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61st Vuelta a España - GT

Spain, August 26-September 17, 2006

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Stage 7 - September 1: León - Alto de El Morredero (Ponferrada), 154 km

Valverde turns on the turbos for victory

Discovery Channel's new star moves into maillot oro

By Shane Stokes in Ponferrada, with additional reporting from Hernan Alvarez

Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears)
Photo ©: AFP
(Click for larger image)

In a finish reminiscent of the devastating kick he unleashed to win stage 10 of the 2005 Tour de France, Alejandro Valverde overhauled Alexandre Vinokourov in a highly exciting finale at the end of today's seventh Vuelta stage.

Vinokourov went clear twice on the final Alto de El Morredero climb, once on the lower slopes and again inside the final two kilometres of racing. With 500 metres remaining it looked all but certain that the Kazakhstani would win the stage, but he ran out of legs before the line and was passed by Valverde, who certainly lived up to his Green Bullet nickname today.

The Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears leader had actually seemed to be suffering on the early slopes but he then clicked into top gear and drove the pace much of the way up the climb. Although a series of attacks came to nothing, he had more than enough speed to take the stage and vault from sixth to second overall.

"There is only a small difference today but with the time bonus at the line, it is important," said the ProTour leader after the stage. "I am happy with my victory and it is good for my confidence."

"What was most important today was to take some time and reduce the differences to the others. That's what I am most happy about. Winning here is important for the morale. It was like riding a classic on that climb.

"It was great with all the fans here today and the team worked well for me. It was phenomenal to win today. As regards Brajkovic, we have to take him seriously. He is good in the time trials and he's already demonstrated he's going well in the mountains. The stage on Sunday is the main hurdle. It's very hard and it will be important in the overall."

Valverde's rival Carlos Sastre (CSC) also looked to be suffering on the climb but came through for second, four seconds back, while José Angel Gomez Marchante (Saunier Duval-Prodir) was a further two seconds in arrears. Young Discovery Channel rider Janez Brajkovic followed his excellent and unexpected second place two days ago with another impressive ride, taking fourth ahead of team-mate Manuel Beltrán, while a disappointed Vinokourov was sixth, 12 seconds behind Valverde.

Janez Brajkovic (Discovery Channel)
Photo ©: Unipublic
(Click for larger image)

Brajkovic had intended riding for Tom Danielson during the stage but the Discovery leader had a bad day and finished back in 36th place, 3'28 down. The 22 year old consequently had a free rein and this, twinned with his superb current form, saw him take over from overnight race leader Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas), who cracked and lost 1'58 today.

Brajkovic seemed surprised to be leading his first Grand Tour. "I was very happy with how I went today. The first day in the mountains to La Covatilla went very well. I didn't feel very good at first today, I felt blocked, but as the kilometres passed I felt much better and at the end I tried to get some time. I'd like to say thanks to the whole team - the fact that I am in the leader's jersey is the result of all their work.

"I didn't dream about taking the jersey before starting this race. I came here to gain some experience, that was my first goal. I also came here to help our leader Tom Danielson…my target was to do that and also to finish the tour."

The Slovenian won the world under 23 time trial title two years ago and this strength against the clock plus his obvious good form in the high mountains led to some journalists pondering if he could win the race. He played down such talk. "I still think that I am a very young rider and not very experienced. The finish is two weeks away and in that time, many things can happen. We will take it day by day and see how my body will react.

"Johan is such an experienced person that I am sure he will guide me and guide the team in the right way. I trust him 100 percent."

Janez Brajkovic (Discovery Channel)
Photo ©: Unipublic
(Click for larger image)

Eight years ago Brajkovic's former team-mate Lance Armstrong finished fourth in the Vuelta and went on to dominate the Tour de France in subsequent years. He was asked if he thought that his strong performances here could also lead to him becoming another star.

"I don't know, but for sure I am going to do everything I can," he responded. "I am going to work 100 percent to achieve as much as is possible. I don't know if I am going to win a Tour some day but one thing is sure – I am going to give it 100 percent. We will see."

