I WAS RIGHT

Finally, in a Tour de France that has seen doping and odd results and crashes, I've been proven correct.

OK, once out of about 35 predictions isn't that good, but I'll take it.

Team Columbia rider Mark Canvendish has abandoned the Tour before the start of Stage 15.

That means the mantle of leader falls to George Hincapie and this is the stage that could see a total turnaround in standings.

Stay tuned.

SPOILER - Winner of Stage 13 in Nimes

With 10KM to go, the breakaway ended and Terpstra was caught after being on the attack for 172KM.

After the capture, the teams put on a furious pace to the finish line. They were moving along fine when at about 8KM, Sylvain Chavanel attacked and opened a lead of 150 meters. He was caught at the 3KM mark.

Team Columbia then took over the pacemaking for a bit and then QuickStep and Milram came front.

Only one KM away, it's a morass of wheels and riders and different colored jerseys at the front.

And with so much confusion at the front, and such a fantastic speed, who but Robbie Mc Ewen could blast ahead for the win? I'll tell you who! Mark Cavendish!

The Englishman has won his FOURTH stage of the 2008 Tour de France.

Here are the top 10 of the 182km stage from Narbonne to Nimes:
1. Mark Cavendish (GBR) COL - 182km in 4h25’42"
2. Robbie McEwen (AUS) SIL
3. Roman Feillu (FRA) AGR
4. Heinrich Haussler (GER) GST
5. Oscar Freire (ESP) RAB
6. Thor Hushovd (NOR) C.A
7. Leonardo Duque (COL) COF
8. Erik Zabel (GER) MRM
9. Julian Dean (NZL) TSL
10. Sebastian Chavanel (FRA) FDJ

According to letour,

Cavendish is making this sprinting game look easy. He was blocked in the middle of the bunch with 500m to go but when he opened it up, there was no one who could get close. Stage win number four for the Columbia rider!

More info in the next post.

120KM into Stage 13

We're about three hours into Stage 13 and the two riders in the breakaway are losing their advantage quickly. It's down to around two minutes (after a high of more than nine minutes) and the peloton looks poised to catch them.

Again, this stage isn't chock full of climbs...it's got a lot of flat...and that spells out a nearly certain bunch sprint at the end.

Some people on race radio are speculating that Mark Cavendish could win this stage again. I'm guessing that it will be the aim of Thor Hushovd and Robbie Mc Ewen to do everything in their power to ensure that doesn't happen.

Switching now to SPOILER mode. See you at 9PM tonight. Oh, I'll get the Saab word of the day for you in a moment.

Stage 13 Overview, Picks and Comment

Stage 13 is sentimental for me because I spent a week in the finishing town of Nimes a few summers ago. I love the south of France. The countryside is so picturesque and the food is great. If you get a chance, you should go. Seriously.

The stage today (Friday) is fairly flat. Not like a billiards table as there are some little climbs, but not a mountain stage by any means.

It's a 182KM journey from Narbonne into Provence that will likely see another sprint finish. If Cavendish has a say, he'll win his fourth stage in Nimes.

My other picks are still Hushovd and Mc Ewen. They HAVE to win a stage soon.

That's all for now. See you here tomorrow.

SPOILER - SPRINT FINISH

UK rider - and Team Columbia rider Mark Cavendish has won his third stage of the 2008 Tour de France.

THREE STAGE WINS in only his second Tour de France.

Second place is Sebastian Chavanel.

So fast. So cool. Great finish.

If you have access to the telecast, make sure you see the finish.

Standings to come. Big shake-up in the standings because of the doping issue with Ricardo Ricco.

SPOILER - Stage 10 Standings

Here's the entire field as they finished stage 10 of the 2008 Tour de France.

It was a mad jumble and the overall standings are going to be a mess.

George Hincapie was 75th. Cavendish was LAST.

