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60th Vuelta a España - GT
Spain, August 27-September 18, 2005
Main Page Results Overall standings Stage Details Live report Previous Stage Next Stage
Stage 6 - Thursday, September 1: Cuenca-Valdelinares, 217 km
Heras comes out on top
GC takes shape as Menchov hangs tough
By Hernan Alvarez Macias
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The top candidate showed he is ready to win again today: Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros-Würth) took the first mountain stage of the Vuelta a España in Valdelinares, beating Denis Menchov (Rabobank) by 13 seconds and David Blanco (Comunidad Valenciana) by 28. Bradley McGee (Française des Jeux) lost the golden jersey to triple Vuelta winner and climbing genius Heras.
Together with his team, Heras showed his spectacular condition on the last climb, the Alto de Valdelinares, and won alone at the ski station. Menchov could hold his pace until the last kilometre, where the Spanish rider made his last surge to ride clear of the Russian.
"Indeed the Vuelta is not over; It has just begun," said Heras post-stage. "This was the first mountain stage and the show is guaranteed, that's for sure. It was a very tough stage, ridden at a fast tempo. My team was sensational and I was able to finish the work they did during the stage".
Comparing this performance and his bad results in the last Tours de France, he said, "I don't know why that is. If only I knew it. There have been Tours where I did well and others where I did badly."
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Sixth placed Francisco Mancebo (Illes Balears) suffered today, and commented after the stage, "I'll defend myself the best I can. My feelings weren't good today; I didn't have a good day. I lost time, but I didn't lose anything in my goal which is to win the Vuelta".
Luis Perez (Cofidis, 20th) seemed to be in denial about what Heras did to everyone on a comparatively easy climb. "Heras did pretty well, but it's not that he was superior to all of us", he said. "The Vuelta starts in Andorra, the Vuelta hasn't started yet. From kilometre 0 the tempo was very fast, so very fast and that's why there were big differences at the finish, because it wasn't a very hard climb."
Meanwhile, Euskaltel leader Aitor Gonzalez lost 4'01 to Heras, four minutes that will be very difficult to recover during the race. The 2002 winner is not at that level at the moment.
How it unfolded
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190 riders took the start in Cuenca today. There were numerous moves early in the race as Pablo Lastras (Illes Balears), Guido Trenti (Quick Step), Koos Moerenhout (Davitamon), Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) and Stijn Devolder (Discovery Channel) tried to make a gap. At the first intermediate sprint in Villalba de la Sierra (km 19), Lastras was first, ahead of Voeckler and Moerenhout. Later on, Angel Vicioso and Dariusz Baranowski (Liberty Seguros-Würth), Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel) and Charly Wegelius (Liquigas-Bianchi) joined the group. However, at km 43 the breakaway was swallowed. Three kilometres previously Simone Cadamuro (Domina Vacanze) abandoned the race.
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At km 50, 16 riders made a big breakaway: Michele Scarponi, Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (Liberty-Würth) and Daniele Nardello (T-Mobile) were among the 16 leaders. Five other riders including Santiago Botero (Phonak) joined the break some 15 kilometres later. Meanwhile the peloton split in two groups, with leader Brad McGee (FDJ) caught in the second group. At km 87, the breakaways and the front of the peloton combined to make a big group, and the difference between the two main groups was 53 seconds at km 95. At km 103 both big groups joined together. At the same time, 13 riders including yesterday's winner Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole) made another attack. 16 kilometres later Bernhard Eisel (La Française des Jeux) quit the race, as did Auger, leaving McGee with just five other teammates. Then the biggest surprise of the day, Floyd Landis (Phonak) abandoned the race at km 138. The Phonak rider lost a lot of time yesterday and with it, any hope of riding a good GC.
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The race regrouped at km 136 but the pace was still seriously hard, with an average speed of around 45 km/h. After Teruel at km 152, the peloton stayed together, but Javier Pascual Rodriguez (Comunidad Valenciana) tried a lone breakaway. There was wind today and the dangerous echelons formed again.