Carlos Sastre's team director Kim Andersen said beforehand that the plan was for him to "take it easy…follow, stay where we are. Sunday will be the big stage." In the end Sastre did precisely that, although it was not necessarily by choice. While he took a good second on the stage, he looked to be in trouble at times on the climb. He confirmed this to Spanish radio after the stage. "I ended up riding with very little strength. I am conscious that I have been racing many kilometres this year; I know that to have concentration and keep a fast rhythm is tough. But I am motivated that I was still able to be among the best of the race and it's important for me thinking of the future.

"When you have little strength, you must learn how to dose it out," he continued. "I'm already 31, I'm an old man in this sport but I'm still learning many things."

Sastre was impressed by Valverde's ride, specifically his finishing burst. "He demonstrated today that he is a super powerful rider and that he wins these kind of sprints with apparent ease," he stated.

Next home was Saunier Duval's leader Marchante, who also gave kudos to the stage victor. "I tried to win, like I tried on Wednesday," he said. "I was rather nervous; Alejandro [Valverde] was terrific and I couldn't win. It's a shame.

Although the general classification is starting to take shape, he feels the race is still wide open. "As I said the other day, this is just the beginning. Some [riders] were very good, some others a little bit worse and anything can change at any moment."

That much is true. Tomorrow's stage is relatively flat and should have little effect on the general classification. But the same can certainly not be said about Sunday's suffer-fest to the Alto de la Cobertoria; weaker contenders may have got away with small time gaps today, but seconds will become many minutes on stage nine. Forget the talk about a cooler race; temperatures may have dropped slightly as this Vuelta moved north, but the action is going to heat right up from this point on.

How it unfolded

The bunch
Photo ©: Unipublic
(Click for larger image)

This was the second time a Vuelta stage ended in Alto de El Morredero; the first was in 1997, another Leon-Morredero stage when Roberto Heras won, with Chaba Jimenez and Pascal Richard finishing behind him.

The right breakaway was made when Laszlo Bodrogi (Credit Agricole), David Loosli (Lampre) and Staf Scheirlinckx (Cofidis) took off after 25 kilometres. The peloton allowed the breakaway to go and the lead trio led by 7'47 at km 47. The difference kept growing and by km 60 the three leaders were 11'28 in front.

The three riders had a good advantage and crossed the first intermediate sprint (Toreno, km 101) with David Loosli first, followed by Laszlo Bodrogi and Staf Scheirlinckx. At that point, they led by 12'23 over the peloton.

Laszlo Bodrogi (Credit Agricole)
Photo ©: Unipublic
(Click for larger image)

At km 114 (40 km to go), the gap came down as the peloton began chasing the lead trio, with the difference around nine and a half minutes. At the second intermediate sprint (Ponferrada, 30 km to go), Bodrogi took the most bonus points followed by Scheirlinckx and Loosli. The gap was 7'48. The tempo was very fast; the average speed so far 43.8 km/h. As the bottom of Morredero neared, the distance between the leaders grew shorter.

At the head of the peloton, Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) took command. Meanwhile, Loosli attacked the breakaway with 18.5 km to go. Three and a half kilometres later, Loosli led by 50 seconds over Bodrogi, 2'15 over Scheirlinckx and 4'08 over the peloton. The race began to go wild, and surprisingly, Alejandro Valverde (Illes Balears) appeared to be in a spot of bother, dropping back.

With 13 to go, a chasing group was formed at the head of the peloton, comprising: Luis Perez (Cofidis), Manuel Beltran, Stijn Devolder (Discovery), Ryder Hesjedal (Phonak), Joaquin Rodriguez (Illes Balears), Alexandre Vinokourov and Sergio Paulinho (Astana), Bernhard Kohl (T-Mobile), and Sylvester Szmyd (Lampre), 2'50 behind Loosli.