1. PIEPOLI Leonardo 179 SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT 4h 19' 27"
2. COBO ACEBO Juan Jose 173 SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT 4h 19' 27" + 00' 00"
3. SCHLECK Frank 17 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 4h 19' 55" + 00' 28"
4. KOHL Bernhard 115 GEROLSTEINER 4h 20' 33" + 01' 06"
5. EFIMKIN Vladimir 104 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 4h 21' 32" + 02' 05"
6. RICCO Riccardo 171 SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT 4h 21' 44" + 02' 17"
7. SASTRE Carlos 11 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 4h 21' 44" + 02' 17"
8. EVANS Cadel 1 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 21' 44" + 02' 17"
9. MENCHOV Denis 131 RABOBANK 4h 21' 44" + 02' 17"
10. VANDEVELDE Christian 191 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 4h 21' 44" + 02' 17"
11. DUENAS NEVADO Moises 56 BARLOWORLD 4h 21' 54" + 02' 27"
12. GOUBERT Stephane 107 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 4h 22' 16" + 02' 49"
13. NIBALI Vincenzo 67 LIQUIGAS 4h 23' 07" + 03' 40"
14. ASTARLOZA Mikel 22 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 4h 23' 25" + 03' 58"
15. KIRCHEN Kim 41 TEAM COLUMBIA 4h 23' 46" + 04' 19"
16. SANCHEZ Samuel 27 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 4h 24' 49" + 05' 22"
17. VALJAVEC Tadej 109 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 4h 24' 54" + 05' 27"
18. CUNEGO Damiano 71 LAMPRE 4h 25' 18" + 05' 51"
19. VALVERDE Alejandro 31 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 4h 25' 19" + 05' 52"
20. TEN DAM Laurens 138 RABOBANK 4h 25' 21" + 05' 54"
21. CASAR Sandy 161 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 4h 26' 08" + 06' 41"
22. PEREIRO SIO Oscar 37 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 4h 26' 30" + 07' 03"
23. MONFORT Maxime 189 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 4h 26' 30" + 07' 03"
24. KREUZIGER Roman 65 LIQUIGAS 4h 26' 30" + 07' 03"
25. SIUTSOU Konstantsin 49 TEAM COLUMBIA 4h 27' 01" + 07' 34"
26. SCHUMACHER Stefan 111 GEROLSTEINER 4h 27' 05" + 07' 38"
27. DUPONT Hubert 103 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 4h 27' 40" + 08' 13"
28. SCHLECK Andy 16 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 4h 28' 26" + 08' 59"
29. DI GREGORIO Rémy 163 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 4h 28' 36" + 09' 09"
30. ROY Jérémy 168 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 4h 28' 36" + 09' 09"
31. CIONI Dario 4 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 29' 04" + 09' 37"
32. PAURIOL Rémi 88 CREDIT AGRICOLE 4h 29' 04" + 09' 37"
33. TXURRUKA Amets 28 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 4h 30' 06" + 10' 39"
34. MONCOUTIE David 188 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 4h 30' 47" + 11' 20"
35. CARRARA Matteo 93 QUICK STEP 4h 30' 54" + 11' 27"
36. FOTHEN Markus 113 GEROLSTEINER 4h 32' 15" + 12' 48"
37. BRUSEGHIN Marzio 74 LAMPRE 4h 32' 41" + 13' 14"
38. TIRALONGO Paolo 79 LAMPRE 4h 32' 41" + 13' 14"
39. ARROYO David 32 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 4h 32' 41" + 13' 14"
40. GONZALO RAMIREZ Eduardo 125 AGRITUBEL 4h 32' 41" + 13' 14"
41. MOINARD Amaël 187 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 4h 32' 43" + 13' 16"
42. FREIRE Oscar 133 RABOBANK 4h 33' 32" + 14' 05"
43. VOIGT Jens 19 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 4h 33' 32" + 14' 05"
44. DUQUE Leonardo 186 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 4h 33' 32" + 14' 05"
45. DEVOLDER Stijn 91 QUICK STEP 4h 34' 05" + 14' 38"
46. POPOVYCH Yaroslav 7 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 35' 25" + 15' 58"
47. AERTS Mario 2 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 35' 25" + 15' 58"
48. AUGUSTYN John-Lee 52 BARLOWORLD 4h 35' 47" + 16' 20"
49. CANCELLARA Fabian 13 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 4h 35' 50" + 16' 23"
50. KNEES Christian 153 TEAM MILRAM 4h 35' 58" + 16' 31"
51. BOTCHAROV Alexandre 83 CREDIT AGRICOLE 4h 35' 58" + 16' 31"
52. SZMYD Sylvester 78 LAMPRE 4h 38' 26" + 18' 59"
53. LOWE Trent 196 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 4h 42' 03" + 22' 36"
54. VELO Marco 159 TEAM MILRAM 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
55. DESSEL Cyril 101 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
56. ARRIETA Jose Luis 102 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
57. GUTIERREZ José Ivan 35 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
58. ZABEL Erik 151 TEAM MILRAM 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
59. LOPEZ GARCIA David 36 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
