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."

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.

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.

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.

Better Diagnosis for Pereiro

From letour.com,

Despite early diagnosis of a possible broken femur for Pereiro, the race director Christian Prudhomme has just confirmed that the 2006 Tour champion has sustained a broken shoulder; nothing else. He is on his way to hospital in Cuneo.

The hors category climb

According to letour.com,

Details Of Col Agnel

The first ascent of the 15th stage is the Col Agnel. The sun is shining as Gerrans, Arrieta, Martinez and Pate make their way up the 2,744m high pass that peaks at the 58km mark. The climb is 20.5km long with an average gradient of 6.6 percent. The steepest sections are the 16th, 17th and 19th kilometers which are nine percent.

The breakaway group is at the base of this climb and has a lead in the range of 12 minutes over the peloton.

Less than 10KM into Stage 14, a 21-person breakaway

21 riders dashed away from the peloton today after less than 10KM. The size of the breakaway makes it likely that someone in this aggressive group will stay away for the entire 194.5KM.

Here's who's in the breakaway, courtesy of letour.fr...

At the 5km mark, Stijn Devolder instigated the first successful escape of stage 14. The riders involved are: O’Grady (CSC), Oroz and Txurruka (EUS), Garcia-Acosta and Gutierrez (GCE), Eisel (COL), Quinziato (LIQ), Bono (LAM), Bonnet (C.A), Devolder (QST), Riblon (ALM), Haussler (GST), Gonzalo Ramirez and Lelay (AGR), Tankink (RAB), Sprick and Voeckler (BTL), Velo (MRM), Casar and Sebastian Chavanel (FDJ), Frischkorn (GAR).
The teams not represented are: Silence-Lotto, Barloworld and Cofidis.

My guess for the two guys who might stick it out and win today's stage are Voeckler and Chavanel.

More Nimes info from LeTour.fr

Today is the 16th time that a stage of the Tour de France has concluded in Nimes. The last time was in 2004 when Aitor Gonzalez won the stage, relegating Nicolas Jalabert to second place in a stage from Carcassonne.
Before that, the previous stage finish in Nimes was in 1986 when Frank Hoste claimed the victory in a two-up sprint against Silvano Contini in in the 225.5km 15th stage from Carcassonne.

Shared info from letour.fr

Some people aren't allowed to get international Websites on their work computers. Here's how letour.fr explains the points and jersey classifications as they stand now...

12:33 - Classification Leaders: Part 04 (White Jersey)

The former leader of the youth classification, Andy Schleck (CSC) suffered a collapse on the final ascent of stage 10, finishing 28th, 8’59” behind Leonardo Piepoli and a little over six minute behind Riccardo Ricco. The Luxembourger slipped down the rankings in the race for the white jersey from first to fifth after the stage to Hautacam.
Ricco was ranked fourth but now he leads the category that’s open to riders born after 1 January 1983 by 1’49”. Second is Vincenzo Nibali of the Liquigas team and third is currently held by the young Belgian Maxime Montfort (COF).
Ricco is the only rider eligible for the youth classification to be ranked in the top 10 of the general classification (ninth, 2’29” behind Evans).
12:26 - Classification Leaders: Part 03 (Polka-Dot Jersey)

The winner of stages six and nine, Riccardo Ricco claimed the lead in the climbers’ category after finishing stage 10 in sixth place. Until then, he’d only collected points for first place at the Tour climbs that featured double points as they were the final ascents of the stage and ranked category-two or higher. The Saunier Duval-Scott rider now has 77 points, 12 more than the former leader, team-mate David De La Fuente.
Gerolsteiner’s time trial specialist Sebastian Lang is ranked third thanks to the points he acquired during a long escape in the ninth stage. He has 57 points, all of which were earned on the stage to Bagnerre-de-Bigorre.
Bernhard Kohl (GST) is closing in quickly on the polka-dot jersey, rising up the rankings from eighth to fourth with 56 points, 10 more than Frank Schleck and 15 more than the winner at Hautacam, Leonardo Piepoli.
Ricco also leads the youth classification but he will wear the polka-dot jersey in stage 11.
12:24 - Classification Leaders: Part 02 (Green Jersey)

