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61st Vuelta a Espańa - GT
Spain, August 26-September 17, 2006
Main Page Results Overall standings Stage Details Live report Previous Stage Next Stage
Stage 15 - September 10: Motilla del Palancar - Ford factory (Almussafes), 182 km
Forster salvages Gerolsteiner's Vuelta
Valverde holds on to lead on stage settled in bunch sprint
By Shane Stokes in Almussafes, with additional reporting by Hernan Alvarez
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Gerolsteiner rider Robert Förster followed up his victory on the final stage of the Giro d’Italia in June with a fine sprint win on stage 15 of the Vuelta. The 28 year old timed things to perfection to gallop in ahead of Stuart O’Grady (CSC), Danilo Napolitano (Lampre) and points leader Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole) at the finish at the Ford Factory in Almussafes. Alessandro Petacchi was one of those who was impeded by a slight left hand curve close to the line.
It was, along with the Giro win, the biggest result of his career. It is also a very important result for the Gerolsteiner team, who have lost over half of their squad so far. Indeed, their biggest name Davide Rebellin was one of those who chose not to start today. “This is great for the team, we targeted a stage win in the race,” Förster said after the finish. “We have lost five guys, some had problems with the heat and Fothen was not so strong since the Tour. But it has worked out well today.”
Förster’s victory comes after a tough time so far in Spain. “This year I won the last stage of the Giro. It was also a three week race, it was very hard but the last week worked out perfectly. I felt the same as here, I wasn’t in the best condition for the Vuelta and the first two weeks were so hard. In the mountains I was dropped and I had to fight back. Then yesterday I called my coach in Germany and he said I must go on until the end [of the Vuelta]. It was better today, this was my best stage. I have now taken one in the Giro and one in the Vuelta; I hope now to win a stage of the Tour at some point.”
The 182 kilometre stage saw a couple of attempts to go clear before two riders succeeded and built up a maximum advantage of 6’30. Jorge García (Relax-Gam) and Kjell Carlström (Liquigas) worked together until the latter sat up, with the Spanish rider being caught with 15 kilometres remaining. The sprinters’ teams – including the Crédit Agricole squad of Hushovd – drove things from there to ensure a bunch sprint.
“It was very dangerous,” said Förster when asked about the sprint. “In the last kilometre I was in 20th position and my team-mate Hasselbacher put me on Napolitano’s wheel. It was not the perfect wheel, we wanted to go behind Petacchi as I had noticed that Zabel had a problem with his back wheel with three or four kilometres to go. I thought that Petacchi would make the sprint and that is why we tried to get there.
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“With 700 metres to go I was behind Napolitano and then he started sprinting with 300 metres to go. It was a bit far out but I started mine 150 metres before the finish line and it worked out perfectly.”
Förster was due to call an end to his season at the end of the race in Madrid but said that depending on how he felt then, he might continue to ride Franco Belge and Paris-Tours.
Race leader Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne) had an uneventful stage as the GC contenders effectively called a truce prior to tomorrow’s rest day. He came home safely in the main bunch and preserved his 48 second lead over Astana’s Andrey Kashechkin.
“Just like these days always go, it was tranquilo at the start, but quite nervous in the finish,” he told Spanish television after the stage. “You always have to fight to keep your position. We’ve done two weeks, tomorrow’s the rest day and we’ll see how it goes in the final week.”
Carlos Sastre spoke to Onda Cero radio and said that it was a nerve-wracking stage. “I am here, alive… trying to recover myself after these stressful kilometres. We were riding a stage that seems not to be important, but could cause harm [through accident]… The breakaway came early on and it was a day when the sprinters’ teams had one of the few chances left in this Vuelta to control the race and to end in a bunch sprint. That goal was accomplished.”
The riders will this evening face a 400 kilometre transfer to their hotels in Almeria. Tomorrow is the race’s second rest day, with the Vuelta peloton resuming their battles on Tuesday with a tough mountain stage to the Observatorio Astronómico de Calar Alto. The final showdown in the 2006 Tour of Spain is on the way.
How it unfolded
Almussafes is a little town near Valencia. The town was settled during the Arab occupation of Spain. The name of the town is derived from the Arabic word Almazaf, which means the customs house. Almussafes was customs house for the goods that went to Valencia, and American motor company Ford established its Spanish plant here in 1976.
The stage started with two riders fewer than today as Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) and Rugero Marzzoli (Lampre) decided not to take the start line, leaving 156 riders in the race.