Another big breakaway was made at km 154 when 22 riders joined Pascual Rodriguez. Five kilometres later, the peloton caught 17 riders and let go other six: Koos Moerenhout, Jakob Piil (CSC), Devis Miorin (Liquigas), Nacor Burgos (Relax Fuenlabrada), Benoît Joachim (Discovery Channel) and Eric Leblacher (Credit Agricole). This proved to be the right breakaway of the day. At the last intermediate sprint km 171, Miorin was first, followed by Piil and Burgos.
With 33 km to go (km 184) the gap between these six and the big group was around 3'40. The advantage kept growing and the foot of Cat. 2 Alto de San Rafael with 25 km to go, the difference was 5'45.
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Piil, Joachim and Leblacher attacked the other three and made a gap on the climb, but gradually the peloton cut the difference and with 15 km to go, it was only 3'46. On the descent of the San Rafael, Leblacher missed a corner and crashed, forcing Joachim off the road too. Piil took over the race lead by himself as McGee was struggling to hold onto the peloton.
This was the first time the Vuelta went to Valdelinares, and at the foot of the climb with 9 km to go, Liberty Seguros turned on the engines with Dariusz Baranowski, Angel Vicioso, Joseba Beloki, Marcos Serrano and Michele SCarponi helping Roberto Heras. Liberty kept a tremendous pace that could be followed by very few riders. With 6 km to go Piil was still 2'25 ahead of his chasers.
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The constant Liberty tempo changes and attacks on the climb were too much for most of the riders. So, only eight were left trying to catch Piil: Heras and Michele Scarponi (Liberty), Denis Menchov (Rabobank), Paco Mancebo (Illes Balears), Juan Miguel Mercado (Quick Step), Carlos Sastre (CSC) and David Blanco and Carlos Garcia Quesada (Comunidad Valenciana).
In the final three kilometres, Heras made another huge change of pace that only Menchov and Garcia Quesada could follow. It didn't take long before the Russian was the only one who was on Heras' wheel. The last surge came with 1.2 km to go. Roberto went once again, causing Menchov to lose contact. The Liberty rider ended up crossing the line alone in first place and taking the leaders jersey from Australian Bradley McGee.
Stage 7 - September 2: Teruel-Vinaros, 212.5 km
The seventh stage between Teruel and Vinaros distinguishes itself for its downhill profile. Teruel is 1000 meters above sea level and the road goes straight to the sea to Vinaros, at 10 metres above seal level. There are four Category 3 climbs: Puerto de Carigordo (1600 m), Puerto de Sollavientos (1510 m), Puerto de Villarroya (1700 m) and Puerto de Cuarto Pelado (1660 m). The three intermediate sprints are at: Monteagudo (km 36), Cantavieja (km 91) and Montero Golf (km 180). It's a good chance for a breakaway to go on the small climbs early in the day, and it will certainly be a battle between the breakaways and the teams interested in bunch sprints, as the last 70 kilometres are fairly flat or downhill, and the finish line is by the sea. There should be no problems for Roberto Heras tomorrow.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by AFP
- With a mountain-top finish, Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) was laughing all the way to Valdelinares today.
- Carlos Sastre (Team CSC) is looking very good in this first week, and is now third overall.
- The peloton make the 217 journey from Cuenca to Valdelinares.
- Russian Denis Menchov (Rabobank) rode brilliantly to move into second overall.
- Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Saunier Duval) finds himself in fourth overall after Stage 6.
- Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) is all determination up the climb of Valdelinares.
- Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) punches the air as he crosses the line a winner.
- Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) pulls over his first golden tunic of the 2005 Vuelta.
- Is this the face of the 2005 Vuelta a España champion?
Images by Unipublic
- Yesterday's stage winner Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole) found the sign-in closed when he got there, which required a little explanation to the commissaires.
- Actress Dana García gets comfy next to Oscar Sevilla (T-Mobile).
- A few familiar faces on the startline.
- Miguel Ángel Martín Perdiguero (Phonak) gets his transmitter issues sorted.
- Attacks began from the get-go, with the peloton already one long line.
- Five riders - Koos Moerenhout, Stijn Devolver, Thomas Voeckler, Pablo Lastras and Guido Trentiget - break away from the peloton.