Oscar Freire started the 10th stage four points points shy of Kim Kirchen’s lead in the category that is dubbed the sprint classification. The Spaniard is a renowned sprinter but the Luxembourger has earned his points with good results in sprints, time trials and stages more suited to climbers. An escape in the early part of the stage to Hautacam enabled Freire to add 12 points to his collection.
The Rabobanker was in the green jersey for stage 10, but it was only because Kirchen was still clad in yellow. Freire will wear green again today while the former overall leader will be back in his Columbia team colors for the first time since stage five. So far this year, Kirchen has led the points classification for six days and the general classification for four days.
Freire has 131 points, Kirchen 124 and the winners of stages two and one, Hushovd (C.A) and Valverde (GCE), respectively, are ranked third and fourth with 105 and 96 points.
12:17 - Classification Leaders: Part 01 (Yellow Jersey)

Only one second separates the riders ranked first and second overall after 10 stages of the 2008 Tour de France. Cadel Evans (SIL) is the fifth Australian to wear the yellow jersey – after Phil Anderson, Stuart O’Grady, Brad McGee and Robbie McEwen – and he’s achieved this despite suffering a fall in the ninth stage.
“So far, so good.” That should be part of the sound-track for the Evans’ fourth Tour. It’s all about consistency for the Silence-Lotto rider who has finished in the top 10 in four stages so far. Frank Schleck has been equally impressive with three top 10 stage placings in the first 10 days. His 46th place in the time trial of stage four, finishing 2’14” behind Schumacher (while Evans lost 27 seconds) was the one sign of weakness from the winner of the stage to L’Alpe d’Huez in 2006.
Garmin-Chipotle’s team leader Chrisitian Vande Velde is ranked third, 38 seconds behind Evans. Austrian climbing specialist Bernhard Kohl was impressive on the stage to Hautacam, finishing fourth, a result that lifted him up the GC rankings from 13th to fourth!

From time to time I'll give some letour info. I will attribute it as such so you'll know that it's coming from people at the side of the race. And also so that when they screw up badly (as they do once a stage) you'll know that it wasn't my mistake. :-)

24 in breakaway

Here's who is about a minute ahead of the peloton in the breakaway group. We're less than 75KM into the race, so this will most certainly change.

The 24 escapees began their move at the 10km mark. The riders involved are: Popovych (SIL), Cancellara (CSC), Gutierrez (GCE), Burghardt (THR), Augustyn and Cheula (BAR), Pozzato (LIQ), Le Mevel (C.A), Tosatto (QST), Dupont (ALM), Fothen, Lang and Wegmann (GST), Feillu and Vogondy (AGR), Freire (RAB), Fedrigo (BTL), Chavanel, Di Gregorio and Roy (FDJ), Bertogliati and De La Fuente (SDV) and Duque (COF).

That info courtesy of letour.fr.

Happy Bastille Day

In France, today is Bastille Day and past Tours de France have seen Frenchmen destroy the field to win stages on this national holiday.

Right now (or really as I'm reading dispatches and watching Tivo) there are eight French riders in a breakaway group of 24.

This group is only a minute ahead of the peloton, but it's the largest breakaway group of this year's race and includes some big names that could stay away. EVEN over the hors category climbs and brutal layout of the stage.

I'll keep you informed.

Yes, yes, yes. I know. No spoilers. If there's something that is considered too revealing, it will get a SPOILER tag and will be scheduled for release after 9PM. Settle down.

Insight from past stage 9 winner

Courtesy of letour.fr, here is a dispatch giving some background on why the 2007 winner of this stage isn't racing the Tour this year.

The winner of the stage to Le Grand Bornand in the 2007 Tour, Linus Gerdemann, is not in the race this year because he is still recovering from a nasty leg fracture sustained in a crash during the time trial of Tirreno-Adriatico in March. The German who led the 2007 Tour for a day is, however, back on the bike. He rode the col de Peyresourde yesterday despite pouring rain and cold temperatures.
He was in Lourdes last night and told LeTour.fr that he is recovering well from the injury. "I’m back on the bike and training well," said Gerdemann. "I even rode the climbs for stage nine in the rain and felt pretty good. But it was really cold! I was doing some interviews with German television and was happy to be there but when it got to six degrees, I started thinking that perhaps the home trainer would be a better option."

