29th Etoile de Bessèges, Cat 2.4

France, February 3-7, 1999

Stage 4     Stage 5    

Stage 3, Alès - Casino Les Fumades, 139 kms:

Belgian Johan Verstrepen, riding for his new Italian team Lampre-Daikin stormed home at the end to win the third stage of the Etoile de Bessèges over 139 kms between the villages of Alès and Fumades (Gard). Overnight leader David Lefèvre retained his leadership overall. Verstrepen and the Danish rider Mikael Kyneb (Team Home Jack and Jones) contested a fast sprint with the peloton bearing down on them at great speed. 1998 winner Jo Planckaert (Lotto) won the bunch sprint for third.

In the company of French rider Grégory Barbier (Saint-Quentin), Verstrepen and Kyneb attacked early and were away alone for nearly 100 kms gaining a maximum gap on the peloton of some 4 minutes. Barbier was dropped finally, but Verstrepen and Kyneb were rewarded for their efforts by preserving just a few seconds in the finish. It was very exciting watching the gap coming down as the distance to the finish lessened. They were nearly caught but deserved the narrow 1-2. 

  1. Johan Verstrepen (Bel) Lampre-Daikin                   3.16.52 (42.486 km/h)
  2. Mikael Holst Kyneb (Den) Team Home Jack & Jones           0.01
  3. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                        0.03
  4. Jean Patrick Nazon (Fra) La Française des Jeux            0.03
  5. Jann Kirsipuu (Est) Casino                                0.03
  6. Mauro Zinetti (Ita) Team Polti                            0.03
  7. Lars Michaelsen (Den) La Française des Jeux               0.03
  8. Angel Edo Alsina (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                 0.03
  9. Jens Voigt (Ger) Crédit Agricole                          0.03
 10. Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002                  0.03
 11. Claude Lamour (Fra) Cofidis                               0.03
 12. Tom Desmet (Bel) Collstrop                                0.03
 13. Glen D'Hollander (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002                    0.03
 14. Denis Zanette (Ita) Team Polti                            0.03
 15. Danny Daelman (Bel) Collstrop                             0.03
 16. Andy Vidts (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002                          0.03
 17. Filip Meirhaeghe (Bel) Home Market-Ville Charleroi        0.03
 18. Nicolay Bo Larsen (Den) Team Home Jack & Jones            0.03
 19. Nico Renders (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002                        0.03
 20. Chris Peers (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                          0.03
 21. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                        0.03
 22. Ludovic Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                      0.03
 23. Stijn De Schoenmaker (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002                0.03
 24. David Millar (GB) Cofidis                                 0.03
 25. Jérôme Neuville (Fra) Crédit Agricole                     0.03
 26. Oleg Kozlitine (Kaz) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK              0.03
 27. David Lefevre (Fra) Casino                                0.03
 28. Giacomo Battistel (Ita) KRKA-Telekom Slovenije            0.03
 29. Michael Steen Nielsen (Den) Team Home Jack & Jones        0.03
 30. Saulius Ruskis (Lit) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK              0.03
 31. Erwin Bollen (Bel) Collstrop                              0.03
 32. Uros Murn (Slo) KRKA-Telekom Slovenije                    0.03
 33. Pavel Padrnos (Cze) Lampre-Daikin                         0.03
 34. Michael Rosborg (Den) Team Home Jack & Jones              0.03
 35. Andy Flickinger (Fra) Casino                              0.03
 36. Stéphane Auroux (Fra) Besson Chauss. Nippon-Hodo          0.03
 37. Karel Vereecke (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002                      0.03
 38. Zbigniew Spruch (Pol) Lampre-Daikin                       0.03
 39. Laurent Roux (Fra) Casino                                 0.03
 40. Fréderic Finot (Fra) Crédit Agricole                      0.03
 41. Gines Salmeron (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                    0.03
 42. Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) La Française des Jeux               0.03
 43. Prudencio Indurain (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                0.03
 44. Grzegorz Gwiazdowski (Pol) Cofidis                        0.03
 45. Fabian De Waele (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                      0.03
 46. Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat) Lampre-Daikin                   0.03
 47. Stéphane Barthe (Fra) Casino                              0.03
 48. Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Crédit Agricole                      0.03
 49. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                          0.03
 50. Franck Penvole (Fra) Crédit Agricole                      0.03
 51. Ruben Galvan (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                     0.03
 52. Francisco Garcia Rodriguez (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros        0.03
 53. Francisco Cerezo (Spa) Vitalico-Seguros                   0.03
 54. Arvis Piziks (Lat) Team Home Jack & Jones                 0.03