- At the first sprint, the quintet held a 30 second advantage over the peloton.
- Meanwhile, back in the peloton, the GC riders' teams aren't letting the break get too out of hand.
- Climbing up to Alto de la Ciudad Encantada, the fast rhythm sees Thomas Voeckler the first rider off the back.
- Leonardo Bertagnolli (Cofidis) wasn't the only one having a hard time of it today.
- The peloton begin their ascent of the Category 2 climb of Cubillo.
- The peloton wind their way up the climb.
- Bradley McGee (Française des Jeux) had a really tough time in the crosswinds today, losing almost 12 minutes by the finish.
- The peloton is split into pieces.
- Paco Mancebo's Illes Balears team protect their leader as much as they can.
- Soon after peace was restored, Koos Moerenhout (Davitamon-Lotto) has a go off the front.
- Comunidad Valenciana get the chase happening.
- Yummy! Or maybe not. Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) isn't too sure what to do with the ham.
- Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) dons the golden tunic as race leader.
- And the mountains jersey to boot!
Results
1 Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 5.27.20 (39.78 km/h) 2 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0.13 3 David Blanco Rodiguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 0.28 4 Carlos Garcia Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 0.42 5 Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) Quick Step - Innergetic 0.49 6 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 7 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 8 Jakob Piil (Den) Team CSC 0.52 9 Marcos Antonio Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 1.15 10 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 11 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 1.22 12 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Discovery Channel 13 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Lampre - Caffita 1.40 14 Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 15 Josep Jufre (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 16 Unai Yus Kerejeta (Spa) Bouygues Telecom 17 Tom Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel 18 Santos Gonzalez (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 19 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) T-Mobile Team 1.45 20 Luis Perez (Spa) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 21 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Crédit Agricole 1.59 22 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2.06 23 Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 24 Joseba Beloki Dorronsoro (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 25 David Bernabeu (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 26 Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Davitamon - Lotto 2.15 27 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre - Caffita 2.20 28 Francisco Javier Vila Errandonea (Spa) Lampre - Caffita 29 Christian Vandevelde (USA) Team CSC 2.29 30 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) T-Mobile Team 2.45 31 Unai Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 2.48 32 Daniel Atienza Urendez (Spa) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 33 Adolfo Garcia Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 34 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole 35 Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 3.11 36 Victor Hugo Peña (Col) Phonak Hearing Systems 3.25 37 Moises Dueñas (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 38 Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 3.34 39 Benoît Joachim (Lux) Discovery Channel 3.54 40 Aitor Gonzalez Jimenez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 4.01 41 Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 42 Angel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 43 Eric Leblacher (Fra) Crédit Agricole 4.05 44 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir 45 Manuel Calvente (Spa) Team CSC 46 Francisco José Lara (Spa) T-Mobile Team 4.17 47 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 4.27 48 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 4.53 49 José Antonio Pecharroman Fabian (Spa) Quick Step - Innergetic 50 Michael Barry (Can) Discovery Channel 51 Gerrit Glomser (Aut) Lampre - Caffita 52 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 4.55 53 Benjamin Noval (Spa) Discovery Channel 54 Christophe Kern (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 55 Joan Horrach (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 56 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 57 Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) Crédit Agricole 58 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 59 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner 60 Dariusz Baranowski (Pol) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 61 Jose Miguel Elias (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 5.08 62 Francisco Pérez (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 63 Luis Pasamontes Rodriguez (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 5.54 64 Angel Luis Casero (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 65 Benoît Poilvet (Fra) Crédit Agricole 6.21 66 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Rabobank 6.42 67 Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 7.02 68 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 