60. TANKINK Bram 137 RABOBANK 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
61. MARZANO Marco 75 LAMPRE 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
62. LELAY David 127 AGRITUBEL 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
63. HUSHOVD Thor 81 CREDIT AGRICOLE 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
64. ARVESEN Kurt-Asle 12 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
65. CLEMENT Stef 142 BOUYGUES TELECOM 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
66. FEDRIGO Pierrick 141 BOUYGUES TELECOM 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
67. MARTINEZ Egoi 24 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
68. JUFRE POU Josep 177 SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
69. HESJEDAL Ryder 195 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
70. CHAVANEL Sylvain 181 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
71. ZUBELDIA Haimar 21 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
72. BONO Matteo 73 LAMPRE 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
73. PEREZ Ruben 26 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
74. HANSEN Adam 46 TEAM COLUMBIA 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
75. HINCAPIE George 47 TEAM COLUMBIA 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
76. PINEAU Jérôme 145 BOUYGUES TELECOM 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
77. LÖVKVIST Thomas 48 TEAM COLUMBIA 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
78. VAUGRENARD Benoît 169 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
79. LE MEVEL Christophe 87 CREDIT AGRICOLE 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
80. ROSSELER Sébastien 96 QUICK STEP 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
81. GUSTOV Volodymir 14 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
82. TSCHOPP Johann 148 BOUYGUES TELECOM 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
83. KRAUSS Sven 116 GEROLSTEINER 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
84. FOFONOV Dmitriy 85 CREDIT AGRICOLE 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
85. POSTHUMA Joost 136 RABOBANK 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
86. WEENING Pieter 139 RABOBANK 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
87. VAN DE WALLE Jurgen 99 QUICK STEP 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
88. LE BOULANGER Yoann 167 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
89. FLECHA Juan Antonio 132 RABOBANK 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
90. VOGONDY Nicolas 129 AGRITUBEL 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
91. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon 39 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
92. PORTAL Nicolas 38 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
93. CHEULA Gianpaolo 54 BARLOWORLD 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
94. OROZ Juan José 25 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
95. VAN SUMMEREN Johan 8 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
96. MOERENHOUT Koos 135 RABOBANK 4h 43' 55" + 24' 28"
97. BICHOT Freddy 122 AGRITUBEL 4h 45' 33" + 26' 06"
98. BARREDO Carlos 92 QUICK STEP 4h 46' 55" + 27' 28"
99. DEAN Julian 193 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 4h 47' 24" + 27' 57"
100. LEQUATRE Geoffroy 128 AGRITUBEL 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
101. HUNTER Robert 58 BARLOWORLD 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
102. MC EWEN Robbie 6 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
103. SCHRÖDER Björn 156 TEAM MILRAM 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
104. POZZATO Filippo 61 LIQUIGAS 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
105. HAUSSLER Heinrich 114 GEROLSTEINER 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
106. ELMIGER Martin 105 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
107. DE JONGH Steven 94 QUICK STEP 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
108. GERRANS Simon 86 CREDIT AGRICOLE 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
109. SCHOLZ Ronny 118 GEROLSTEINER 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
110. FLORENCIO Xavier 143 BOUYGUES TELECOM 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
111. ISASI Inaki 23 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
112. KUSCHYNSKI Aleksandr 66 LIQUIGAS 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
113. BONNET William 82 CREDIT AGRICOLE 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
114. BRANDT Christophe 3 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