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After seven kilometres, two riders attacked the peloton and got a gap, Jorge Garcia Marin (Relax) and Kjell Carlström (Liquigas). The peloton allowed the duo to escape, as a two-man breakaway would be easy to control for the sprinters' teams. The duo led the race by 6'30 at km 41. From that point on, however, their advantage narrowed, as the bunch didn't want to let Garcia Marin and Carlström go. Around km 90, the Finn couldn't keep up the tempo, leaving the Spaniard alone, less then five minutes ahead of the peloton.
At km 142 (40 km to go), Garcia Marin stayed in front but his chances of victory were slim; today's stage was tailor-made for the sprinters. Everyone knew Garcia Marin would eventually be caught, and that's exactly what happened with 14 km to go.
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The stage was set for a bunch sprint, and in the final two kilometres, the teams of Milram and Quick.Step fought for positions; the Milram men wanted to help Alessandro Petacchi and Quick.Step wanted to see Paolo Bettini win. Lampre outfit was also there at the head of the peloton.
It was a long bunch sprint with a straight of more than a kilometre, but with a tricky chicane just before the line, and the final metres were incredibly fast and nervous. With around 150 metres to go, Claudio Corioni (Lampre) obstructed Petacchi in his bid to give his team-mate Sylvester Szmyd the victory, but it was Robert Förster (Gerolsteiner) who came out with the best position and finally prevailed, followed by Stuart O'Grady (CSC) and Napolitano.
Second rest day - September 11; Stage 16 - September 12: Almería-observatorio astronomico de Calar Alto, 145 km
The riders will enjoy their second and last rest day tomorrow. But on Tuesday, they will face a short but demanding stage.
In fact, the profile of Stage 16 will be the exact opposite of today's route, which will start in Almeria by the sea and end at the special category observatorio astronomico de Calar Alto climb, 2,090 metres above sea level. Before the finish, however, two more climbs must be faced: the Alto de Velefique (Cat. 1 - 1,800 m. - km 56.3) and Alto de Calar Alto (Cat. 1 - 2,160 m. - km 88).
Maybe a good chance for the riders behind Valverde on GC to surprise him; however, Valverde has so far shown he is capable of winning on all terrain.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by AFP Photo
- Robert Förster (Gerolsteiner) triumphs in Almussafes on Stage 15 of the Vuelta a Espańa.
- Robert Förster (Gerolsteiner) beats Stuart O'Grady (CSC, L) and Danilo Napolitano (Lampre-Cafitta) to take out the fifteenth stage.
- Robert Förster (Gerolsteiner) was a comfortable winner in today's chaotic finale.
- Robert Förster (Gerolsteiner) praises the Lord.
- Robert Förster (Gerolsteiner) enjoys the winner's spoils.
- Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears) has his eyes on the big prize one week from now.
- Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears) and Carlos Sastre (CSC) share a few laughs.
- The peloton motor towards the finish in Almussafes.
- Race leader Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears) sits comfortably on the wheel of team-mate Oscar Pereiro.
Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti
- Another sunny day in Spain
- The peloton all together
- A time of ease in preparation for the final week
- Fans made time to catch the race even the more quiet, remote sections of the course
- Stage 15 ran from Motilla del Palancar to the Ford factory in Almussafes; 182km in all
- A Pro Tour caravan Takes up the whole road and requires more support personnel than the number of racers
- Riders working their way back through the caravan to get into the peloton
- The wind up: Gerolsteiner rider Robert Förster (second from left) was able to provide his team's first stage victory in the 2006 Vuelta
- Forster waves in celebration of his sprint victory
- David Millar (Saunier Duval Prodir) looks disappointed with his finish. He only finished 33 seconds back
- Hydration was the key to survival on another hot day
- Forster gets the podium treatment
- Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears) retains the leader's jersey - and a lovely statue in honor of the stage's finish at the Ford Factory in Almussafes
- Valverde
- Being Watched by both statues…
- … and humans
- Robert Förster (Gerolsteiner)
- Forster again
- Carlos Sastre (right)
- Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana Team)
Images by Unipublic
- Leader of the pack
- Jorge Garcia Marin (Relax) was part of an early two-man break
- Jorge Garcia Marin (left) and Kjell Carlström (Liquigas)
- An easy day for the rest of the bunch
- Jorge Garcia Marin
- Paolo Bettini (Quick Step-Innergetic - center) getting chatted
- Riders fuel up and work on their tan lines
- Credit Agricole keeps the pace moving
- Carlos Sastre (CSC - center) laughs at something David Millar (Sanier Duval Prodir) says
- Cruising
- Riding into the sunset
- Jorge Garcia Marin (Relax)
- The two breakaway riders stayed away until there was 14 kilometers left in the stage
- The Spanish countryside
- Marin and Carlstrom
- Marin and Carlstrom
- The run into town: Sunday's stage finished at the Ford factory in Almussafes
- Blue skies and fertile soil make this region of Spain perfect for agriculture
- Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole) on stage for the presentation of the jerseys
- Paolo Bettini (Quick Step-Innergetic - center) sat in the back until the final kilometers; where he played a role in sprint and finished fifth in the stage
- Robert Forster (Gerolsteiner), winner of stage 15
- Ah, the kiss, almost worth the win by itself
- A Ford executive presents Alejandro Valverde, current Vuelta leader, with a trophy to commemorate the stage finish at a Ford factory
- Forster wins the sprint ahead of Stuart O'Grady (Team CSC), Danilo Napolitano (Lampre-Fondital), Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole) and Paolo Bettini (Quick Step-Innergetic)
- Out in the hills
- Highlands foliage
- Snaking through the countryside
Results