Joaquin Rodriguez (Caisse d'Epargne)
Photo ©: Unipublic
(Click for larger image)

Later on, Valverde changed his tempo and his engines started firing, rejoining the first chase group with 8 km to go. At that moment, the others included: Perez, Beltran, Vinokourov, Andrey Kashechkin (Astana), Carlos Sastre (CSC), Iban Mayo (Euskaltel), Jose Gomez Marchante (Saunier Duval) and Szymd, now roughly two minutes behind Loosli. Vuelta leader Di Luca was dropped and it seemed he was going to lose a few minutes by the finish.

In the final kilometres there were many attacks made by Mayo and Valverde, with Beltran not far behind. As Loosli was caught and left behind 2,000 metres before the finish, Valverde set the tempo while Janez Brajkovic (Discovery) and Vinokourov resisted the fast pace. With 2 km to go, Gomez Marchante also joined the lead group.

With just one kilometre to go, Vinokourov attacked the lead group and manage a small gap. The Kazakh gained a 15 second lead over his chasers but Valverde had other thoughts, as he closed the gap then left Vino et al. behind. The Spaniard crossed the finish line first, with Carlos Sastre in second and Jose Gomez Marchante third. Brajkovic finished fourth, becoming the new overall leader, while Vinokourov lost strength and finished seventh, 12 seconds slower than the stage winner.

Stage 8 - September 2: Ponferrada-Lugo, 181.6 km

There is just one climb in tomorrow's stage, a category 3 mountain at km 88 (460 m. above sea level - Alto de Ares). There are two intermediate sprints before the climb: O Barco de Valdeorras (km 43) and Quiroga (km 80), so the sprinters' teams once again have a chance before a very mountainous stage come Sunday.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by AFP Photo