You can find a lot more about the Tour de France at that site. They're the most reliable of all the sites I use for research about the Tour.

Some things come true

As I started to point out last night as I was blogging, team Columbia is doing quite well and I wouldn't be surprised if they were leading in some categories.

In today's dispatches from letour.fr, one announcement says,

The yellow jersey’s Columbia team has had an impressive start to this year’s Tour de France winning two stages (with Cavendish) and, after the first week, it leads both the general and youth classification.

I think I just hurt my arm patting myself on the back.

SPOILER - Stage Recap - Stage 6

Here's how letour.fr recapped today's stage 6.

Ricco Rises To The Occasion!

Once again the Tour de France has seen a sprint of the GC contenders. While the yellow jersey was picking himself up from the tarmac after crashing into the rear wheel of Kim Kirchen in the final sprint, Riccardo Ricco was lighting up the front of the stage with a blistering sprint ahead of Alejandro Valverde and Cadel Evans. The Italian reached the line first to claim his first stage win, the Spaniard finished second in the stage and the Australian shifted up to second overall. But Columbia can again celebrate a coup with their Luxembourg recruit become the fourth rider in 2008 to wear the yellow jersey.

The Progress Report
The sixth stage of the 2008 Tour de France, a 195.5km journey from Aigurande to Super Besse, began at 12.25pm. There were 176 riders in the race, with one of the crash victims of stage five, Aurelien Passeron (SDV) the overnight retiree. The itinerary included four categorized climbs two category-four ascents (the Cote de L’Armelle at 70km and the Cote de Crocq at 89km) and the first category-two rises in the 95th edition (the Col de la Croix-Morand at 158km and the climb to the finish). Although it was widely regarded as a mountain stage there were still three intermediate sprints in Chatelus-Malvaleix (23.5km), Cressat (44.5km) and La Bourboule (144km).

French Fugitives A Feature Again Today…
At the six kilometer Chavanel (COF) attacked and opened a gap on the peloton. This prompted a reaction from Vaugrenard (FDJ) and Bichot (AGR) who chased down the rider voted most aggressive in stage two and caught him at the 14km mark. Others attempted to bridge the gap – including Pate (TSL) and Augustyn (BAR) – but their efforts didn’t last long. At the 26km mark, a truce of sorts was declared as the yellow jersey opted to answer nature’s call and by the 28km mark, the bunch’s deficit was 2’10”. This grew to 4’00” by the end of the first hour when the leading trio contested the second sprint after racing at an average of 44.5km/h. At the 50km mark, the three were ahead by 5’00”.

Gerolsteiner led the peloton for the early part of the stage and kept the escapees within a reasonable distance. The average speed for the 2nd hour was 37.6km/h. Chavanel led over the two small climbs and, by the cote de Crocq the peloton was 4’15” behind. Silence-Lotto moved up and road on the coat-tails of the yellow jersey’s squad. At 95km, the peloton was 5’15” behind, this was the maximum gain before Gerolsteiner really picked up the pace. By the feedzone (111km), the bunch’s deficit was just 3’20”.

Col de la Croix-Morand
At the base of the first category-two climb of the 2008 Tour, the leading trio was 2’00” ahead of the peloton that was led by Gerolsteiner. The first attack came from Pauriol (C.A) but he was reeled in before the summit. There was a brief flurry with other riders – including Astarloza (EUS), De La Fuente (SDV). Vaugrenard was dropped and Chavanel did most of the work in the lead and crested the Croix-Morand climb in first. Voeckler (BTL) attacked the peloton in the final meters and claimed third place, 56” behind. The Caisse d’Epargne team which led the yellow jersey’s peloton all the way up the ascent. With 20km to go, Chavanel quit his effort and waited for the peloton. Bichot insisted and had an advantage of 25”.