1 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner 4.24.55 2 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC 3 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 4 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole 5 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic 6 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems 7 Aaron Kemps (Aus) Astana Team 8 Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 9 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Davitamon-Lotto 10 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance 11 Francisco José Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 12 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Team Milram 13 Rubén Pérez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 14 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas 15 Claudio Corioni (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 16 Franck Renier (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 17 Alexandre Usov (Blr) AG2R Prevoyance 18 David Navas (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance 19 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 20 Pieter Mertens (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 21 Christopher Horner (USA) Davitamon-Lotto 22 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 23 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 24 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Team 25 Pedro Horrillo (Spa) Rabobank 26 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance 27 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Credit Agricole 28 Marco Velo (Ita) Team Milram 29 Luis Pérez (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 30 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 31 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 32 Theo Eltink (Ned) Rabobank 33 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 34 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Team 35 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 36 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 37 Bingen Fernández (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 38 Nicki Sorensen (Den) Team CSC 39 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 40 Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Team 41 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 42 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 43 Michael Barry (Can) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 44 Ińigo Chaurreau (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance 45 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 46 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 47 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Phonak Hearing Systems 48 Uros Murn (Slo) Phonak Hearing Systems 0.11 49 José Luis Arrieta (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance 0.12 50 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) Lampre-Fondital 51 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre-Fondital 0.17 52 José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 53 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team CSC 54 Benoît Joachim (Lux) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 55 Pablo Lastras (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 56 Thomas Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 57 Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz) Astana Team 58 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Liquigas 59 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas 60 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 61 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Team Milram 0.21 62 Mario De Sarraga (Spa) Relax-Gam 0.25 63 Jesús Hernández (Spa) Relax-Gam 64 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank 65 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 66 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir 67 Aketza Peńa (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 68 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC 69 David Cańada (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 70 Bastiaan Giling (Ned) T-Mobile Team 71 Kjell Carlström (Fin) Liquigas 72 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Team Milram 0.29 73 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 74 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic 75 Eric Leblacher (Fra) Française des Jeux 76 Steve Morabito (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems 0.33 77 Raúl García De Mateo (Spa) Relax-Gam 78 José Miguel Elias (Spa) Relax-Gam 79 Stéphane Goubert (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance 80 Björn Leukemans (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 81 Ángel Vallejo (Spa) Relax-Gam 82 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval-Prodir 83 Sergio Paulinho (Por) Astana Team 84 Xabier Zandio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 85 Daniel Becke (Ger) Team Milram 86 Carlos Barredo (Spa) Astana Team 87 David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 88 Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Team CSC 89 Davide Vigano (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic 90 William Walker (Aus) Rabobank 91 Torsten Hiekmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner 92 Ińigo Cuesta (Spa) Team CSC 93 Stephan Schreck (Ger) T-Mobile Team 94 Bart Dockx (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 95 Ian Mcleod (RSA) Française des Jeux 96 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 97 Markel Irizar (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 98 Florian Stalder (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems 99 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance 100 Daniele Nardello (Ita) T-Mobile Team 101 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 102 Frédéric Finot (Fra) Française des Jeux 103 Sebastian Siedler (Ger) Team Milram 104 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 105 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 106 Enrico Poitschke (Ger) Team Milram 107 Frédéric Bessy (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 108 Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance 109 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank 110 Mauricio Ardila (Col) Rabobank 111 David Loosli (Swi) Lampre-Fondital 112 Daniel Moreno (Spa) Relax-Gam 113 José Vicent Garcia Acosta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 114 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Team CSC 115 Benoît Poilvet (Fra) Credit Agricole 116 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 117 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Credit Agricole 118 Joan Horrach (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 119 David George (RSA) Relax-Gam 120 Luis Fernández Oliveira (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 121 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 