 55. Christopher Boardman (GB) Crédit Agricole                 0.03
 56. Wim Feys (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                             0.03
 57. Frédéric Delalande (Fra) Crédit Agricole                  0.03
 58. Jean Michel Thilloy (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK         0.03
 59. Jan Svorada (Cze) Lampre-Daikin                           0.03
 60. Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                         0.03
 61. Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Collstrop                           0.03
 62. Laurent Genty (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                      0.03
 63. Bart Everaert (Bel) Collstrop                             0.03
 64. Franck Bouyer (Fra) La Française des Jeux                 0.03
 65. Paul Van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       0.03
 66. Marc Streel Jacobsen (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones         0.03
 67. Samuel Plouhinec (Fra) Cofidis                            0.03
 68. Leonardo Guidi (Ita) Team Polti                           0.03
 69. Enrico Cassani (Ita) Team Polti                           0.03
 70. Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                          0.03
 71. Eric De Clercq (Bel) Collstrop                            0.03
 72. Dany Baeyens (Bel) Collstrop                              0.03
 73. Juris Silvos (Lat) Team Home Jack & Jones                 0.03
 74. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) La Française des Jeux              0.03
 75. Pasquale Santoro (Ita) KRKA-Telekom Slovenij              0.03
 76. Christophe Rinero (Fra) Cofidis                           0.03
 77. Aitor Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                   0.03
 78. Gonzales De Heredia (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros               0.03
 79. Benoit Salmon (Fra) Casino                                0.03
 80. Wesley Huvaere (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002                      0.03
 81. Miika Hietanen (Fin) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK              0.03
 82. Alexei Sivakov (Rus) Big Mat-Auber 93                     0.03
 83. Thierry Gouvenou (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                   0.03
 84. Daniel Clavero (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                    0.03
 85. Stéphane Berges (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                    0.03
 86. Dominique Rault (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                    0.03
 87. Sandi Papez (Slo) KRKA-Telekom Slovenije                  0.03
 88. Eddy Seigneur (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK               0.03
 89. Gilles Maignan (Fra) Casino                               0.03
 90. Tony Bracke (Bel) Collstrop                               0.03
 91. Bostjan Mervar (Slo) KRKA-Telekom Slovenije               0.03
 92. Philippe Mauduit (Fra) Besson Chauss. Nippon-Hodo         0.03
 93. Andrea Nencini (Ita) Team Polti                           0.03
 94. Eros Poli (Ita) Crédit Agricole                           0.03
 95. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                     0.03
 96. Takchiro Mizutani (Jap) Besson Chauss. Nippon-Hodo        0.50
 97. Lylian Lebreton (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                    0.54
 98. Damien Nazon (Fra) La Francaise Des Jeux                  1.01
 99. Gonzales de Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros              1.10
100. Ludovic Capelle (Bel) Home Market-Ville Charleroi         1.39
101. Grégory Barbier (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK             2.08
102. Christophe Gauthier (Fra) Besson Chauss. Nippon-Hod       2.08
103. Franck Trotel (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK               2.41
104. Benoit Luminet (Fra) Besson Chauss. Nippon-Hodo           2.41
105. Nicolas Fritsch (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK             2.41
106. Mirco Crepaldi (Ita) Team Polti                           2.41
107. Oleg Joukov (Rus) Big Mat-Auber 93                        2.41
108. Francisco Leon (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                   2.41
109. Bart Brentjens (Ned) Home Market-Ville Charleroi          2.41
110. Milan Erzen (Slo) KRKA-Telekom Slovenije                  2.41
111. Sergey Yakovlev (Kaz) Besson Chauss. Nippon-Hodo          4.17
112. Ernesto Manchon (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                   4.17
113. Denis Lunghi (Ita) Team Polti                             5.43
114. Sébastian Laroche (Fra) Besson Chauss. Nippon-Hodo        5.47
115. Eligio Requejo (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                   7.00
116. Simone Bertoletti (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                     7.04
117. Christophe Oriol (Fra) Casino                            10.04
118. Jérôme Bernard (Fra) Home Market-Ville Charleroi         10.04
119. Robert Pintaric (Slo) KRKA-Telekom Slovenije             10.04
120. Christopher Horner (USA) La Française des Jeux           10.04
121. Thierry Loder (Fra) Cofidis                              10.04
122. Jean Michel Tessier (Fra) La Française des Jeux          10.04
123. Francis Moreau (Fra) Cofidis                             10.04

