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Dauphiné Libéré
Photo ©: Sirotti

93rd Tour de France - ProT

France, July 1-23, 2006

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Stage 1 - Sunday, July 2: Strasbourg - Strasbourg, 183 km

Jimmy Casper: The ghost who sprints

Hushovd lucks out; Hincapie lucks in

By Anthony Tan, Tim Maloney & Brecht Decaluwé in Strasbourg

Jimmy Casper (Cofidis)
Photo ©: AFP
(Click for larger image)

A sprinters' stage turned out to be exactly that. As the maillot jaune wanted, an early break went and spent most of the day out in front, never looking too dangerous, before being brought back inside ten kilometres to go. However when it came to the sprint, things turned very sour for Thor Hushovd. Very sour indeed.

With a 550 metre-long finishing straight and the peloton at breakneck speed, the sprinting giants approached the line, choosing to wage their battle on the right-hand side of the avenue de la Forêt-Noire. Tom Boonen found himself in front 150 metres too early but had to go; Robbie McEwen was on his wheel, and although boxed in, he miraculously managed to escape again; Hushovd too could see no clear opening, but nevertheless went down a tiny gap along the barriers, where his arm hit a spectator's promotional banner, slicing it wide open.

Ignoring the mayhem and finding his own, clean line was Jimmy Casper. Working his short, muscular legs like the pistons of a Formula 1 motor car and passing rider after rider as if he really were a ghost, Casper emerged in real life at the finish line, unscathed and victorious.

"It was very strange sprint; strange, because there was really nobody leading it," he said. "But it's really the kind of sprint I like, so it was very good for me. And of course, it's something great for me to beat such big champions like Boonen, Hushovd and McEwen.

"At 1.5 kilometres before the last curve I was still not too well-placed, so I thought it was better to stay there and see what happens in the very last moment. Then, it opened up just at the right time and I did the perfect sprint. I hope I can repeat that soon. I know that people waited to see me win for a long time and I hope that I can make up for it now.

About his preparation leading up to the Tour, the 28 year-old said: "I worked a lot, but what changed compared to previous years is that I feel good in my head. That's something new for me, so it was easier to train harder, and I came here more confident."

George Hincapie (Discovery Channel)
Photo ©: AFP
(Click for larger image)

While Hushovd still finished ninth, smart thinking by George Hincapie saw him take third in the final intermediate sprint and earn a two-second time bonus as a result, placing him two seconds in front by the end of the day. Naturally, the 33 year-old American was delighted in becoming the fourth American to wear the maillot jaune in Tour de France history, but told the press that wasn't his intention until very late in the piece.

"Today, the plan wasn't to go for any bonus sprints, but when we caught the breakaway, I saw an opportunity that I couldn't pass up... I took it, and I think I made a great decision," said a confident Hincapie.

"I was very disappointed to lose by so little yesterday. I was really gunning for the prologue and I thought I did a great ride, but I got beat by a great rider. I worked super hard to start the Tour de France in great shape, and I turned that disappointment around into a great day."

Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole)
Photo ©: Jon Devich
(Click for larger image)

Although the seven-man escape was caught, breakaway rider Fabian Wegmann from Gerolsteiner took full advantage of his climbing prowess and was the first to crest the only climb of the day midway through the stage, earning the right to wear the first spotted tunic of the 2006 Tour.

Speaking with race doctor Gérard Porte at the finish line, he offered Cyclingnews some good news: the mighty Thor will live to fight another day.

"He is alright!" exclaimed Porte.

"We could see a slash in his right arm, it's big but not too dangerous. The wound has caused heavy loss of blood in the first few moments, which is logical after such a big effort, but it's not too serious. He talked clearly, didn't lose his consciousness and could answer all our questions. So his situation doesn't scare us anymore.

"But he's got a big haematoma underneath the wound which makes any conclusion difficult. That's why we will take him to the hospital. There will we clean the wound, do some tests and afterwards we'll be able to make a prognosis for tomorrow. I can say the chance is good that he can restart because he didn't fall heavily. I hope he can restart, that's for sure."

Added his team manager Roger Legeay: "He has hit a PMU hand about ten metres before the finish. He has got a slash in his arm, it's got a width of about five centimetres, and he lost a lot of blood. I was really scared because you hear so many strange sounds but we didn't see what happened on television; I looked away when the stage was finished. When I looked again, I saw him lying on the ground."

George Hincapie (Discovery Channel)
Photo ©: Sirotti
(Click for larger image)

"It's very dangerous, and it's not the first time it happened," said Casper, "so I think it will be a good thing to ban them - in the last 500 metres, at least."

How long Hincapie holds onto the maillot jaune is not up to him, he says. "I would love to keep it as long as possible, but it's really up to Johan [Bruyneel].

"I don't know if we'll try to control it tomorrow and I don't have much time; for me to sprint against guys like Thor or Boonen and those guys, it's really not my thing anymore. All I've been training for lately is time trials and climbing, so my sprint has got slower for sure," he smiled. "But if I get lucky and hold onto it for another day or two, that'd be great."