122 Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 123 Thierry Marichal (Bel) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 124 René Haselbacher (Aut) Gerolsteiner 0.52 125 Ińigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0.53 126 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Credit Agricole 127 Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic 0.57 128 Alberto Benítez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 0.58 129 Fabien Patanchon (Fra) Française des Jeux 130 Francesco Failli (Ita) Liquigas 131 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux 132 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas 133 Dario Andriotto (Ita) Liquigas 134 Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Liquigas 135 Pierre Drancourt (Bel) Bouygues Telecom 136 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 137 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner 138 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Credit Agricole 139 Scott Davis (Aus) T-Mobile Team 1.04 140 Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 1.08 141 Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic 1.25 142 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic 143 Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 144 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Bouygues Telecom 1.41 145 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 146 José Antonio Redondo (Spa) Astana Team 1.41 147 Mads Kaggestad (Nor) Credit Agricole 148 Jorge García (Spa) Relax-Gam 149 Nacor Burgos (Spa) Relax-Gam 150 Sébastien Joly (Fra) Française des Jeux 1.45 151 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 152 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Française des Jeux 153 José Antonio Garrido (Spa) Quick Step-Innergetic 2.31 154 Addy Engels (Ned) Quick Step-Innergetic 2.32 155 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic 156 Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Credit Agricole 4.48 DNS Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner DNS Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) Lampre-Fondital Sprints S.I. Requena km: 73,5 1 Jorge García (Spa) Relax-Gam 4 pts 2 Kjell Carlström (Fin) Liquigas 2 3 José Antonio Garrido (Spa) Quick Step-Innergetic 1 S.I. Catadau km: 163 1 Jorge García (Spa) Relax-Gam 4 pts 2 José Antonio Garrido (Spa) Quick Step-Innergetic 2 3 Enrico Poitschke (Ger) Team Milram 1 Points 1 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner 25 pts 2 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC 20 3 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 16 4 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole 14 5 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic 12 6 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems 10 7 Aaron Kemps (Aus) Astana Team 9 8 Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 8 9 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Davitamon-Lotto 7 10 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance 6 11 Francisco José Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 5 12 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Team Milram 4 13 Rubén Pérez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 3 14 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas 2 15 Claudio Corioni (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 1 Teams 1 Ag2r Prevoyance 13.14.45 2 Davitamon - Lotto 3 Lampre - Fondital 4 Team CSC 5 Cofidis, le Credit Par Telephone 6 Astana 7 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 8 Credit Agricole 9 Euskaltel - Euskadi 10 Team Milram 11 Caisse D'Epargne - Illes Balears 12 Phonak Hearing Systems 0.11 13 Bouygues Telecom 0.17 14 Rabobank 0.25 15 Liquigas 0.34 16 Saunier Duval - Prodir 0.42 17 Relax - GAM 0.50 18 Quick Step - Innergetic 1.02 19 Française des Jeux 20 Gerolsteiner 1.25 21 T- Mobile Team 1.31 General classification after stage 15 1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 58.48.23 2 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Team 0.48 3 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 1.25 4 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Team 1.38 5 José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 2.23 6 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 3.49 7 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 4.29 8 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas 4.48 9 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 5.03 10 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 7.15 11 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 7.41 12 Thomas Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 7.46 13 Luis Pérez (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 7.56 14 Sergio Paulinho (Por) Astana Team 8.21 15 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Phonak Hearing Systems 9.30 16 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 17 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre-Fondital 9.42 18 David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 10.10 19 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir 11.15 20 Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 12.38 21 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) Lampre-Fondital 13.33 22 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 13.48 23 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 13.50 24 Jesús Hernández (Spa) Relax-Gam 14.12 25 Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz) Astana Team 15.45 26 Christopher Horner (USA) Davitamon-Lotto 17.23 27 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 18.31 28 Xabier Zandio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 22.05 29 Carlos Barredo (Spa) Astana Team 22.27 30 José Miguel Elias (Spa) Relax-Gam 22.28 31 Theo Eltink (Ned) Rabobank 24.13 32 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 25.14 33 Ińigo Cuesta (Spa) Team CSC 26.26 34 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team CSC 27.33 35 Ińigo Chaurreau (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance 27.38 36 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic 28.47 37 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Liquigas 29.42 38 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Credit Agricole 31.11 39 Eric Leblacher (Fra) Française des Jeux 32.01 40 Daniel Moreno (Spa) Relax-Gam 32.17 41 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 32.20 42 Nicki Sorensen (Den) Team CSC 32.28 43 Daniel Becke (Ger) Team Milram 35.45 44 