7.14 69 Ignacio Gutierrez (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 70 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) T-Mobile Team 7.36 71 Rolf Aldag (Ger) T-Mobile Team 72 Erik Zabel (Ger) T-Mobile Team 73 Pablo Lastras (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 7.58 74 José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 75 José Azevedo (Por) Discovery Channel 76 Charles Wegelius (GBr) Liquigas - Bianchi 8.50 77 Andrea Peron (Ita) Team CSC 9.20 78 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel 9.48 79 Bingen Fernandez (Spa) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 9.59 80 David Cañada (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 81 Mikel Pradera (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 10.22 82 Bram De Groot (Ned) Rabobank 10.30 83 Eladio Jimenez Sanchez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 10.44 84 Daniele Nardello (Ita) T-Mobile Team 11.11 85 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step - Innergetic 11.12 86 Juan Manuel Fuentes (Spa) Lampre - Caffita 87 Bradley McGee (Aus) Française des Jeux 11.45 88 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 89 Rafael Casero (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 90 Sébastien Joly (Fra) Crédit Agricole 91 Freddy Gonzalez (Col) Relax Fuenlabrada 92 Julian Sanchez Pimienta (Spa) Fassa Bortolo 12.15 93 David Lopez Garcia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 13.14 94 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 95 Constantino Zaballa Gutierrez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 96 Aketza Peña (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 97 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 98 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team CSC 99 Ruslan Ivanov (Mda) Domina Vacanze 100 Nicki Sørensen (Den) Team CSC 101 Nacor Burgos (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 14.24 102 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Davitamon - Lotto 15.29 103 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux 15.33 104 Jorge Garcia (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 105 Thorwald Veneberg (Ned) Rabobank 106 Martin Elmiger (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems 107 Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 108 Alessandro Cortinovis (Ita) Domina Vacanze 109 Niels Scheuneman (Ned) Rabobank 110 Andreas Matzbacher (Aut) Lampre - Caffita 111 José Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 112 Santiago Botero Echeverry (Col) Phonak Hearing Systems 113 Pedro Horrillo Munoz (Spa) Rabobank 114 Francesco Bellotti (Ita) Crédit Agricole 115 Thomas Ziegler (Ger) Gerolsteiner 116 Matej Mugerli (Slo) Liquigas - Bianchi 117 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Fassa Bortolo 118 Marco Velo (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 119 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 120 Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 121 Devis Miorin (Ita) Liquigas - Bianchi 16.09 122 Javier Pascual Rodriguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 16.53 123 David Latasa (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 124 Angel Gomez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 125 Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre - Caffita 17.43 126 Patrick Calcagni (Swi) Liquigas - Bianchi 18.24 127 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 18.31 128 Guido Trenti (USA) Quick Step - Innergetic 129 Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team CSC 130 Francisco José Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 131 Mauro Gerosa (Ita) Liquigas - Bianchi 132 Sergio Ghisalberti (Ita) Domina Vacanze 133 André Korff (Ger) T-Mobile Team 134 Andreas Klier (Ger) T-Mobile Team 135 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 136 Hervé Duclos-Lassalle (Fra) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 137 Leif Hoste (Bel) Discovery Channel 138 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Discovery Channel 139 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 140 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 141 Nick Gates (Aus) Davitamon - Lotto 142 Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 143 Ian McLeod (RSA) Française des Jeux 144 Volker Ordowski (Ger) Gerolsteiner 145 Marco Zanotti (Ita) Liquigas - Bianchi 146 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas - Bianchi 147 Uwe Peschel (Ger) Gerolsteiner 148 Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Liquigas - Bianchi 149 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank 150 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 151 Allan Johansen (Den) Team CSC 152 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 153 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 154 Julian Dean (NZl) Crédit Agricole 155 Lorenzo Bernucci (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 156 Frédéric Guesdon (Fra) Française des Jeux 157 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole 158 Fabio Baldato (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 159 Sven Montgomery (Swi) Gerolsteiner 160 Matthias Russ (Ger) Gerolsteiner 161 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 162 Bart Dockx (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 163 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 164 Leon Van Bon (Ned) Davitamon - Lotto 165 Tom Steels (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 166 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 167 Isidro Nozal Vega (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 18.57 168 René Haselbacher (Aut) Gerolsteiner 22.13 169 Jukka Vastaranta (Fin) Rabobank 27.04 170 Matej Jurco (Svk) Domina Vacanze 171 Marcel Strauss (Swi) Gerolsteiner 172 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 173 Gorka Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 174 Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 175 Christophe Edaleine (Fra) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 176 Markel Irizar (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 177 Rafael Nuritdinov (Uzb) Domina Vacanze 178 Frédéric Finot (Fra) Française des Jeux 43.41 179 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française des Jeux 44.20 180 José Antonio Garrido (Spa) Quick Step - Innergetic 44.59 181 Yohann Gène (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 45.33 Outside time limit TC Franck Renier (Fra) Bouygues Telecom DNF Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak Hearing Systems DNF Simone Cadamuro (Ita) Domina Vacanze DNF Luca Solari (Ita) Domina Vacanze DNF Ludovic Auger (Fra) Française des Jeux DNF Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Française des Jeux DNF Torsten Schmidt (Ger) Gerolsteiner DNF Giosuè Bonomi (Ita) Lampre - Caffita DNF Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank Points 1 Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 25 pts 2 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 20 3 David Blanco Rodiguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 16 4 Carlos Garcia Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 14 5 Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) Quick Step - Innergetic 12 6 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 10 7 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 9 8 Jakob Piil (Den) Team CSC 8 9 Marcos Antonio Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 7 10 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 6 11 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 5 12 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Discovery Channel 4 13 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Lampre - Caffita 3 14 Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 2 15 Josep Jufre (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 1 Mountains Alto de la Ciudad Encantada - Cat. 3, km 28 1 Pablo Lastras (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 6 pts 2 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Davitamon - Lotto 4 3 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel 2 4 Guido Trenti (USA) Quick Step - Innergetic 1 Puerto El Cubillo - Cat. 2, km 66 1 Eladio Jimenez Sanchez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 10 pts 2 David Cañada (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 7 3 Jose Miguel Elias (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 5 4 Jakob Piil (Den) Team CSC 3 5 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 2 6 David Blanco Rodiguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 1 Alto de San Rafael - Cat. 2, km 203 1 Jakob Piil (Den) Team CSC 10 pts 2 Benoît Joachim (Lux) Discovery Channel 7 3 Eric Leblacher (Fra) Crédit Agricole 5 4 Devis Miorin (Ita) Liquigas - Bianchi 3 5 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Davitamon - Lotto 2 6 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 1 E.Esqui Aramón Valdelinares - Cat. 1, km 217 1 Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 16 pts 2 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 12 3 David Blanco Rodiguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 10 4 Carlos Garcia Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 8 5 Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) Quick Step - Innergetic 6 6 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 4 7 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 3 8 Jakob Piil (Den) Team CSC 2 9 Marcos Antonio Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 1 Sprints Villalba de la Sierra, km 19,3 1 Pablo Lastras (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 4 pts 2 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 2 3 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Davitamon - Lotto 1 Puebla de Valverde, km 171,8 1 Devis Miorin (Ita) Liquigas - Bianchi 4 pts 2 Jakob Piil (Den) Team CSC 2 3 Nacor Burgos (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 1 Virgen de la Vega, km 206 1 Jakob Piil (Den) Team CSC 4 pts 2 Benoît Joachim (Lux) Discovery Channel 2 3 Eric Leblacher (Fra) Crédit Agricole 1 Teams 1 Liberty Seguros - Würth Team 16.24.30 2 Comunidad Valenciana 0.20 3 Team CSC 1.40 4 Lampre - Caffita 3.50 5 Illes Balears - Caisse D'Epargne 4.18 6 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 4.26 7 Phonak Hearing Systems 4.41 8 Cofidis, le credit par telephone 6.04 9 T- Mobile Team 6.17 10 Credit Agricole 6.22 11 Saunier Duval - Prodir 6.31 12 Relax Fuenlabrada 7.43 13 Quick Step - Innergetic 8.07 14 Euskaltel - Euskadi 8.32 15 Davitamon - Lotto 11.14 16 Bouygues Telecom 11.19 17 Rabobank 14.55 18 Fassa Bortolo 36.13 19 Team Gerolsteiner 36.29 20 Liquigas - Bianchi 38.02 21 La Francaise Des Jeux 43.19 22 Domina Vacanze 44.48 General classification after stage 6 1 Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 23.42.13 2 