GC after Stage 3 

  1. David Lefevre (Fra) Casino                             9.31.24
  2. Jens Voigt (Ger) Crédit Agricole                          0.04
  3. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                        0.09
  4. Nicolay Bo Larsen (Den) Team Home Jack & Jones            0.11
  5. David Millar (GB) Cofidis                                 0.13
  6. Gines Salmeron (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                    0.13
  7. Benoit Salmon (Fra) Casino                                0.13
  8. Dominique Rault (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                    0.39
  9. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                        0.47
 10. Glen D'Hollander (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002                    0.56
 11. Stéphane Barthe (Fra) Casino                              1.00
 12. Gilles Maignan (Fra) Casino                               1.00
 13. Saulius Ruskis (Lit) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK              1.02
 14. Andy Flickinger (Fra) Casino                              1.02
 15. Mauro Zinetti (Ita) Team Polti                            1.03
 16. Tom Desmet (Bel) Collstrop                                1.03
 17. Claude Lamour (Fra) Cofidis                               1.03
 18. Stijn De Schoenmaker (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002                1.03
 19. Chris Peers (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                          1.03
 20. Michael Steen Nielsen (Den) Team Home Jack & Jones        1.03
 21. Fabian De Waele (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                      1.03
 22. Michael Rosborg (Den) Team Home Jack & Jones              1.03
 23. Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) La Française des Jeux               1.03
 24. Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Crédit Agricole                      1.03
 25. Fréderic Finot (Fra) Crédit Agricole                      1.03
 26. Wim Feys (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                             1.03
 27. Pavel Padrnos (Cze) Lampre-Daikin                         1.03
 28. Laurent Genty (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                      1.03
 29. Paul Van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       1.03
 30. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                          1.03
 31. Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                          1.03
 32. Christophe Rinero (Fra) Cofidis                           1.03
 33. Oleg Kozlitine (Kaz) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK              1.29
 34. Francisco Garcia Rodriguez (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros        1.29
 35. Thierry Gouvenou (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                   1.29
 36. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) La Française des Jeux              1.29
 37. Gonzales De Heredia (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros               1.42
 38. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                     1.42
 39. Laurent Roux (Fra) Casino                                 1.44
 40. Lylian Lebreton (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                    2.33
 41. Enrico Cassani (Ita) Team Polti                           2.34
 42. Pasquale Santoro (Ita) KRKA-Telekom Slovenij              2.34
 43. Nicolas Fritsch (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK             4.43
 44. Jann Kirsipuu (Est) Casino                                5.29
 45. Jan Svorada (Cze) Lampre-Daikin                           5.32
 46. Lars Michaelsen (Den) La Française des Jeux               5.33
 47. Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat) Lampre-Daikin                   5.35
 48. Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002                  5.38
 49. Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                         5.38
 50. Arvis Piziks (Lat) Team Home Jack & Jones                 5.38
 51. Ludovic Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                      5.38
 52. Zbigniew Spruch (Pol) Lampre-Daikin                       5.38
 53. Francisco Cerezo (Spa) Vitalico-Seguros                   5.38
 54. Franck Bouyer (Fra) La Française des Jeux                 5.38
 55. Johan Verstrepen (Bel) Lampre-Daikin                      5.45
 56. Giacomo Battistel (Ita) KRKA-Telekom Slovenije            6.04
 57. Karel Vereecke (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002                      6.04
 58. Stéphane Berges (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                    6.04
 59. Christopher Boardman (GB) Crédit Agricole                 6.17
 60. Uros Murn (Slo) KRKA-Telekom Slovenije                    6.17