Images by Unipublic

Results

1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears           4.01.05 (38.33 km/h)
2 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC                                         0.04
3 José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                0.06
4 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team             0.07
5 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                  
6 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Team                               0.12
7 Luis Pérez (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                    0.16
8 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Team                                      
9 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team              0.23
10 Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                               0.29
11 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                       
12 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                                      0.38
13 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre-Fondital                               0.41
14 Josep Jufre (Spa) Davitamon-Lotto                                   0.44
15 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears              0.46
16 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) T-Mobile Team                                   0.48
17 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) Lampre-Fondital                                 0.52
18 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Phonak Hearing Systems                         1.10
19 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner                                      
20 David Loosli (Swi) Lampre-Fondital                                  1.26
21 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears               1.46
22 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas                                       1.58
23 David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                       
24 Stéphane Goubert (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                                  
25 Jesús Hernández (Spa) Relax-Gam                                     2.04
26 Xabier Zandio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                  2.09
27 Sven Montgomery (Swi) Gerolsteiner                                  2.36
28 Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                  2.40
29 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                  
30 Theo Eltink (Ned) Rabobank                                          2.42
31 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Credit Agricole                               2.51
32 Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz) Astana Team                                  3.03
33 Sergio Paulinho (Por) Astana Team                                   3.05
34 Carlos Barredo (Spa) Astana Team                                    3.23
35 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team             3.28
36 Thomas Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team               
37 Daniel Becke (Ger) Team Milram                                          
38 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Credit Agricole                                 
39 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic                           3.50
40 José Miguel Elias (Spa) Relax-Gam                                   3.54
41 Iñigo Chaurreau (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                                   
42 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                                     
43 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                             4.02
44 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Credit Agricole                                4.15
45 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Liquigas                                    4.16
46 Daniel Moreno (Spa) Relax-Gam                                       4.21
47 Christopher Horner (USA) Davitamon-Lotto                                
48 José Luis Arrieta (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                             4.26
49 Ángel Vallejo (Spa) Relax-Gam                                       4.33
50 Mauricio Ardila (Col) Rabobank                                      4.38
51 Thierry Marichal (Bel) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone             4.41
52 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir                             
53 Pierre Drancourt (Bel) Bouygues Telecom                             4.46
54 Juan José Cobo (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                           5.22
55 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team              
56 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank                                    5.27
57 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone            5.41
58 Pieter Mertens (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                                6.06
59 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team CSC                                      6.12
60 Nicki Sorensen (Den) Team CSC                                           
61 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                    
62 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                                     6.47
63 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank                                           
64 Florian Stalder (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                            
65 Frédéric Bessy (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                   
66 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux                                     
67 Benoît Joachim (Lux) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team             8.02
68 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                                   
69 Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) Team CSC                                         8.07
70 David George (RSA) Relax-Gam                                        8.25
71 Sébastien Joly (Fra) Française des Jeux                             9.03
72 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                  
73 Eric Leblacher (Fra) Française des Jeux                             9.17
74 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                               10.32
75 Jorge García (Spa) Relax-Gam                                            
76 Nacor Burgos (Spa) Relax-Gam                                            
77 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                  
78 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                                            
79 Pablo Lastras (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                      
80 Andrea Moletta (Ita) Gerolsteiner                                       
81 Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone            10.54
82 Benoît Poilvet (Fra) Credit Agricole                                    
83 David Cañada (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                                 
84 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                           
85 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval-Prodir                            12.45
86 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                      
87 Torsten Hiekmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                14.26
88 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                   
89 José Antonio Redondo (Spa) Astana Team                             14.58
90 Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Team CSC                                   16.22
91 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC                                           
92 Aketza Peña (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                     
93 Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Liquigas                                   
94 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic                              
95 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Française des Jeux                            20.49
96 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram                                            
97 René Haselbacher (Aut) Gerolsteiner                                     
98 Ian Mcleod (RSA) Française des Jeux                                     
99 Marco Velo (Ita) Team Milram                                            
100 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Team Milram                                  
101 Stephan Schreck (Ger) T-Mobile Team                                    
102 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                                   
103 André Greipel (Ger) T-Mobile Team                                      
104 Franck Renier (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                   
105 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic                             
106 Bastiaan Giling (Ned) T-Mobile Team                                    
107 Pedro Horrillo (Spa) Rabobank                                          
108 Fabien Patanchon (Fra) Française des Jeux                              
109 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                            
110 Raúl García De Mateo (Spa) Relax-Gam                                   
111 Mathieu Claude (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                  
112 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Team Milram                                         
113 Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Phonak Hearing Systems                          
114 Claudio Corioni (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                                  
115 Michael Barry (Can) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                 
116 Luis Fernández Oliveira (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems                   
117 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                      
118 Wim De Vocht (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                                     
119 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC                                       
120 Thomas Ziegler (Ger) T-Mobile Team                                     
121 Enrico Poitschke (Ger) Team Milram                                     
122 Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Team                                        
123 Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone               
124 Aaron Kemps (Aus) Astana Team                                          
125 Rony Martias (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                    
126 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Team Milram                                     
127 Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                                     
128 Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                                   
129 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                               
130 Joan Horrach (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                      
131 Mads Kaggestad (Nor) Credit Agricole                                   
132 Ángel Gómez Gómez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                           
133 Scott Davis (Aus) T-Mobile Team                                        
134 David Navas (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                                      
135 Sebastian Siedler (Ger) Team Milram                                    
136 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC                                       
137 Steve Morabito (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                            
138 Markel Irizar (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                  
139 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                   
140 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Bouygues Telecom                                
141 Francisco José Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                      
142 Mario De Sarraga (Spa) Relax-Gam                                       
143 José Vicent Garcia Acosta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears         
144 Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic                         
145 Alberto Benítez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                             
146 Uros Murn (Slo) Phonak Hearing Systems                                 
147 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                  
148 Daniele Nardello (Ita) T-Mobile Team                                   
149 Davide Vigano (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic                              
150 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic                             
151 Alexandre Usov (Blr) AG2R Prevoyance                                   
152 Lorenzo Bernucci (Ita) T-Mobile Team                                   
153 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Team CSC                                        
154 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Credit Agricole                                 
155 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Davitamon-Lotto                                   
156 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Credit Agricole                                     
157 Björn Leukemans (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                                  
158 Hervé Duclos-Lassalle (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone           
159 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole                                     
160 Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Credit Agricole                                    
161 Bingen Fernández (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                
162 Inaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                    
163 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                                
164 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas                                            
165 José Antonio Garrido (Spa) Quick Step-Innergetic                       
166 Rubén Pérez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                    
167 Kjell Carlström (Fin) Liquigas                                         
168 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas                                        
169 Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                                    
170 Francesco Failli (Ita) Liquigas                                        
171 Dario Andriotto (Ita) Liquigas                                         
172 Marcel Strauss (Swi) Gerolsteiner                                      
173 Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Astana Team                                    
174 Bart Dockx (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                                       
175 Frédéric Finot (Fra) Française des Jeux                                
176 Markus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                       
177 Addy Engels (Ned) Quick Step-Innergetic                                
178 Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic                             
179 William Walker (Aus) Rabobank                                          
180 Christophe Kern (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                 
181 Iñigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                
DNF Steve Zampieri (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                            
 
