69h 42' 26" + 1h 12' 10"
55. TXURRUKA Amets 28 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 69h 43' 54" + 1h 13' 38"
56. HESJEDAL Ryder 195 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 69h 45' 56" + 1h 15' 40"
57. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon 39 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 69h 46' 38" + 1h 16' 22"
58. PORTAL Nicolas 38 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 69h 47' 23" + 1h 17' 07"
59. POZZATO Filippo 61 LIQUIGAS 69h 47' 53" + 1h 17' 37"
60. CHAVANEL Sylvain 181 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 69h 47' 57" + 1h 17' 41"
61. MONCOUTIE David 188 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 69h 49' 05" + 1h 18' 49"
62. LOPEZ GARCIA David 36 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 69h 49' 52" + 1h 19' 36"
63. DUPONT Hubert 103 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 69h 51' 52" + 1h 21' 36"
64. CIONI Dario 4 SILENCE - LOTTO 69h 52' 12" + 1h 21' 56"
65. MILLAR David 198 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 69h 53' 21" + 1h 23' 05"
66. TANKINK Bram 137 RABOBANK 69h 54' 23" + 1h 24' 07"
67. ARVESEN Kurt-Asle 12 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 69h 55' 19" + 1h 25' 03"
68. VELITS Peter 158 TEAM MILRAM 70h 01' 16" + 1h 31' 00"
69. FISCHER Murilo Antoniobil 64 LIQUIGAS 70h 01' 42" + 1h 31' 26"
70. LANG Sebastian 117 GEROLSTEINER 70h 02' 43" + 1h 32' 27"
71. GERRANS Simon 86 CREDIT AGRICOLE 70h 02' 55" + 1h 32' 39"
72. FREIRE Oscar 133 RABOBANK 70h 03' 57" + 1h 33' 41"
73. VOGONDY Nicolas 129 AGRITUBEL 70h 04' 01" + 1h 33' 45"
74. PAURIOL Rémi 88 CREDIT AGRICOLE 70h 04' 01" + 1h 33' 45"
75. MARZANO Marco 75 LAMPRE 70h 04' 22" + 1h 34' 06"
76. CANCELLARA Fabian 13 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 70h 05' 12" + 1h 34' 56"
77. LELAY David 127 AGRITUBEL 70h 06' 06" + 1h 35' 50"
78. LOWE Trent 196 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 70h 06' 24" + 1h 36' 08"
79. VAUGRENARD Benoît 169 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 70h 08' 41" + 1h 38' 25"
80. ARRIETA Jose Luis 102 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 70h 09' 02" + 1h 38' 46"
81. POSTHUMA Joost 136 RABOBANK 70h 11' 01" + 1h 40' 45"
82. LEQUATRE Geoffroy 128 AGRITUBEL 70h 11' 29" + 1h 41' 13"
83. ELMIGER Martin 105 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 70h 11' 30" + 1h 41' 14"
84. WEENING Pieter 139 RABOBANK 70h 12' 01" + 1h 41' 45"
85. LE BOULANGER Yoann 167 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 70h 12' 33" + 1h 42' 17"
86. WEGMANN Fabian 119 GEROLSTEINER 70h 15' 30" + 1h 45' 14"
87. VAN DE WALLE Jurgen 99 QUICK STEP 70h 17' 56" + 1h 47' 40"
88. VOECKLER Thomas 149 BOUYGUES TELECOM 70h 21' 02" + 1h 50' 46"
89. SCHOLZ Ronny 118 GEROLSTEINER 70h 22' 03" + 1h 51' 47"
90. CLEMENT Stef 142 BOUYGUES TELECOM 70h 22' 42" + 1h 52' 26"
91. PEREZ Ruben 26 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 70h 23' 07" + 1h 52' 51"
92. TOSATTO Matteo 98 QUICK STEP 70h 24' 51" + 1h 54' 35"
93. VERDUGO Gorka 29 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 70h 26' 34" + 1h 56' 18"
94. PATE Danny 199 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 70h 27' 17" + 1h 57' 01"
95. BALLAN Alessandro 72 LAMPRE 70h 28' 47" + 1h 58' 31"
96. CHEULA Gianpaolo 54 BARLOWORLD 70h 30' 43" + 2h 00' 27"
97. ROSSELER Sébastien 96 QUICK STEP 70h 32' 03" + 2h 01' 47"
98. HUSHOVD Thor 81 CREDIT AGRICOLE 70h 32' 07" + 2h 01' 51"
99. VAN SUMMEREN Johan 8 SILENCE - LOTTO 70h 37' 25" + 2h 07' 09"
100. FROOME Christopher 57 BARLOWORLD 70h 37' 56" + 2h 07' 40"
101. BARREDO Carlos 92 QUICK STEP 70h 38' 55" + 2h 08' 39"