115. GERARD Arnaud 164 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
116. GRABSCH Ralf 152 TEAM MILRAM 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
117. MÜLLER Martin 155 TEAM MILRAM 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
118. SORENSEN Nicki 18 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
119. MORI Massimiliano 76 LAMPRE 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
120. FROOME Christopher 57 BARLOWORLD 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
121. O’GRADY Stuart 15 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
122. RIBLON Christophe 108 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
123. LANG Sebastian 117 GEROLSTEINER 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
124. FISCHER Murilo Antoniobil 64 LIQUIGAS 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
125. WEGMANN Fabian 119 GEROLSTEINER 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
126. CARDENAS Félix 53 BARLOWORLD 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
127. GILBERT Philippe 165 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
128. SPRICK Matthieu 146 BOUYGUES TELECOM 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
129. LANCASTER Brett Daniel 154 TEAM MILRAM 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
130. COOKE Baden 55 BARLOWORLD 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
131. DEL NERO Jesus 175 SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
132. MILLAR David 198 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
133. STEEGMANS Gert 97 QUICK STEP 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
134. FEILLU Romain 124 AGRITUBEL 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
135. DE LA FUENTE David 174 SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
136. FÖRSTER Robert 112 GEROLSTEINER 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
137. QUINZIATO Manuel 68 LIQUIGAS 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
138. PATE Danny 199 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
139. BERTOGLIATI Rubens 172 SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
140. AUGE Stéphane 182 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
141. DUMOULIN Samuel 185 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
142. VELITS Peter 158 TEAM MILRAM 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
143. BRARD Florent 183 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
144. VERDUGO Gorka 29 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
145. LONGO BORGHINI Paolo 59 BARLOWORLD 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
146. CHICCHI Francesco 63 LIQUIGAS 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
147. BALLAN Alessandro 72 LAMPRE 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
148. TOSATTO Matteo 98 QUICK STEP 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
149. ENGOULVENT Jimmy 84 CREDIT AGRICOLE 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
150. RIGHI Daniele 77 LAMPRE 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
151. CIOLEK Gerald 44 TEAM COLUMBIA 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
152. WILLEMS Frederik 69 LIQUIGAS 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
153. MAASKANT Martijn 197 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
154. LEFEVRE Laurent 144 BOUYGUES TELECOM 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
155. RENSHAW Mark 89 CREDIT AGRICOLE 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
156. JALABERT Nicolas 126 AGRITUBEL 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
157. VANSEVENANT Wim 9 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
158. FRISCHKORN William 194 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
159. LANGEVELD Sebastian 134 RABOBANK 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
160. HOSTE Leif 5 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
161. VOECKLER Thomas 149 BOUYGUES TELECOM 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
162. GARCIA ACOSTA Vicente 34 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
163. TERPSTRA Niki 157 TEAM MILRAM 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
164. COYOT Arnaud 33 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
165. BURGHARDT Marcus 42 TEAM COLUMBIA 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
166. CHAVANEL Sébastien 162 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 4h 52' 41" + 33' 14"
167. CASPER Jimmy 123 AGRITUBEL 4h 53' 33" + 34' 06"
168. EISEL Bernhard 45 TEAM COLUMBIA 4h 54' 22" + 34' 55"
169. CAVENDISH Mark 43 TEAM COLUMBIA 4h 54' 22" + 34' 55"