Points
 
1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                25 pts
2 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC                                           20
3 José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                  16
4 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team               14
5 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                12
6 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Team                                 10
7 Luis Pérez (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                       9
8 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Team                                     8
9 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                 7
10 Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                                  6
11 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                      5
12 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                                         4
13 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre-Fondital                                  3
14 Josep Jufre (Spa) Davitamon-Lotto                                      2
15 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                 1
16 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                     -5
17 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC                                      -5
 
Mountains
 
Alto de El Morredero - Cat. 1, km 154
1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                16 pts
2 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC                                           12
3 José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                  10
4 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                8
5 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                 6
6 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Team                                  4
7 Luis Pérez (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                       3
8 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Team                                     2
9 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                 1
 
Sprints
 
Toreno, km 101
1 David Loosli (Swi) Lampre-Fondital                                      4 pts
2 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Credit Agricole                                    2
3 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                1
 
Ponferrada, km 124,7
1 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Credit Agricole                                    4 pts
2 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                2
3 David Loosli (Swi) Lampre-Fondital                                      1
 
Teams
 
1 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                               12.03.52
2 Lampre - Fondital                                                    1.25
3 Caisse D'Epargne - Illes Balears                                     1.55
4 Astana                                                               2.54
5 Euskaltel - Euskadi                                                  5.22
6 Rabobank                                                             7.21
7 Ag2r Prevoyance                                                      9.09
8 Saunier Duval - Prodir                                               9.32
9 Relax - GAM                                                          9.42
10 Credit Agricole                                                     9.57
11 Cofidis, le Credit Par Telephone                                   10.01
12 Davitamon - Lotto                                                  10.34
13 Team CSC                                                           11.51
14 Gerolsteiner                                                       13.41
15 Bouygues Telecom                                                   19.24
16 Liquigas                                                           21.59
17 Française des Jeux                                                 24.30
18 Phonak Hearing Systems                                             28.09
19 Quick Step - Innergetic                                            40.24
20 T- Mobile Team                                                     41.49
21 Team Milram                                                        44.29
 