102. LEFEVRE Laurent 144 BOUYGUES TELECOM 70h 41' 44" + 2h 11' 28"
103. FLORENCIO Xavier 143 BOUYGUES TELECOM 70h 42' 43" + 2h 12' 27"
104. OROZ Juan José 25 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 70h 45' 01" + 2h 14' 45"
105. BONNET William 82 CREDIT AGRICOLE 70h 45' 17" + 2h 15' 01"
106. ISASI Inaki 23 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 70h 45' 28" + 2h 15' 12"
107. MÜLLER Martin 155 TEAM MILRAM 70h 45' 29" + 2h 15' 13"
108. CIOLEK Gerald 44 TEAM COLUMBIA 70h 46' 41" + 2h 16' 25"
109. SCHRÖDER Björn 156 TEAM MILRAM 70h 48' 17" + 2h 18' 01"
110. HUNTER Robert 58 BARLOWORLD 70h 52' 21" + 2h 22' 05"
111. DEAN Julian 193 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 70h 54' 16" + 2h 24' 00"
112. HANSEN Adam 46 TEAM COLUMBIA 70h 54' 46" + 2h 24' 30"
113. GILBERT Philippe 165 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 70h 55' 56" + 2h 25' 40"
114. WILLEMS Frederik 69 LIQUIGAS 70h 57' 47" + 2h 27' 31"
115. O’GRADY Stuart 15 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 70h 59' 13" + 2h 28' 57"
116. DUMOULIN Samuel 185 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 71h 01' 09" + 2h 30' 53"
117. KUSCHYNSKI Aleksandr 66 LIQUIGAS 71h 01' 37" + 2h 31' 21"
118. BONO Matteo 73 LAMPRE 71h 02' 00" + 2h 31' 44"
119. FÖRSTER Robert 112 GEROLSTEINER 71h 02' 56" + 2h 32' 40"
120. RIGHI Daniele 77 LAMPRE 71h 03' 04" + 2h 32' 48"
121. COYOT Arnaud 33 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 71h 03' 08" + 2h 32' 52"
122. BICHOT Freddy 122 AGRITUBEL 71h 03' 35" + 2h 33' 19"
123. SORENSEN Nicki 18 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 71h 04' 36" + 2h 34' 20"
124. TERPSTRA Niki 157 TEAM MILRAM 71h 05' 38" + 2h 35' 22"
125. MC EWEN Robbie 6 SILENCE - LOTTO 71h 08' 27" + 2h 38' 11"
126. FEILLU Romain 124 AGRITUBEL 71h 09' 07" + 2h 38' 51"
127. MORI Massimiliano 76 LAMPRE 71h 09' 09" + 2h 38' 53"
128. ROY Jérémy 168 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 71h 09' 57" + 2h 39' 41"
129. DE JONGH Steven 94 QUICK STEP 71h 10' 47" + 2h 40' 31"
130. GRABSCH Ralf 152 TEAM MILRAM 71h 10' 53" + 2h 40' 37"
131. HAUSSLER Heinrich 114 GEROLSTEINER 71h 11' 06" + 2h 40' 50"
132. STEEGMANS Gert 97 QUICK STEP 71h 11' 08" + 2h 40' 52"
133. BURGHARDT Marcus 42 TEAM COLUMBIA 71h 14' 08" + 2h 43' 52"
134. QUINZIATO Manuel 68 LIQUIGAS 71h 14' 22" + 2h 44' 06"
135. LANGEVELD Sebastian 134 RABOBANK 71h 15' 12" + 2h 44' 56"
136. BRANDT Christophe 3 SILENCE - LOTTO 71h 15' 16" + 2h 45' 00"
137. HOSTE Leif 5 SILENCE - LOTTO 71h 15' 43" + 2h 45' 27"
138. MAASKANT Martijn 197 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 71h 15' 46" + 2h 45' 30"
139. FRISCHKORN William 194 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 71h 17' 49" + 2h 47' 33"
140. GERARD Arnaud 164 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 71h 18' 08" + 2h 47' 52"
141. LANCASTER Brett Daniel 154 TEAM MILRAM 71h 18' 55" + 2h 48' 39"
142. BRARD Florent 183 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 71h 19' 48" + 2h 49' 32"
143. ENGOULVENT Jimmy 84 CREDIT AGRICOLE 71h 20' 05" + 2h 49' 49"
144. CASPER Jimmy 123 AGRITUBEL 71h 22' 00" + 2h 51' 44"
145. GARCIA ACOSTA Vicente 34 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 71h 24' 09" + 2h 53' 53"
146. AUGE Stéphane 182 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 71h 24' 38" + 2h 54' 22"
147. KRAUSS Sven 116 GEROLSTEINER 71h 24' 50" + 2h 54' 34"
148. EISEL Bernhard 45 TEAM COLUMBIA 71h 26' 27" + 2h 56' 11"
149. RIBLON Christophe 108 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 71h 26' 43" + 2h 56' 27"
150. SPRICK Matthieu 146 BOUYGUES TELECOM 71h 32' 28" + 3h 02' 12"
151. VANSEVENANT Wim 9 SILENCE - LOTTO 71h 38' 26" + 3h 08' 10"