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 37.47 45 Stéphane Goubert (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance 38.31 46 Pablo Lastras (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 39.56 47 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank 40.03 48 Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 40.38 49 Thierry Marichal (Bel) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 42.23 50 Benoît Poilvet (Fra) Credit Agricole 42.52 51 Ángel Vallejo (Spa) Relax-Gam 43.20 52 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Credit Agricole 43.23 53 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval-Prodir 45.53 54 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 46.28 55 José Luis Arrieta (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance 47.02 56 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance 47.17 57 Sébastien Joly (Fra) Française des Jeux 47.23 58 Mauricio Ardila (Col) Rabobank 48.04 59 Daniele Nardello (Ita) T-Mobile Team 48.25 60 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 49.34 61 Frédéric Bessy (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 50.38 62 Raúl García De Mateo (Spa) Relax-Gam 54.03 63 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank 55.55 64 Benoît Joachim (Lux) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 57.55 65 David George (RSA) Relax-Gam 58.37 66 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Team CSC 59.30 67 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 1.00.28 68 David Loosli (Swi) Lampre-Fondital 1.00.34 69 Torsten Hiekmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner 1.01.15 70 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 1.01.27 71 Michael Barry (Can) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 1.01.31 72 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance 1.03.23 73 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 1.04.44 74 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Credit Agricole 1.05.11 75 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas 1.05.50 76 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole 1.07.46 77 Pieter Mertens (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 1.08.04 78 Luis Fernández Oliveira (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 1.08.20 79 Ińigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 1.09.03 80 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 1.09.04 81 Steve Morabito (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems 1.09.24 82 Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Team CSC 1.09.49 83 Aketza Peńa (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 1.10.16 84 David Cańada (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 1.10.23 85 Florian Stalder (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems 1.11.46 86 Rubén Pérez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 1.11.51 87 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic 1.11.53 88 Joan Horrach (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 1.12.37 89 Alexandre Usov (Blr) AG2R Prevoyance 1.12.58 90 Nacor Burgos (Spa) Relax-Gam 1.13.23 91 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC 1.13.26 92 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 1.13.51 93 Francisco José Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 1.14.30 94 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 1.14.50 95 Stephan Schreck (Ger) T-Mobile Team 1.15.01 96 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Bouygues Telecom 1.15.10 97 Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance 1.15.40 98 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC 1.16.26 99 José Antonio Garrido (Spa) Quick Step-Innergetic 1.16.29 100 José Antonio Redondo (Spa) Astana Team 1.17.00 101 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 1.19.03 102 Bart Dockx (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 1.19.47 103 Jorge García (Spa) Relax-Gam 1.20.02 104 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 1.20.49 105 Bingen Fernández (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 1.22.13 106 Björn Leukemans (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 1.22.34 107 Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Team 1.23.02 108 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic 1.23.18 109 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Française des Jeux 1.24.10 110 Scott Davis (Aus) T-Mobile Team 111 Markel Irizar (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 1.25.00 112 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Team Milram 1.25.27 113 Alberto Benítez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 1.25.32 114 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner 1.25.37 115 Claudio Corioni (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 1.27.08 116 Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 1.27.52 117 Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Liquigas 1.27.59 118 Ian Mcleod (RSA) Française des Jeux 1.29.00 119 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic 1.29.06 120 Mario De Sarraga (Spa) Relax-Gam 1.29.26 121 Uros Murn (Slo) Phonak Hearing Systems 1.30.14 122 William Walker (Aus) Rabobank 1.31.08 123 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance 1.31.11 124 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems 1.31.27 125 Pedro Horrillo (Spa) Rabobank 1.31.29 126 Dario Andriotto (Ita) Liquigas 1.31.33 127 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas 1.33.37 128 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Davitamon-Lotto 1.33.46 129 Pierre Drancourt (Bel) Bouygues Telecom 1.34.40 130 Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic 1.35.24 131 Davide Vigano (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic 1.35.40 132 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux 1.36.11 133 Kjell Carlström (Fin) Liquigas 1.36.44 134 Francesco Failli (Ita) Liquigas 1.36.56 135 René Haselbacher (Aut) Gerolsteiner 1.37.22 136 Aaron Kemps (Aus) Astana Team 1.37.26 137 Bastiaan Giling (Ned) T-Mobile Team 1.38.12 138 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 1.39.05 139 Marco Velo (Ita) Team Milram 1.39.52 140 Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 1.40.39 141 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 1.41.09 142 José Vicent Garcia Acosta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 1.41.36 143 Franck Renier (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 1.41.55 144 David Navas (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance 1.43.34 145 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Team Milram 1.43.47 146 Frédéric Finot (Fra) Française des Jeux 1.44.21 147 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner 1.44.44 148 Fabien Patanchon (Fra) Française des Jeux 1.47.18 149 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Team Milram 1.48.32 150 Addy Engels (Ned) Quick Step-Innergetic 1.48.51 151 Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic 1.49.27 152 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Credit Agricole 1.50.26 153 Sebastian Siedler (Ger) Team Milram 1.52.30 154 Mads Kaggestad (Nor) Credit Agricole 2.01.54 155 Enrico Poitschke (Ger) Team Milram 2.08.36 156 Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Credit Agricole 2.10.06 Points classification 1 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole 169 pts 2 Francisco José Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 89 3 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 89 4 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Team 82 5 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC 82 6 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas 79 7 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 79 8 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic 77 9 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 54 10 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Team 52 11 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance 51 12 José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 45 13 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 44 14 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas 40 15 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 37 16 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 37 17 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Française des Jeux 37 18 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval-Prodir 29 19 Uros Murn (Slo) Phonak Hearing Systems 29 20 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 28 21 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 27 22 Sergio Paulinho (Por) Astana Team 26 23 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 26 24 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner 25 25 Ińigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 24 26 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 24 27 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems 22 28 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 22 29 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Bouygues Telecom 22 30 Alexandre Usov (Blr) AG2R Prevoyance 21 31 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 20 32 Bart Dockx (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 20 33 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Team Milram 18 34 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Credit Agricole 17 35 David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 16 36 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Team CSC 16 37 David Loosli (Swi) Lampre-Fondital 15 38 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Liquigas 14 39 Thomas Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 14 40 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir 14 41 Rubén Pérez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 13 42 Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 12 43 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 11 44 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner 11 45 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Davitamon-Lotto 10 46 Pedro Horrillo (Spa) Rabobank 10 47 Luis Pérez (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 10 48 Aaron Kemps (Aus) Astana Team 9 49 Raúl García De Mateo (Spa) Relax-Gam 8 50 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 8 51 Jorge García (Spa) Relax-Gam 8 52 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas 8 53 Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 8 54 Theo Eltink (Ned) Rabobank 8 55 Nicki Sorensen (Den) Team CSC 8 56 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) Lampre-Fondital 8 57 Scott Davis (Aus) T-Mobile Team 8 58 Mario De Sarraga (Spa) Relax-Gam 7 59 Claudio Corioni (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 7 60 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Credit Agricole 7 61 Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Team 7 62 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre-Fondital 7 63 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC 7 64 René Haselbacher (Aut) Gerolsteiner 7 65 Eric Leblacher (Fra) Française des Jeux 6 66 Björn Leukemans (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 6 67 Ian Mcleod (RSA) Française des Jeux 6 68 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic 6 69 Sébastien Joly (Fra) Française des Jeux 6 70 Daniel Becke (Ger) Team Milram 4 71 Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic 4 72 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Phonak Hearing Systems 4 73 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team CSC 4 74 Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz) Astana Team 4 75 Davide Vigano (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic 4 76 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 4 77 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 4 78 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 3 79 Jesús Hernández (Spa) Relax-Gam 3 80 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 3 81 José Antonio Garrido (Spa) Quick Step-Innergetic 3 82 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 2 83 Kjell Carlström (Fin) Liquigas 2 84 Xabier Zandio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 2 85 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 2 86 Enrico Poitschke (Ger) Team Milram 2 87 Frédéric Bessy (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 2 88 Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 2 89 Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2 90 Pieter Mertens (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 1 91 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 1 92 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic 1 93 Florian Stalder (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems 1 94 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 1 Mountains classification 1 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Credit Agricole 81 pts 2 José Miguel Elias (Spa) Relax-Gam 70 3 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 67 4 