General classification after stage 7
 
1 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team         26.48.27
2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears              0.05
3 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC                                         0.10
4 José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                0.22
5 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Team                                  0.23
6 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team              0.51
7 Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                                1.17
8 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) T-Mobile Team                                    1.37
9 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas                                        1.47
10 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Team                              2.28
11 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                   2.37
12 Josep Jufre (Spa) Davitamon-Lotto                                   2.49
13 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Phonak Hearing Systems                         3.05
14 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre-Fondital                               3.13
15 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                              3.33
16 Luis Pérez (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                   3.40
17 Jesús Hernández (Spa) Relax-Gam                                     4.04
18 Thomas Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team           4.15
19 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears               4.21
20 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                                      4.29
21 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team             4.31
22 Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                  4.38
23 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) Lampre-Fondital                                 4.41
24 Sergio Paulinho (Por) Astana Team                                   4.48
25 David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                   5.11
26 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir                         5.59
27 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner                                  6.08
28 Xabier Zandio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                  6.40
29 Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz) Astana Team                                  6.48
30 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team             7.10
31 Daniel Becke (Ger) Team Milram                                      7.49
32 Carlos Barredo (Spa) Astana Team                                    7.54
33 Juan José Cobo (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                           8.03
34 Theo Eltink (Ned) Rabobank                                          8.34
35 Mauricio Ardila (Col) Rabobank                                      9.15
36 Iñigo Chaurreau (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                               9.55
37 José Miguel Elias (Spa) Relax-Gam                                  10.05
38 Christopher Horner (USA) Davitamon-Lotto                           10.20
39 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                            10.26
40 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Credit Agricole                            10.33
41 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                               11.11
42 Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) Team CSC                                        12.17
43 Sébastien Joly (Fra) Française des Jeux                            12.23
44 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank                                      12.39
45 Nicki Sorensen (Den) Team CSC                                      13.04
46 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team              
47 Ángel Vallejo (Spa) Relax-Gam                                      13.31
48 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears             13.47
49 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                                       14.23
50 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team CSC                                     14.33
51 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval-Prodir                            15.44
52 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team             16.15
53 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                      16.29
54 Thierry Marichal (Bel) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone            17.07
55 José Luis Arrieta (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                            17.42
56 Daniel Moreno (Spa) Relax-Gam                                      18.17
57 Benoît Poilvet (Fra) Credit Agricole                               18.25
58 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                 18.26
59 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank                                   18.34
60 Andrea Moletta (Ita) Gerolsteiner                                  19.13
61 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Liquigas                                   19.23
62 Benoît Joachim (Lux) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team            19.40
63 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                                    19.54
64 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                                20.02
65 Eric Leblacher (Fra) Française des Jeux                            21.52
66 Pablo Lastras (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                 23.23
67 Sven Montgomery (Swi) Gerolsteiner                                 23.44
68 Frédéric Bessy (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone              23.50
69 Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone            24.13
70 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic                          24.34
71 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic                         25.23
72 David George (RSA) Relax-Gam                                       25.44
73 Torsten Hiekmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                27.34
74 Pieter Mertens (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                               28.32
75 David Loosli (Swi) Lampre-Fondital                                 29.34
76 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram                                       29.35
77 Lorenzo Bernucci (Ita) T-Mobile Team                               30.06
78 Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Astana Team                                30.08
79 Michael Barry (Can) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team             30.19
80 Stéphane Goubert (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                             30.20
81 Daniele Nardello (Ita) T-Mobile Team                               30.21
82 Raúl García De Mateo (Spa) Relax-Gam                               30.24
83 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                             31.33
84 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Credit Agricole                               32.09
85 Pierre Drancourt (Bel) Bouygues Telecom                            33.07
86 David Cañada (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                            33.13
87 Joan Horrach (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                  33.48
88 José Antonio Garrido (Spa) Quick Step-Innergetic                   33.53
89 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone           34.00
90 Luis Fernández Oliveira (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems               34.05
91 Steve Morabito (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                             
92 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                               34.11
93 Florian Stalder (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                       35.09
94 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux                                35.10
95 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Team CSC                                    35.37
96 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                              36.24
97 José Antonio Redondo (Spa) Astana Team                             37.16
98 Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Phonak Hearing Systems                      37.28
99 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                              37.57
100 Alberto Benítez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                        38.39
101 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                              38.42
102 Nacor Burgos (Spa) Relax-Gam                                      39.04
103 Jorge García (Spa) Relax-Gam                                           
104 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Credit Agricole                             39.57
105 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas                                       41.01
106 Iñigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                           41.04
107 Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Liquigas                             41.26
108 Scott Davis (Aus) T-Mobile Team                                   41.49
109 Inaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                               41.51
110 Francisco José Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                 42.33
111 Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Team                                   43.02
112 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic                        43.05
113 Stephan Schreck (Ger) T-Mobile Team                               43.06
114 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Bouygues Telecom                           43.15
115 Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                                43.22
116 Ian Mcleod (RSA) Française des Jeux                               43.43
117 William Walker (Aus) Rabobank                                     43.53
118 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC                                     44.00
119 Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Team CSC                                  44.17
120 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic                        44.32
121 Aketza Peña (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                               44.46
122 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                          46.23
123 Ángel Gómez Gómez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                      46.44
124 Bart Dockx (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                                  46.52
125 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole                                47.38
126 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC                                  48.44
127 Marco Velo (Ita) Team Milram                                      48.47
128 André Greipel (Ger) T-Mobile Team                                 48.48
129 José Vicent Garcia Acosta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears    48.51
130 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Team Milram                                    48.52
131 Davide Vigano (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic                         48.54
132 Bastiaan Giling (Ned) T-Mobile Team                               48.55
133 Thomas Ziegler (Ger) T-Mobile Team                                     
134 Pedro Horrillo (Spa) Rabobank                                     48.57
135 Rubén Pérez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                    
136 René Haselbacher (Aut) Gerolsteiner                               48.58
137 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                   
138 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC                                       
139 Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic                    48.59
140 Markel Irizar (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                             49.02
141 Markus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                  49.03
142 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Davitamon-Lotto                              49.04
143 Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                               49.05
144 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                       49.06
145 Uros Murn (Slo) Phonak Hearing Systems                                 
146 Alexandre Usov (Blr) AG2R Prevoyance                                   
147 Francesco Failli (Ita) Liquigas                                        
148 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Française des Jeux                           49.07
149 Franck Renier (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                              49.08
150 Hervé Duclos-Lassalle (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone           
151 Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone          49.09
152 Frédéric Finot (Fra) Française des Jeux                           49.12
153 Bingen Fernández (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone           49.14
154 Aaron Kemps (Aus) Astana Team                                     49.15
155 Claudio Corioni (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                             49.17
156 Fabien Patanchon (Fra) Française des Jeux                         49.28
157 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone             49.29
158 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas                                        
159 Addy Engels (Ned) Quick Step-Innergetic                           49.38
160 Kjell Carlström (Fin) Liquigas                                    49.51
161 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                 49.57
162 Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic                        49.58
163 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Team Milram                             50.03
164 Dario Andriotto (Ita) Liquigas                                    50.16
165 Björn Leukemans (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                             50.36
166 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Credit Agricole                                50.40
167 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Team Milram                                50.43
168 Rony Martias (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                               51.22
169 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                           51.34
170 Sebastian Siedler (Ger) Team Milram                               51.50
171 David Navas (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                                 52.10
172 Wim De Vocht (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                                52.23
173 Christophe Kern (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                            52.39
174 Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                              53.49
175 Mathieu Claude (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                             54.57
176 Mario De Sarraga (Spa) Relax-Gam                                  55.58
177 Marcel Strauss (Swi) Gerolsteiner                                 57.02
178 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Credit Agricole                          1.03.31
179 Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Credit Agricole                             1.04.40
180 Enrico Poitschke (Ger) Team Milram                              1.06.06
181 Mads Kaggestad (Nor) Credit Agricole                            1.09.05
 