On his unspoken role as leader of the Discovery Channel team, Hincapie replied: "I don't really need that term, to be called leader of Discovery Channel. For me, those are just words, written in a newspaper or journal. I know what my ambitions are. If I can show my team after the first long time trial or the Pyrenées that I can still ride with the best guys, then I'm sure I'll get that role.

"Everybody wants to see a replacement for Lance, but there really is no replacement for Lance... I don't know if we'll see another Lance in our lifetimes. We came here with different ambitions and we came here with a great team, and we just want to accomplish those ambitions."

How it unfolded

The early break of the day gets up the road.
Photo ©: Jon Devich
(Click for larger image)

On a hot, sunny summer Sunday morning, 176 riders took the start in Strasbourg's Cathedral Square and after 10km in Ittenheim in the suburbs of Strasbourg, three Frenchman went on the attack. Perhaps inspired by their big football win the night before against Brazil, Stephane Auge (Cofidis), local lad Matthieu Sprick (Bouygues Telecom) and Benoit Vaugrenard (Francaise des Jeux) got a gap and another French rider, Nicolas Portal (Caisse d'Epargne), soon joined them.

Even though the race pace was high, the quartet of Bleus gained one minute after 12km, and as three other riders bridged across: '05 San Fran GP winner Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner), Unai Etxebarria (Euskaltel) and Walter Beneteau (Bouygues Telecom). The break of the day was established and after 22km in Rumersheim, the seven escapees had a established a three minute lead.

The wind had shifted from the morning and was now coming from the northeast, which made a cross/headwind from the right for the Tour riders. Maillot jaune Hushovd's Credit Agricole team took over the pace-making in the front of the peloton and the stage was set for the next few hours of Stage 1.

Credit Agricole
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)

Vaugrenard took the first points sprint in Saverne, which moved him ahead of Joost Posthuma for the maillot blanc of best young riders and as the road headed south, the riders now had a tailwind that pushed them to a faster pace. At the feed zone in Dorlisheim with 98km to go, the gap rose to 5' as the first two hours were run at 44km/hr. average.

The doping scandal of the last few days has had absolutely no effect on the popularity of Le Tour along the roads, as huge crowds lined the road all the way. At the one and only GPM of the day, the Cat 4 climb on the 1.1km Cote de Heiligenstein with 83km to go, it was Fabulous Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) who took the sprint ahead of regional rider Sprick and the German earned the first maillot pois at this year's Tour.

As Stage 1 turned due east in Barr with 80km to go, Quick.Step, CSC and Milram joined Credit Agricole in the chase. At the second sprint in Plobsheim with 47km to go, it was Beneteau who took the points and time bonus as the peloton chased 2'10" behind. Across the Rheine River into Germany and with 27km to race in Offenburg, the steady chase had pulled the break back to 1'25". Vasseur and Cretskens were on the front for Quick.Step's Boonen, while Marzio "Muleskinner" Bruseghin was Lampre-Fondital's tempo man for Bennati.

Vansummeren and Vasseur
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)

As the gap between the break and the peloton fell under 1', Beneteau hit out from the break solo and had a 20" gap as the third intermediate sprint in Kehl approached with 9km to go. The Bouygues Telecom man took the sprint points and 6" time bonus solo, while the rest of the break had sat up and was absorbed by the chase. 15" behind, Credit Agricole rider Sebastian Hinault took the 4" bonus for second to protect Thor Hushovd's maillot jaune, but a clever George Hincapie took third and gained 2" to move into the virtual race lead.

After the sprint, Quick.Step moved to the front and upped the pace, quickly catching Beneteau and making it peloton groupé with 7km to go. No team took command in the final kilometres and under the flamme rouge, it was Quick.Step's Pippo Pozzato who was trying to set up Boonen.

On the Avenue de la Foret Noire with 400m. to go, the world champion found himself right up front as his team leadout had a snafu. Boonen jumped, then slowed to try and reposition, but the other sprinters were keying off him and slowed as well with 300m to go.

Nimble Cofidis sprinter Jimmy Casper then moved to the front with 220m. to go, jumped hard and managed to hold off a fast finishing Zabel, McEwen and Bennatti for the surprise win. "We were hoping to win after the French team won the football yesterday and I was just in the right position when a hole opened up for me - and I just went for it", explained a delighted Casper post-stage.

Jimmy Casper (Française Des Jeux)
Photo ©: Jon Devich
(Click for larger image)

As Casper powered up the middle for victory, maillot jaune Hushovd was trying to advance along the barriers and with 150m to go, a fan waving a giant green PMU cardboard hand managed to hit the big Norwegian on his right bicep, opening a deep cut. Hushovd crossed the finish line in ninth without any time bonus, looking down at his right arm as the blood in disbelief. A few hundred metres past the finish, the Credit Agricole rider collapsed to the ground in his blood-soaked maillot jaune as Tour de France doctor Gerard Porte rushed to his side.

Hushovd was loaded into the ambulance and went to the hospital for treatment. As Hushovd headed to the hospital, Discovery Channel's George Hincapie, who finished out of danger in 23rd in the sprint, took over the maillot jaune thanks to his 2" time bonus in the day's final sprint.