 61. Jean Michel Thilloy (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK         6.17
 62. Grzegorz Gwiazdowski (Pol) Cofidis                        6.17
 63. Ruben Galvan (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                     6.17
 64. Samuel Plouhinec (Fra) Cofidis                            6.17
 65. Miika Hietanen (Fin) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK              6.17
 66. Franck Trotel (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK               6.37
 67. Jean Patrick Nazon (Fra) La Française des Jeux            7.09
 68. Daniel Clavero (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                    7.09
 69. Gonzales de Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros              7.51
 70. Mikael Holst Kyneb (Den) Team Home Jack & Jones           8.53
 71. Juris Silvos (Lat) Team Home Jack & Jones                 9.04
 72. Denis Zanette (Ita) Team Polti                            9.05
 73. Jérôme Neuville (Fra) Crédit Agricole                     9.05
 74. Franck Penvole (Fra) Crédit Agricole                      9.05
 75. Eros Poli (Ita) Crédit Agricole                           9.05
 76. Christophe Gauthier (Fra) Besson Chauss. Nippon-Hod       9.14
 77. Eddy Seigneur (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK               9.29
 78. Leonardo Guidi (Ita) Team Polti                           9.31
 79. Marc Streel Jacobsen (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones         9.31
 80. Wesley Huvaere (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002                      9.31
 81. Alexei Sivakov (Rus) Big Mat-Auber 93                     9.41
 82. Prudencio Indurain (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                9.44
 83. Eric De Clercq (Bel) Collstrop                            9.44
 84. Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Collstrop                           9.44
 85. Benoit Luminet (Fra) Besson Chauss. Nippon-Hodo           9.47
 86. Bart Brentjens (Ned) Home Market-Ville Charleroi          9.47
 87. Frédéric Delalande (Fra) Crédit Agricole                 10.11
 88. Bart Everaert (Bel) Collstrop                            10.36
 89. Damien Nazon (Fra) La Francaise Des Jeux                 10.40
 90. Christopher Horner (USA) La Française des Jeux           11.03
 91. Grégory Barbier (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK            11.08
 92. Denis Lunghi (Ita) Team Polti                            11.57
 93. Danny Daelman (Bel) Collstrop                            12.01
 94. Angel Edo Alsina (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                12.01
 95. Nico Renders (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002                       12.01
 96. Dany Baeyens (Bel) Collstrop                             12.01
 97. Christophe Oriol (Fra) Casino                            12.35
 98. Mirco Crepaldi (Ita) Team Polti                          13.04
 99. Francisco Leon (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                  13.14
100. Simone Bertoletti (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                    14.26
101. Oleg Joukov (Rus) Big Mat-Auber 93                       14.39
102. Sergey Yakovlev (Kaz) Besson Chauss. Nippon-Hodo         14.50
103. Ernesto Manchon (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                  14.50
104. Stéphane Auroux (Fra) Besson Chauss. Nippon-Hodo         15.29
105. Thierry Loder (Fra) Cofidis                              17.10
106. Eligio Requejo (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                  18.58
107. Francis Moreau (Fra) Cofidis                             19.06
108. Tony Bracke (Bel) Collstrop                              19.30
109. Aitor Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                  19.33
110. Jérôme Bernard (Fra) Home Market-Ville Charleroi         19.45
111. Sandi Papez (Slo) KRKA-Telekom Slovenije                 21.01
112. Andrea Nencini (Ita) Team Polti                          21.01
113. Philippe Mauduit (Fra) Besson Chauss. Nippon-Hodo        22.26
114. Ludovic Capelle (Bel) Home Market-Ville Charleroi        22.56
115. Andy Vidts (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002                         27.43
116. Bostjan Mervar (Slo) KRKA-Telekom Slovenije              29.14
117. Filip Meirhaeghe (Bel) Home Market-Ville Charleroi       30.39
118. Erwin Bollen (Bel) Collstrop                             30.39
119. Milan Erzen (Slo) KRKA-Telekom Slovenije                 31.00
120. Takchiro Mizutani (Jap) Besson Chauss. Nippon-Hodo       31.26
121. Jean Michel Tessier (Fra) La Française des Jeux          32.27
122. Robert Pintaric (Slo) KRKA-Telekom Slovenije             32.27
123. Sébastian Laroche (Fra) Besson Chauss. Nippon-Hodo       34.58