Setting Up The Finale
Botcharov attacked the peloton with 18km to go. He tried to catch Bichot but the Agritubel rider refused to wait and the Russian was caught after four kilometers. The Frenchman finally surrendered with 13km to go. What happened in the lead-up to the final ascent mattered little for it was only when Piepoli (SDV) and Vande Velde (TSL) attacked that the real action began. These two got as far as 18” ahead of the peloton that was controlled by Caisse d’Epargne all the way to the final kilometer. It prompted the lead group to split until only about 20 riders remained before the steepest part of the climb. That’s when Valverde, Ricco and Evans found themselves at the front of the pack. As they began to sprint, Schumacher suffered a fall 300m from the line after crashing into Kirchen’s rear wheel. No one else fell. Ricco bolted into the lead with 300m to go and led Valverde and Evans over the line. Kirchen finished the stage in fifth place and inherited the yellow jersey from the German. Sandwiched in between the former race leader and the former green jersey leader at the top of the general classification is Cadel Evans.

They said it more concisely than I could have without giving you a series of updates all the way through the stage.

Suffice it to say, Kim Kirchen looks poised to ride away with this race unless Valverde heals quickly and gets some energy back in his legs.

Crash info, no other spoiler

Gomez Marchante (SDV) has abanonded the Tour de France after the crash. He is on his way to the hospital now in an ambulance.

This is from the TDF official site at LeTour.

SPOILER - Still Away

Four riders are still away with only 40KM to go. That's about 24 miles. And the breakaway is currently 6:18 away from the peloton.

No real hills to come, just a little rise and then downhill mostly to the finish.

Riders in the lead group and the amount of work they're doing...

Paolo Longo Borghini - 36%
Roman Feillu - 27%
Samuel Dumoulin - 21%
William Frischkorn - 16%

Probably less than an hour to go until the finish. More coming!

SPOILER - Standings after Stage 1, TDF08

Just read the title - here's where people stand after the first stage.