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0.06 3 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 1.01 4 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 1.03 5 David Blanco Rodiguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 1.05 6 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 1.20 7 Carlos Garcia Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 1.33 8 Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) Quick Step - Innergetic 9 Unai Yus Kerejeta (Spa) Bouygues Telecom 10 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 1.52 11 Tom Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel 1.57 12 Santos Gonzalez (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 2.01 13 Francisco Javier Vila Errandonea (Spa) Lampre - Caffita 2.02 14 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Lampre - Caffita 2.05 15 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Discovery Channel 2.07 16 Josep Jufre (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 2.13 17 Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 2.23 18 Luis Perez (Spa) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 2.24 19 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) T-Mobile Team 2.26 20 David Bernabeu (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 21 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2.39 22 Jakob Piil (Den) Team CSC 2.43 23 Christian Vandevelde (USA) Team CSC 2.54 24 Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Davitamon - Lotto 2.57 25 Marcos Antonio Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 3.07 26 Adolfo Garcia Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 3.27 27 Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 3.33 28 Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 4.08 29 Joseba Beloki Dorronsoro (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 4.46 30 Daniel Atienza Urendez (Spa) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 4.49 31 Unai Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 4.54 32 Moises Dueñas (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 5.09 33 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole 5.21 34 Aitor Gonzalez Jimenez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 5.23 35 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) T-Mobile Team 36 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 5.28 37 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre - Caffita 5.59 38 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 6.03 39 Manuel Calvente (Spa) Team CSC 6.05 40 Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 6.06 41 Francisco José Lara (Spa) T-Mobile Team 6.12 42 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir 6.15 43 Benjamin Noval (Spa) Discovery Channel 6.18 44 Joan Horrach (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 6.43 45 Michael Barry (Can) Discovery Channel 6.45 46 Gerrit Glomser (Aut) Lampre - Caffita 6.48 47 José Antonio Pecharroman Fabian (Spa) Quick Step - Innergetic 7.09 48 Angel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 7.20 49 Luis Pasamontes Rodriguez (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 7.29 50 Angel Luis Casero (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 7.44 51 Jose Miguel Elias (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 7.46 52 Francisco Pérez (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 8.34 53 Erik Zabel (Ger) T-Mobile Team 8.58 54 Eric Leblacher (Fra) Crédit Agricole 9.11 55 Pablo Lastras (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 9.17 56 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Crédit Agricole 9.23 57 Victor Hugo Peña (Col) Phonak Hearing Systems 9.29 58 Rolf Aldag (Ger) T-Mobile Team 9.46 59 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 10.29 60 Bradley McGee (Aus) Française des Jeux 10.45 61 Dariusz Baranowski (Pol) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 11.01 62 David Cañada (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 11.37 63 Christophe Kern (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 11.41 64 Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 11.43 65 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step - Innergetic 11.50 66 José Azevedo (Por) Discovery Channel 12.15 67 Mikel Pradera (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 12.34 68 Benoît Joachim (Lux) Discovery Channel 12.50 69 José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 12.53 70 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 13.40 71 Bingen Fernandez (Spa) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 14.18 72 Constantino Zaballa Gutierrez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 14.49 73 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner 14.50 74 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 14.52 75 Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) Crédit Agricole 15.13 76 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 15.25 77 Sébastien Joly (Fra) Crédit Agricole 15.53 78 Santiago Botero Echeverry (Col) Phonak Hearing Systems 15.56 79 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Fassa Bortolo 15.59 80 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 16.05 81 Daniele Nardello (Ita) T-Mobile Team 16.29 82 Rafael Casero (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 16.55 83 Benoît Poilvet (Fra) Crédit Agricole 17.02 84 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Davitamon - Lotto 17.03 85 