Stage 4, Bagnols-sur-Cèze - Bagnols-sur-Cèze, 139 kms:

Estonian rider Jann Kirsipuu (Casino) one Stage 4 in a mass sprint finish. His French teammater David Lefèvre preserved his leader's jersey.

The 139 kms stage comprised 4 x 34.8 kms laps around the town of Bagnols-sur-Cèze. There were are lot of emotions flowing during this stage. Soon after the start, 11 riders attacked and built up a lead on the peloton. The major part of the peloton had slowed to wait for a number of riders who were delayed because of a fall. After 47 kms, the 11 had a lead of 6.19 which in effect made the Belgian rider Fabian De Waele (Lotto-Mobistar) and Frenchman Andy Flickinger (Casino) the leaders on the road. But there was no co-operation in the front bunch ith only De Waele and his teammate Chris Peers doing the major part of the work. The flight was thus doomed.

The Danish Team Home-Jack & Jones took the initiative in the peloton because they were not represented in the breakaway group. The break was caught just before the beginning of the last lap some 35 kms left to ride. This ensured that David Lefèvre preserved the leader's jersey and set his teammate Jann Kirsipuu up for the sprint. Kirsipuu did not let his team down and won by a length from Jean-Patrick Nazon (La Française des Jeux) and Jo Planckaert (Lotto-Mobistar) who messed up the last corner.

On Sunday the last stage is over 141 kms between Molières-sur-Cèze and Bessèges. 