1. VALVERDE Alejandro 31 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 4h 00' 36"
2. GILBERT Philippe 165 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
3. PINEAU Jérôme 145 BOUYGUES TELECOM 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
4. KIRCHEN Kim 41 TEAM COLUMBIA 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
5. RICCO Riccardo 171 SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
6. EVANS Cadel 1 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
7. SCHLECK Frank 17 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
8. POZZATO Filippo 61 LIQUIGAS 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
9. FREIRE Oscar 133 RABOBANK 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
10. PEREIRO SIO Oscar 37 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
11. MILLAR David 198 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
12. COBO ACEBO Juan Jose 173 SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
13. CARRARA Matteo 93 QUICK STEP 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
14. SASTRE Carlos 11 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
15. HUSHOVD Thor 81 CREDIT AGRICOLE 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
16. CANCELLARA Fabian 13 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
17. SCHLECK Andy 16 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
18. VANDEVELDE Christian 191 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
19. SANCHEZ Samuel 27 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
20. SCHUMACHER Stefan 111 GEROLSTEINER 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
21. CUNEGO Damiano 71 LAMPRE 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
22. ZABEL Erik 151 TEAM MILRAM 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
23. BARREDO Carlos 92 QUICK STEP 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
24. ASTARLOZA Mikel 22 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
25. BELTRAN Manuel 62 LIQUIGAS 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
26. MENCHOV Denis 131 RABOBANK 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
27. KNEES Christian 153 TEAM MILRAM 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
28. SIUTSOU Konstantsin 49 TEAM COLUMBIA 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
29. HINCAPIE George 47 TEAM COLUMBIA 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
30. ELMIGER Martin 105 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
31. BRUSEGHIN Marzio 74 LAMPRE 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
32. VALJAVEC Tadej 109 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
33. DEVOLDER Stijn 91 QUICK STEP 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
34. COOKE Baden 55 BARLOWORLD 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
35. TROFIMOV Yury 147 BOUYGUES TELECOM 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
36. LOWE Trent 196 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
37. LÖVKVIST Thomas 48 TEAM COLUMBIA 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
38. BOTCHAROV Alexandre 83 CREDIT AGRICOLE 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
39. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon 39 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
40. MONFORT Maxime 189 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
41. KOHL Bernhard 115 GEROLSTEINER 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
42. MARTINEZ Egoi 24 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
43. VAUGRENARD Benoît 169 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
44. HESJEDAL Ryder 195 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
45. VOIGT Jens 19 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
46. KREUZIGER Roman 65 LIQUIGAS 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
47. ZUBELDIA Haimar 21 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
48. VERDUGO Gorka 29 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
49. POPOVYCH Yaroslav 7 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
50. BICHOT Freddy 122 AGRITUBEL 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
51. NIBALI Vincenzo 67 LIQUIGAS 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
52. GERRANS Simon 86 CREDIT AGRICOLE 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
53. GUTIERREZ José Ivan 35 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
54. DUQUE Leonardo 186 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
55. EFIMKIN Vladimir 104 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
56. WEGMANN Fabian 119 GEROLSTEINER 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
57. LANG Sebastian 117 GEROLSTEINER 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
58. BALLAN Alessandro 72 LAMPRE 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
59. FACCI Mauro 95 QUICK STEP 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
60. GONZALO RAMIREZ Eduardo 125 AGRITUBEL 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
61. TANKINK Bram 137 RABOBANK 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
62. PASSERON Aurélien 178 SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
63. WEENING Pieter 139 RABOBANK 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
64. DUENAS NEVADO Moises 56 BARLOWORLD 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
65. TEN DAM Laurens 138 RABOBANK 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
66. CHAVANEL Sylvain 181 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
67. FISCHER Murilo Antoniobil 64 LIQUIGAS 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
68. VELO Marco 159 TEAM MILRAM 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
69. BONNET William 82 CREDIT AGRICOLE 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
70. MOREAU Christophe 121 AGRITUBEL 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
71. DESSEL Cyril 101 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
72. AUGUSTYN John-Lee 52 BARLOWORLD 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
73. FLECHA Juan Antonio 132 RABOBANK 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
74. TXURRUKA Amets 28 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
75. SORENSEN Nicki 18 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
76. LONGO BORGHINI Paolo 59 BARLOWORLD 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
77. TERPSTRA Niki 157 TEAM MILRAM 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
78. FOFONOV Dmitriy 85 CREDIT AGRICOLE 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
79. CIOLEK Gerald 44 TEAM COLUMBIA 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
80. BERTOGLIATI Rubens 172 SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
81. JUFRE POU Josep 177 SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
82. DEAN Julian 193 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
83. FOTHEN Markus 113 GEROLSTEINER 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
84. FEILLU Romain 124 AGRITUBEL 4h 00' 36" + 00' 00"
85. MC EWEN Robbie 6 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 00' 37" + 00' 00"
86. STEEGMANS Gert 97 QUICK STEP 4h 00' 37" + 00' 00"
87. DE JONGH Steven 94 QUICK STEP 4h 00' 37" + 00' 00"
88. HUNTER Robert 58 BARLOWORLD 4h 00' 37" + 00' 00"
89. BONO Matteo 73 LAMPRE 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