SPOILER - 153KM into Stage 9 - Riders Dropped

At 153KM, the first of two category 1 climbs begins. The mountain - the col de Peyresourde - has been part of the Tour de France 59 times before.

The climb has an average gradient of 7.1% and goes for 13KM.

During today's ascent of the Peyresourde, some notables have been dropped including Eisel, Mark Cavendish and Robbie Mc Ewen.

Which is a bummer because I left Eisel in for my fantasy squad today. Blast!

More shortly.

SPOILER - Stage 8 Standings

Here's how they stacked up in today's 179KM stage 8...

1. CAVENDISH Mark 43 TEAM COLUMBIA 4h 02' 54"
2. CIOLEK Gerald 44 TEAM COLUMBIA 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
3. CASPER Jimmy 123 AGRITUBEL 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
4. FREIRE Oscar 133 RABOBANK 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
5. FÖRSTER Robert 112 GEROLSTEINER 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
6. ZABEL Erik 151 TEAM MILRAM 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
7. STEEGMANS Gert 97 QUICK STEP 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
8. CHAVANEL Sébastien 162 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
9. HUSHOVD Thor 81 CREDIT AGRICOLE 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
10. HUNTER Robert 58 BARLOWORLD 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
11. FEILLU Romain 124 AGRITUBEL 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
12. RENSHAW Mark 89 CREDIT AGRICOLE 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
13. PEREZ Ruben 26 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
14. ISASI Inaki 23 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
15. CHICCHI Francesco 63 LIQUIGAS 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
16. HAUSSLER Heinrich 114 GEROLSTEINER 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
17. MC EWEN Robbie 6 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
18. DUQUE Leonardo 186 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
19. DEAN Julian 193 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
20. PEREIRO SIO Oscar 37 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
21. LANGEVELD Sebastian 134 RABOBANK 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
22. FLECHA Juan Antonio 132 RABOBANK 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
23. SCHUMACHER Stefan 111 GEROLSTEINER 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
24. MONFORT Maxime 189 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
25. LANCASTER Brett Daniel 154 TEAM MILRAM 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
26. MAASKANT Martijn 197 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
27. DEL NERO Jesus 175 SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
28. FISCHER Murilo Antoniobil 64 LIQUIGAS 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
29. COOKE Baden 55 BARLOWORLD 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
30. MENCHOV Denis 131 RABOBANK 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
31. COBO ACEBO Juan Jose 173 SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
32. BALLAN Alessandro 72 LAMPRE 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
33. DEVOLDER Stijn 91 QUICK STEP 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
34. KOHL Bernhard 115 GEROLSTEINER 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
35. VELO Marco 159 TEAM MILRAM 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
36. CARRARA Matteo 93 QUICK STEP 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
37. LÖVKVIST Thomas 48 TEAM COLUMBIA 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
38. EFIMKIN Vladimir 104 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
39. NIBALI Vincenzo 67 LIQUIGAS 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
40. EVANS Cadel 1 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
41. KIRCHEN Kim 41 TEAM COLUMBIA 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
42. POPOVYCH Yaroslav 7 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
43. TANKINK Bram 137 RABOBANK 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"
44. HINCAPIE George 47 TEAM COLUMBIA 4h 02' 54" + 00' 00"

SPOILER - Stage 8 Winner and Description

A blistering sprint down a narrow and wet straightaway ended with Mark Cavendish swinging wide right around the front five sprinters and then muscling his way across the line. It's Cavendish's second stage win of the 2008 Tour de France and Team Columbia seems to have some serious points as a team thus far.

Cavendish made his move with merely 60-100 meters to go and obliterated the rest of the pack. The rest of the peloton seems to have finished with the same time as they were bunched and strung out for a great distance down the finishing chute.