  1. Jann Kirsipuu (Est) Casino                            3.09.29 (44.078 km/h)
  2. Jean Patrick Nazon (Fra) La Française des Jeux
  3. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
  4. Lars Michaelsen (Den) La Française des Jeux
  5. Denis Zanette (Ita) Team Polti
  6. Jens Voigt (Ger) Crédit Agricole
  7. Jan Svorada (Cze) Lampre-Daikin
  8. Saulius Ruskis (Lit) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK
  9. Enrico Cassani (Ita) Team Polti
 10. Tom Desmet (Bel) Collstrop
 11. Jean Michel Thilloy (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK
 12. Nico Renders (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002
 13. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
 14. Andy Vidts (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002
 15. Mirco Crepaldi (Ita) Team Polti
 16. Michael Steen Nielsen (Den) Team Home Jack & Jones
 17. Gines Salmeron (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros
 18. Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Crédit Agricole
 19. Franck Penvole (Fra) Crédit Agricole
 20. Andy Flickinger (Fra) Casino
 21. Giacomo Battistel (Ita) KRKA-Telekom Slovenije
 22. Ludovic Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
 23. David Lefevre (Fra) Casino
 24. Laurent Genty (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
 25. Karel Vereecke (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002
 26. Eric De Clercq (Bel) Collstrop
 27. Stijn De Schoenmaker (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002
 28. Jérôme Neuville (Fra) Crédit Agricole
 29. Claude Lamour (Fra) Cofidis
 30. Nicolay Bo Larsen (Den) Team Home Jack & Jones
 31. Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) La Française des Jeux
 32. Marc Streel Jacobsen (Den) Team Home-Jack & Jones
 33. David Millar (GB) Cofidis
 34. Fabian De Waele (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
 35. Prudencio Indurain (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros
 36. Tony Bracke (Bel) Collstrop
 37. Chris Peers (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
 38. Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat) Lampre-Daikin
 39. Paul Van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
 40. Wim Feys (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
 41. Johan Verstrepen (Bel) Lampre-Daikin
 42. Laurent Roux (Fra) Casino
 43. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
 44. Zbigniew Spruch (Pol) Lampre-Daikin
 45. Samuel Plouhinec (Fra) Cofidis
 46. Oleg Kozlitine (Kaz) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK
 47. Gilles Maignan (Fra) Casino
 48. Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin
 49. Stéphane Barthe (Fra) Casino
 50. Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis
 51. Andrea Nencini (Ita) Team Polti
 52. Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Collstrop
 53. Sandi Papez (Slo) KRKA-Telekom Slovenije
 54. Pavel Padrnos (Cze) Lampre-Daikin
 55. Frédéric Delalande (Fra) Crédit Agricole
 56. Fréderic Finot (Fra) Crédit Agricole
 57. Stéphane Berges (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
 58. Dany Baeyens (Bel) Collstrop
 59. Mikael Holst Kyneb (Den) Team Home Jack & Jones
 60. Gonzales De Heredia (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros
 61. Jean Michel Tessier (Fra) La Française des Jeux
 62. Eros Poli (Ita) Crédit Agricole                           0.24
 63. Gonzales de Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros              0.32
 64. Grégory Barbier (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK             0.36
 65. Christopher Horner (USA) La Française des Jeux            0.38
 66. Christopher Boardman (GB) Crédit Agricole                 4.43
 67. Leonardo Guidi (Ita) Team Polti                           4.43
 68. Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002                  4.43
 69. Bart Everaert (Bel) Collstrop                             4.43
 70. Ruben Galvan (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                     6.32
 71. Ludovic Capelle (Bel) Home Market-Ville Charleroi         7.04
 72. Lylian Lebreton (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                    7.04
 73. Bart Brentjens (Ned) Home Market-Ville Charleroi          7.04
 74. Filip Meirhaeghe (Bel) Home Market-Ville Charleroi        7.04
 75. Bostjan Mervar (Slo) KRKA-Telekom Slovenije               7.04
 76. Miika Hietanen (Fin) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK              7.04
 77. Sébastian Laroche (Fra) Besson Chauss. Nippon-Hodo        7.04
 78. Thierry Gouvenou (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                   7.04
 79. Alexei Sivakov (Rus) Big Mat-Auber 93                     7.04
 80. Pasquale Santoro (Ita) KRKA-Telekom Slovenij              7.04
 81. Denis Lunghi (Ita) Team Polti                             7.04
 82. Dominique Rault (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                    7.04
 83. Wesley Huvaere (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002                      7.04
 84. Stéphane Auroux (Fra) Besson Chauss. Nippon-Hodo          7.04
 85. Danny Daelman (Bel) Collstrop                             7.04
 86. Juris Silvos (Lat) Team Home Jack & Jones                 7.04
 87. Franck Bouyer (Fra) La Française des Jeux                 7.04
 88. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) La Française des Jeux              7.04
 89. Christophe Rinero (Fra) Cofidis                           7.04
 90. Damien Nazon (Fra) La Francaise Des Jeux                  7.04
 91. Daniel Clavero (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                    7.04
 92. Christophe Oriol (Fra) Casino                             7.04
 93. Benoit Salmon (Fra) Casino                                7.04
 94. Nicolas Fritsch (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK             7.04
 95. Francisco Garcia Rodriguez (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros        7.04
 96. Michael Rosborg (Den) Team Home Jack & Jones              7.04
 97. Uros Murn (Slo) KRKA-Telekom Slovenije                    7.04
 98. Francisco Cerezo (Spa) Vitalico-Seguros                   7.04
 99. Angel Edo Alsina (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                 7.04
100. Arvis Piziks (Lat) Team Home Jack & Jones                 7.04
101. Eligio Requejo (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                  18.49
102. Erwin Bollen (Bel) Collstrop                             18.49
103. Christophe Gauthier (Fra) Besson Chauss. Nippon-Hod      18.49
104. Franck Trotel (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK              18.49
105. Philippe Mauduit (Fra) Besson Chauss. Nippon-Hodo        18.49
106. Sergey Yakovlev (Kaz) Besson Chauss. Nippon-Hodo         18.49
107. Aitor Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                  18.49
108. Mauro Zinetti (Ita) Team Polti                           18.49
109. Ernesto Manchon (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                  18.49
110. Thierry Loder (Fra) Cofidis                              18.49
111. Jérôme Bernard (Fra) Home Market-Ville Charleroi         18.49