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Rabobank 17.21 86 Juan Manuel Fuentes (Spa) Lampre - Caffita 17.38 87 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole 19.20 88 Eladio Jimenez Sanchez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 19.31 89 José Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 19.55 90 Charles Wegelius (GBr) Liquigas - Bianchi 20.00 91 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 20.25 92 Freddy Gonzalez (Col) Relax Fuenlabrada 20.31 93 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 20.33 94 Ignacio Gutierrez (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 20.50 95 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel 20.58 96 Lorenzo Bernucci (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 21.36 97 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) T-Mobile Team 22.03 98 Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 22.11 99 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 22.27 100 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 22.30 101 Guido Trenti (USA) Quick Step - Innergetic 23.04 102 Andrea Peron (Ita) Team CSC 23.43 103 Francisco José Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 23.48 104 Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 24.12 105 Leif Hoste (Bel) Discovery Channel 24.38 106 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team CSC 24.47 107 David Lopez Garcia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 24.50 108 Nacor Burgos (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 24.57 109 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 25.00 110 René Haselbacher (Aut) Gerolsteiner 25.03 111 Marco Velo (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 25.14 112 Pedro Horrillo Munoz (Spa) Rabobank 25.23 113 Bram De Groot (Ned) Rabobank 25.29 114 Julian Sanchez Pimienta (Spa) Fassa Bortolo 25.31 115 Alessandro Cortinovis (Ita) Domina Vacanze 25.37 116 Thomas Ziegler (Ger) Gerolsteiner 25.42 117 Thorwald Veneberg (Ned) Rabobank 26.08 118 Devis Miorin (Ita) Liquigas - Bianchi 26.42 119 Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 26.58 120 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 27.13 121 Angel Gomez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 27.22 122 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Discovery Channel 27.30 123 Francesco Bellotti (Ita) Crédit Agricole 27.39 124 Nicki Sørensen (Den) Team CSC 27.40 125 Andreas Matzbacher (Aut) Lampre - Caffita 28.21 126 Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 28.23 127 Julian Dean (NZl) Crédit Agricole 28.30 128 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux 28.36 129 Uwe Peschel (Ger) Gerolsteiner 28.42 130 Martin Elmiger (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems 28.56 131 Ruslan Ivanov (Mda) Domina Vacanze 29.18 132 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 29.34 133 Aketza Peña (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 29.53 134 Jorge Garcia (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 30.07 135 David Latasa (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 30.16 136 Matej Mugerli (Slo) Liquigas - Bianchi 30.38 137 Andreas Klier (Ger) T-Mobile Team 30.58 138 Leon Van Bon (Ned) Davitamon - Lotto 31.27 139 Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team CSC 31.28 140 Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 31.31 141 Patrick Calcagni (Swi) Liquigas - Bianchi 31.35 142 Ian McLeod (RSA) Française des Jeux 143 Volker Ordowski (Ger) Gerolsteiner 31.37 144 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank 31.38 145 Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre - Caffita 32.09 146 Isidro Nozal Vega (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 147 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 32.18 148 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 32.34 149 Marco Zanotti (Ita) Liquigas - Bianchi 33.16 150 Mauro Gerosa (Ita) Liquigas - Bianchi 33.27 151 Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Liquigas - Bianchi 34.08 152 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 35.25 153 Sven Montgomery (Swi) Gerolsteiner 35.27 154 Bart Dockx (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 35.36 155 Rafael Nuritdinov (Uzb) Domina Vacanze 36.13 156 Javier Pascual Rodriguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 36.14 157 Gorka Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 36.59 158 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 37.16 159 Marcel Strauss (Swi) Gerolsteiner 37.20 160 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 37.36 161 Tom Steels (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 37.37 162 Matthias Russ (Ger) Gerolsteiner 37.50 163 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 37.54 164 Niels Scheuneman (Ned) Rabobank 38.32 165 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas - Bianchi 38.52 166 Nick Gates (Aus) Davitamon - Lotto 39.51 167 Frédéric Guesdon (Fra) Française des Jeux 39.54 168 Fabio Baldato (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 39.58 169 Hervé Duclos-Lassalle (Fra) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 40.25 170 Sergio Ghisalberti (Ita) Domina Vacanze 40.38 171 André Korff (Ger) T-Mobile Team 41.40 172 Allan Johansen (Den) Team CSC 42.09 173 Markel Irizar (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 43.52 174 Jukka Vastaranta (Fin) Rabobank 47.42 175 Matej Jurco (Svk) Domina