Points classification
 
1 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole                                     94 pts
2 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram                                           61
3 Francisco José Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                      59
4 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC                                          43
5 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas                                            40
6 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                35
7 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic                              35
8 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team               34
9 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC                                           32
10 José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                 30
11 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                              29
12 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Française des Jeux                               28
13 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas                                         25
14 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Team                                   24
15 André Greipel (Ger) T-Mobile Team                                     24
16 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                               21
17 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team               19
18 Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                                 15
19 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Team Milram                                 14
20 Inaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                   14
21 Uros Murn (Slo) Phonak Hearing Systems                                13
22 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                           12
23 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Team                                10
24 Pedro Horrillo (Spa) Rabobank                                         10
25 Luis Pérez (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                      9
26 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                          8
27 Raúl García De Mateo (Spa) Relax-Gam                                   8
28 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Credit Agricole                                   8
29 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                 8
30 Mario De Sarraga (Spa) Relax-Gam                                       7
31 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                7
32 Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Team                                        7
33 Alexandre Usov (Blr) AG2R Prevoyance                                   7
34 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) T-Mobile Team                                      6
35 René Haselbacher (Aut) Gerolsteiner                                    6
36 Claudio Corioni (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                                  6
37 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                 5
38 David Loosli (Swi) Lampre-Fondital                                     5
39 Thomas Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team              5
40 Daniel Becke (Ger) Team Milram                                         4
41 Mathieu Claude (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                  4
42 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                                         4
43 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir                            4
44 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                   4
45 Davide Vigano (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic                              4
46 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre-Fondital                                  3
47 Jesús Hernández (Spa) Relax-Gam                                        3
48 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone               3
49 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                                   3
50 Hervé Duclos-Lassalle (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone           3
51 Josep Jufre (Spa) Davitamon-Lotto                                      2
52 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Phonak Hearing Systems                            2
53 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Bouygues Telecom                                2
54 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas                                        2
55 Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Astana Team                                    2
56 Sergio Paulinho (Por) Astana Team                                      1
57 Pieter Mertens (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                                   1
58 Eric Leblacher (Fra) Française des Jeux                                1
59 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval-Prodir                                1
60 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                                   1
61 Ángel Gómez Gómez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                           1
 