90. COYOT Arnaud 33 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
91. MAASKANT Martijn 197 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
92. JALABERT Nicolas 126 AGRITUBEL 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
93. O’GRADY Stuart 15 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
94. BRARD Florent 183 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
95. TIRALONGO Paolo 79 LAMPRE 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
96. GERARD Arnaud 164 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
97. VAN DE WALLE Jurgen 99 QUICK STEP 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
98. GRABSCH Ralf 152 TEAM MILRAM 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
99. PATE Danny 199 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
100. MÜLLER Martin 155 TEAM MILRAM 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
101. BRANDT Christophe 3 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
102. ROSSELER Sébastien 96 QUICK STEP 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
103. TOSATTO Matteo 98 QUICK STEP 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
104. KRAUSS Sven 116 GEROLSTEINER 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
105. LANGEVELD Sebastian 134 RABOBANK 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
106. PEREZ Ruben 26 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
107. PAURIOL Rémi 88 CREDIT AGRICOLE 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
108. LEQUATRE Geoffroy 128 AGRITUBEL 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
109. QUINZIATO Manuel 68 LIQUIGAS 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
110. FÖRSTER Robert 112 GEROLSTEINER 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
111. RIGHI Daniele 77 LAMPRE 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
112. CASPER Jimmy 123 AGRITUBEL 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
113. HAUSSLER Heinrich 114 GEROLSTEINER 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
114. CLEMENT Stef 142 BOUYGUES TELECOM 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
115. ENGOULVENT Jimmy 84 CREDIT AGRICOLE 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
116. GOUBERT Stephane 107 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
117. GADRET John 106 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
118. RENSHAW Mark 89 CREDIT AGRICOLE 4h 00' 37" + 00' 01"
119. BURGHARDT Marcus 42 TEAM COLUMBIA 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
120. CAVENDISH Mark 43 TEAM COLUMBIA 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
121. LANCASTER Brett Daniel 154 TEAM MILRAM 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
122. MORI Massimiliano 76 LAMPRE 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
123. LELAY David 127 AGRITUBEL 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
124. MONCOUTIE David 188 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
125. CIONI Dario 4 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
126. ISASI Inaki 23 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
127. VOECKLER Thomas 149 BOUYGUES TELECOM 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
128. CASAR Sandy 161 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
129. LOPEZ GARCIA David 36 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
130. SCHRÖDER Björn 156 TEAM MILRAM 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
131. DE LA FUENTE David 174 SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
132. LEFEVRE Laurent 144 BOUYGUES TELECOM 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
133. MOINARD Amaël 187 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
134. TSCHOPP Johann 148 BOUYGUES TELECOM 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
135. ARROYO David 32 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
136. HANSEN Adam 46 TEAM COLUMBIA 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
137. EISEL Bernhard 45 TEAM COLUMBIA 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
138. FEDRIGO Pierrick 141 BOUYGUES TELECOM 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
139. DEL NERO Jesus 175 SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
140. GUSTOV Volodymir 14 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
141. SZMYD Sylvester 78 LAMPRE 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
142. AERTS Mario 2 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
143. HOSTE Leif 5 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
144. WILLEMS Frederik 69 LIQUIGAS 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
145. VOGONDY Nicolas 129 AGRITUBEL 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
146. VAN SUMMEREN Johan 8 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
147. SPRICK Matthieu 146 BOUYGUES TELECOM 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
148. LE MEVEL Christophe 87 CREDIT AGRICOLE 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
149. SCHOLZ Ronny 118 GEROLSTEINER 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
150. GARCIA ACOSTA Vicente 34 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
151. LE BOULANGER Yoann 167 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
152. ARRIETA Jose Luis 102 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
153. PIEPOLI Leonardo 179 SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
154. OROZ Juan José 25 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
155. DUPONT Hubert 103 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
156. JEGOU Lilian 166 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
157. MOERENHOUT Koos 135 RABOBANK 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
158. DI GREGORIO Rémy 163 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
159. VELITS Peter 158 TEAM MILRAM 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
160. POSTHUMA Joost 136 RABOBANK 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
161. FRISCHKORN William 194 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
162. MARZANO Marco 75 LAMPRE 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
163. ROY Jérémy 168 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
164. GOMEZ Angel 176 SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
165. DUMOULIN Samuel 185 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
166. PORTAL Nicolas 38 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
167. FLORENCIO Xavier 143 BOUYGUES TELECOM 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
168. CHAVANEL Sébastien 162 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
169. ARVESEN Kurt-Asle 12 TEAM CSC SAXO BANK 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
170. CARDENAS Félix 53 BARLOWORLD 4h 00' 38" + 00' 02"
171. SOLER HERNANDEZ Juan Mauricio 51 BARLOWORLD 4h 00' 39" + 00' 03"
172. CHICCHI Francesco 63 LIQUIGAS 4h 00' 39" + 00' 03"
173. RIBLON Christophe 108 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 4h 00' 39" + 00' 03"
174. FROOME Christopher 57 BARLOWORLD 4h 00' 40" + 00' 04"
175. CHEULA Gianpaolo 54 BARLOWORLD 4h 00' 40" + 00' 04"
176. VANSEVENANT Wim 9 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 00' 41" + 00' 04"
177. AUGE Stéphane 182 COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE 4h 00' 41" + 00' 04"
178. BACKSTEDT Magnus 192 GARMIN CHIPOTLE 4h 00' 41" + 00' 04"
179. KUSCHYNSKI Aleksandr 66 LIQUIGAS 4h 00' 41" + 00' 04"