Vacanze 49.39 176 Christophe Edaleine (Fra) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 53.53 177 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 53.59 178 Frédéric Finot (Fra) Française des Jeux 1.02.41 179 Yohann Gène (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 1.04.45 180 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française des Jeux 1.09.55 181 José Antonio Garrido (Spa) Quick Step - Innergetic 1.13.53 Points classification 1 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole 64 pts 2 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 50 3 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 45 4 Bradley McGee (Aus) Française des Jeux 42 5 Erik Zabel (Ger) T-Mobile Team 40 6 Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 39 7 Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 29 8 David Blanco Rodiguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 28 9 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 28 10 Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 26 11 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 24 12 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 23 13 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 22 14 Carlos Garcia Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 21 15 Unai Yus Kerejeta (Spa) Bouygues Telecom 20 16 Tom Steels (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 20 17 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Fassa Bortolo 19 18 Josep Jufre (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 17 19 Jakob Piil (Den) Team CSC 16 20 Francisco Javier Vila Errandonea (Spa) Lampre - Caffita 16 21 Angel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 15 22 José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 15 23 Marco Zanotti (Ita) Liquigas - Bianchi 14 24 Christophe Edaleine (Fra) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 12 25 Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) Quick Step - Innergetic 12 Mountains classification 1 Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 20 pts 2 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 20 3 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 16 4 Jakob Piil (Den) Team CSC 15 5 Pablo Lastras (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 13 6 Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 12 7 David Blanco Rodiguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 11 8 Eladio Jimenez Sanchez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 10 9 Carlos Garcia Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 8 10 Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) Quick Step - Innergetic 7 11 David Cañada (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 7 12 Benoît Joachim (Lux) Discovery Channel 7 13 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 6 14 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Davitamon - Lotto 6 15 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 5 16 Jose Miguel Elias (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 5 17 Eric Leblacher (Fra) Crédit Agricole 5 18 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 4 19 Bradley McGee (Aus) Française des Jeux 4 20 Freddy Gonzalez (Col) Relax Fuenlabrada 4 21 Devis Miorin (Ita) Liquigas - Bianchi 3 22 Santos Gonzalez (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 2 23 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel 2 24 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 2 25 Francisco Javier Vila Errandonea (Spa) Lampre - Caffita 1 Combination classification 1 Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 8 pts 2 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 8 3 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 17 4 David Blanco Rodiguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 20 5 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 30 6 Carlos Garcia Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 30 7 Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) Quick Step - Innergetic 43 8 Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 43 9 Jakob Piil (Den) Team CSC 45 10 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 55 11 Francisco Javier Vila Errandonea (Spa) Lampre - Caffita 58 12 Santos Gonzalez (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 62 13 Bradley McGee (Aus) Française des Jeux 83 14 Pablo Lastras (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 90 15 Marcos Antonio Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 92 16 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 102 17 Eric Leblacher (Fra) Crédit Agricole 138 18 Benoît Joachim (Lux) Discovery Channel 142 19 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Davitamon - Lotto 169 20 Devis Miorin (Ita) Liquigas - Bianchi 191 Teams classification 1 Liberty Seguros - Würth Team 71.09.47 2 Comunidad Valenciana 0.48 3 Team CSC 3.09 4 Lampre - Caffita 4.48 5 Illes Balears - Caisse D'Epargne 4.52 6 Phonak Hearing Systems 5.16 7 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 5.57 8 Cofidis, le credit par telephone 7.29 9 Saunier Duval - Prodir 8.41 10 Quick Step - Innergetic 9.19 11 T- Mobile Team 9.31 12 Euskaltel - Euskadi 10.17 13 Credit Agricole 10.43 14 Relax Fuenlabrada 11.05 15 Bouygues Telecom 14.16 16 Davitamon - Lotto 18.56 17 Rabobank 31.29 18 Fassa Bortolo 39.27 19 Team Gerolsteiner 48.53 20 Liquigas - Bianchi 1.06.07 21 La Francaise Des Jeux 1.06.54 22 Domina Vacanze 1.08.11