David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 53 5 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 50 6 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 44 7 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas 40 8 Ángel Vallejo (Spa) Relax-Gam 36 9 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 33 10 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Team 32 11 José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 32 12 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Liquigas 28 13 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Team 27 14 Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 27 15 Benoît Joachim (Lux) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 26 16 Alexandre Usov (Blr) AG2R Prevoyance 23 17 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 19 18 Mario De Sarraga (Spa) Relax-Gam 18 19 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole 16 20 Sergio Paulinho (Por) Astana Team 16 21 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 15 22 Luis Pérez (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 15 23 Eric Leblacher (Fra) Française des Jeux 14 24 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank 14 25 David Loosli (Swi) Lampre-Fondital 12 26 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Bouygues Telecom 12 27 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 10 28 Ińigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 10 29 Frédéric Bessy (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 8 30 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 7 31 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 7 32 Mauricio Ardila (Col) Rabobank 7 33 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 6 34 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 6 35 Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic 6 36 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic 6 37 José Antonio Garrido (Spa) Quick Step-Innergetic 6 38 Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz) Astana Team 5 39 Rubén Pérez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 5 40 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 4 41 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Team CSC 4 42 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 4 43 Jorge García (Spa) Relax-Gam 4 44 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 4 45 Thomas Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 3 46 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Phonak Hearing Systems 3 47 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir 3 48 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 3 49 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team CSC 3 50 Scott Davis (Aus) T-Mobile Team 3 51 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) Lampre-Fondital 2 52 Torsten Hiekmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner 2 53 José Luis Arrieta (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance 1 54 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 1 55 Raúl García De Mateo (Spa) Relax-Gam 1 56 Mads Kaggestad (Nor) Credit Agricole 1 Combined classification 1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 9 pts 2 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 18 3 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Team 21 4 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Team 22 5 José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 28 6 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas 29 7 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 31 8 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 40 9 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 50 10 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 54 11 Sergio Paulinho (Por) Astana Team 56 12 David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 57 13 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 63 14 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 63 15 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 75 16 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic 80 17 Luis Pérez (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 82 18 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Liquigas 87 19 Thomas Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 96 20 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole 96 21 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir 106 22 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 113 23 Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 123 24 Eric Leblacher (Fra) Française des Jeux 127 25 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) Lampre-Fondital 128 26 David Loosli (Swi) Lampre-Fondital 130 27 Ińigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 132 28 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Phonak Hearing Systems 133 29 Alexandre Usov (Blr) AG2R Prevoyance 135 30 Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz) Astana Team 137 31 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 142 32 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Team CSC 143 33 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Bouygues Telecom 151 34 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 154 35 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team CSC 156 36 Raúl García De Mateo (Spa) Relax-Gam 166 37 Rubén Pérez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 166 38 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 170 39 Frédéric Bessy (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone 177 40 Mario De Sarraga (Spa) Relax-Gam 196 41 Jorge García (Spa) Relax-Gam 197 42 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 213 43 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 214 44 José Antonio Garrido (Spa) Quick Step-Innergetic 217 45 Scott Davis (Aus) T-Mobile Team 217 46 Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic 257 Teams classification 1 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 175.53.00 2 Caisse D'Epargne - Illes Balears 10.58 3 Astana 16.59 4 Euskaltel - Euskadi 23.44 5 Lampre - Fondital 34.43 6 Team CSC 44.03 7 Saunier Duval - Prodir 54.15 8 Relax - GAM 1.09.40 9 Rabobank 1.13.32 10 Ag2r Prevoyance 1.24.48 11 Cofidis, le Credit Par Telephone 1.27.44 12 Credit Agricole 1.32.31 13 Liquigas 1.45.23 14 Davitamon - Lotto 1.55.43 15 Gerolsteiner 2.22.23 16 Phonak Hearing Systems 2.24.09 17 Française des Jeux 2.26.05 18 T- Mobile Team 2.26.21 19 Quick Step - Innergetic 2.49.43 20 Bouygues Telecom 3.05.08 21 Team Milram 3.14.57