Did not start:

Francis Moreau (Fra) Cofidis
Robert Pintaric (Slo) KRKA-Telekom Slovenije

Abandoned:

Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
Grzegorz Gwiazdowski (Pol) Cofidis
Francisco Leon (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
Milan Erzen (Slo) KRKA-Telekom Slovenije
Oleg Joukov (Rus) Big Mat-Auber 93
Glen D'Hollander (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002
Simone Bertoletti (Ita) Lampre-Daikin
Eddy Seigneur (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK
Takchiro Mizutani (Jap) Besson Chauss. Nippon-Hodo

GC after Stage 4 

  1. David Lefevre (Fra) Casino                            12.40.53
  2. Jens Voigt (Ger) Crédit Agricole                          0.04
  3. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                        0.09
  4. Nicolay Bo Larsen (Den) Team Home Jack & Jones            0.11
  5. David Millar (GB) Cofidis                                 0.13
  6. Gines Salmeron (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                    0.13
  7. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                        0.43
  8. Andy Flickinger (Fra) Casino                              0.56
  9. Fabian De Waele (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                      0.57
 10. Stéphane Barthe (Fra) Casino                              1.00
 11. Gilles Maignan (Fra) Casino                               1.00
 12. Chris Peers (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                          1.01
 13. Fréderic Finot (Fra) Crédit Agricole                      1.01
 14. Pavel Padrnos (Cze) Lampre-Daikin                         1.01
 15. Saulius Ruskis (Lit) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK              1.02
 16. Tom Desmet (Bel) Collstrop                                1.03
 17. Claude Lamour (Fra) Cofidis                               1.03
 18. Michael Steen Nielsen (Den) Team Home Jack & Jones        1.03
 19. Stijn De Schoenmaker (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002                1.03
 20. Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Crédit Agricole                      1.03
 21. Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) La Française des Jeux               1.03
 22. Wim Feys (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                             1.03
 23. Laurent Genty (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                      1.03
 24. Paul Van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       1.03
 25. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                          1.03
 26. Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                          1.03
 27. Oleg Kozlitine (Kaz) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK              1.29
 28. Gonzales De Heredia (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros               1.42
 29. Laurent Roux (Fra) Casino                                 1.44
 30. Enrico Cassani (Ita) Team Polti                           2.34
 31. Jann Kirsipuu (Est) Casino                                5.19
 32. Jan Svorada (Cze) Lampre-Daikin                           5.32
 33. Lars Michaelsen (Den) La Française des Jeux               5.33
 34. Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat) Lampre-Daikin                   5.35
 35. Ludovic Auger (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                      5.38
 36. Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                         5.38
 37. Zbigniew Spruch (Pol) Lampre-Daikin                       5.38
 38. Johan Verstrepen (Bel) Lampre-Daikin                      5.45
 39. Giacomo Battistel (Ita) KRKA-Telekom Slovenije            6.04
 40. Karel Vereecke (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002                      6.04
 41. Stéphane Berges (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                    6.04
 42. Jean Michel Thilloy (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos MBK         6.17
 43. Samuel Plouhinec (Fra) Cofidis                            6.17
 44. Jean Patrick Nazon (Fra) La Française des Jeux            7.03
 45. Benoit Salmon (Fra) Casino                                7.17

Stage 5, Molières-sur-Cèze - Bessèges, 141 kms:

Coming!

Final GC: 

Coming!
Thanks to Roland Fangille, Union Cycliste Bessegeoise for results