Stage standings in a second - or should I say stage results. As usual, I'll give you the list all the way down to our friend George Hincapie.

SPOILER - 2KM to go - 33MPH!

The peloton has caught the breakaway and Team Columbia is setting the pace at 33MPH. QuickStep is now leading at 33.6MPH.

RIGHT HAND TURN!

Middle of the pack is slowed almost to a stop. Long way to go to the finish. No crashes.

HUGE acceleration after the turn. They're on the finishing straight. All the sprinters are in line.

SPOILER - Stage 5 Standings

Here's the top 25 of Stage 5 of the 2008 Tour de France.

George Hincapie finished in 42nd or so, but got the same time as the rest of the pack. So no worries.

1. CAVENDISH Mark 43 TEAM COLUMBIA 5h 27' 52"
2. FREIRE Oscar 133 RABOBANK 5h 27' 52" + 00' 00"
3. ZABEL Erik 151 TEAM MILRAM 5h 27' 52" + 00' 00"
4. HUSHOVD Thor 81 CREDIT AGRICOLE 5h 27' 52" + 00' 00"
5. COOKE Baden 55 BARLOWORLD 5h 27' 52" + 00' 00"
6. HUNTER Robert 58 BARLOWORLD 5h 27' 52" + 00' 00"
7. DUQUE Leonardo 186 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 5h 27' 52" + 00' 00"
8. MC EWEN Robbie 6 SILENCE - LOTTO 5h 27' 52" + 00' 00"
9. CHICCHI Francesco 63 LIQUIGAS 5h 27' 52" + 00' 00"
10. DEAN Julian 193 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 5h 27' 52" + 00' 00"
11. FÖRSTER Robert 112 GEROLSTEINER 5h 27' 52" + 00' 00"
12. STEEGMANS Gert 97 QUICK STEP 5h 27' 52" + 00' 00"
13. FEILLU Romain 124 AGRITUBEL 5h 27' 52" + 00' 00"
14. CHAVANEL Sébastien 162 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 5h 27' 52" + 00' 00"
15. CASPER Jimmy 123 AGRITUBEL 5h 27' 52" + 00' 00"
16. ISASI Inaki 23 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 5h 27' 52" + 00' 00"
17. BACKSTEDT Magnus 192 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 5h 27' 52" + 00' 00"
18. FLORENCIO Xavier 143 BOUYGUES TELECOM 5h 27' 52" + 00' 00"
19. PINEAU Jérôme 145 BOUYGUES TELECOM 5h 27' 52" + 00' 00"
20. KRAUSS Sven 116 GEROLSTEINER 5h 27' 52" + 00' 00"
21. VOGONDY Nicolas 129 AGRITUBEL 5h 27' 52" + 00' 00"
22. PEREZ Ruben 26 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 5h 27' 52" + 00' 00"
23. FLECHA Juan Antonio 132 RABOBANK 5h 27' 52" + 00' 00"
24. POZZATO Filippo 61 LIQUIGAS 5h 27' 52" + 00' 00"
25. EFIMKIN Vladimir 104 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 5h 27' 52" + 00' 00"

SPOILER - Team Columbia

The last kilometer saw Mark Cavendish of Team Columbia flying down the straightaway with George Hincapie and others in tow.

And then with a final burst of speed Cavendish took the stage win a hair ahead of Oscar Friere and Thor Hushovd.

Sadly, the three guys who were in the breakaway for 220KM were gobbled up with less than 100 meters to go.

Standings for the stage and then the overall leader board coming up next.

Picks - my thoughts on Stage 5

With the longest stage of the Tour de France happening today (already over by the time I type this), I'm firmly in the camp of the sprinters.

My choices for top five in today's stage are...

Thor Hushovd
Robbie Mc Ewen
George Hincapie
Mark Cavendish
Cadel Evans
Will Frischkorn

Now you'll have to wait while I watch the stage and see how right I was.

Back shortly.