Mountains classification
 
1 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team               33 pts
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas                                          30
3 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                26
4 José Miguel Elias (Spa) Relax-Gam                                      26
5 José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                  26
6 Benoît Joachim (Lux) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                26
7 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Credit Agricole                                25
8 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC                                           24
9 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Team                                    22
10 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team               19
11 Mario De Sarraga (Spa) Relax-Gam                                      18
12 Ángel Vallejo (Spa) Relax-Gam                                         16
13 Sergio Paulinho (Por) Astana Team                                     15
14 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Bouygues Telecom                               12
15 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team               10
16 Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                                  8
17 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank                                       7
18 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                          6
19 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                 6
20 David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                      6
21 José Antonio Garrido (Spa) Quick Step-Innergetic                       6
22 Rubén Pérez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                    5
23 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Team                                 4
24 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                                   4
25 Jorge García (Spa) Relax-Gam                                           4
26 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) T-Mobile Team                                      3
27 Luis Pérez (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                      3
28 Thomas Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team              2
29 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                 2
30 Torsten Hiekmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                    2
31 Hervé Duclos-Lassalle (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone           2
32 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                1
33 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir                            1
34 José Luis Arrieta (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                                1
35 Iñigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                1
36 Mads Kaggestad (Nor) Credit Agricole                                   1
 
Combination classification
 
1 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team               10 pts
2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                11
3 José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                  19
4 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC                                           20
5 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas                                          24
6 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Team                                    28
7 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                38
8 Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                                  41
9 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Team                                 56
10 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                63
11 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) T-Mobile Team                                     68
12 Luis Pérez (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                     68
13 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team               84
14 Thomas Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team             85
15 Sergio Paulinho (Por) Astana Team                                     93
16 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                         97
17 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir                          102
18 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears               114
19 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                                 174
20 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Bouygues Telecom                              181
21 Mario De Sarraga (Spa) Relax-Gam                                     217
22 Hervé Duclos-Lassalle (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone         231
 
Teams classification
 
1 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                               80.11.59
2 Caisse D'Epargne - Illes Balears                                     5.20
3 Astana                                                               5.26
4 Lampre - Fondital                                                    6.34
5 Euskaltel - Euskadi                                                  8.12
6 Saunier Duval - Prodir                                              12.11
7 Rabobank                                                            17.46
8 Relax - GAM                                                         21.01
9 Team CSC                                                            21.53
10 Cofidis, le Credit Par Telephone                                   34.02
11 Gerolsteiner                                                       35.56
12 Davitamon - Lotto                                                  38.56
13 Ag2r Prevoyance                                                    42.17
14 Credit Agricole                                                    45.08
15 Phonak Hearing Systems                                             54.19
16 Liquigas                                                           55.56
17 T- Mobile Team                                                     59.47
18 Française des Jeux                                               1.00.57
19 Bouygues Telecom                                                 1.07.17
20 Quick Step - Innergetic                                          1.17.13
21 Team Milram                                                      1.24.34

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