"I knew that last (points sprint) was a good chance for me to take a time bonus and maybe the maillot jaune. I was really disappointed in the prologue; I wanted it yesterday. It was hard to get a time bonus before with the breakaway today, but once the break came back and I saw the sprinters were saving it for the end, I decided to go for it and it worked," Hincapie said.

Monday, July 3: Stage 2 Obernai (FR)-Esch-sur-Alzette (LUX), 223 km

It's a long day on Monday for the Tour de France peloton, with the second longest stage of Le Tour on the program. Stage two heads northwest towards Luxembourg with two Cat 3 cols in the first 50km.

After the frantic battle for mountain points on the ascents, a break should get away, but the sprinters teams will have to be careful not to let them get too much time and roll it up. With two Cat 4 hills in the last 17km, opportunistic counter-attackers will try for the winner's bouquet in Esch-sur-Alzette.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

Images by AFP Photo

Images by Giorgio Masnikosa/members.chello.se/giorgio.masnikosa

Images by Tim Maloney/Cyclingnews.com

Images by Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

Results

1 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Cofidis                                        4.10.00 (44.28 km/h)
2 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Milram
4 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
5 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas
6 Isaac Galvez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
7 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC
8 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Francaise Des Jeux
9 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole
10 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank
11 Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner
12 Inaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
13 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step-Innergetic
14 Francisco Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir
15 Robert Hunter (RSA) Phonak
16 Laurent Brochard (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
17 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
18 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Francaise Des Jeux
19 Carlos Da Cruz (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux
20 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Davitamon-Lotto
21 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas
22 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Discovery Channel
23 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel
24 Christophe Laurent (Fra) Agritubel
25 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir
26 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Cofidis
27 David Canada (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir
28 Bram Tankink (Ned) Quick-Step-Innergetic
29 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
30 Iker Camano (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
31 Christopher Horner (USA) Davitamon-Lotto
32 Michael Albasini (Swi) Liquigas
33 Marcus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner
34 Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
35 Andreas Klöden (Ger) T-Mobile
36 Marco Velo (Ita) Milram
37 Benjamin Noval (Spa) Discovery Channel
38 Yaroslav Popovyvch (Ukr) Discovery Channel
39 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
40 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
41 Mirko Celestino (Ita) Milram
42 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Phonak
43 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
44 Patxi Vila (Spa) Lampre-Fondital
45 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole
46 Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak
47 Bert Grabsch (Ger) Phonak
48 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Milram
49 Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero (Spa) Phonak
50 Björn Schröder (Ger) Milram
51 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Liquigas
52 Georg Totschnig (Aut) Gerolsteiner
53 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Francaise Des Jeux
54 José Rujano (Ven) Quick-Step-Innergetic
55 Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team CSC
56 Axel Merckx (Bel) Phonak
57 Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Phonak
58 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC
59 Christian Knees (Ger) Milram
60 Matthias Kessler (Ger) T-Mobile
61 Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Milram
62 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank
63 Christian Vandevelde (USA) Team CSC
64 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Quick-Step-Innergetic
65 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) T-Mobile
66 José Angel Gomez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir
67 Ruben Lobato (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir
68 Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Cofidis
69 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
70 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Lampre-Fondital
71 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
72 Christophe Moreau (Fra) AG2R-Prevoyance
73 Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
74 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
75 Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC
76 Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) T-Mobile
77 José Luis Rubiera (Spa) Discovery Channel
78 David Kopp (Ger) Gerolsteiner
79 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
80 Eduardo Gonzalo (Spa) Agritubel
81 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
82 José Luis Arrieta (Spa) AG2R-Prevoyance
83 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas
84 Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank
85 Didier Rous (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
86 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Milram
87 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner
88 Christophe Rinero (Fra) Saunier Duval - Prodir
89 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Crédit Agricole
90 Michael Rogers (Aus) T-Mobile
91 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) AG2R-Prevoyance
92 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick-Step-Innergetic
93 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Gerolsteiner
94 Aitor Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
95 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis
96 Christophe Brandt (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
97 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir
98 Bram De Groot (Ned) Rabobank
99 Gorka Verdugo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
100 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
101 Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R-Prevoyance
102 Serguei Gonchar (Ukr) T-Mobile
103 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
104 José Azevedo (Por) Discovery Channel
105 Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Rabobank
106 Christophe Mengin (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux
107 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Discovery Channel
108 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Quick-Step-Innergetic
109 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux
110 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank
111 Ronny Scholz (Ger) Gerolsteiner
112 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
113 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
114 Xabier Zandio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
115 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Crédit Agricole
116 Patrice Halgand (Fra) Crédit Agricole
117 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir
118 Riccardo Ricco (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir
119 Gustav Larsson (Swe) Francaise Des Jeux
120 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC
121 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC
122 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC
123 Pavel Padrnos (Cze) Discovery Channel
124 Samuel Plouhinec (Fra) Agritubel
125 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Cofidis
126 José Alberto Martinez (Spa) Agritubel
127 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
128 Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Quick-Step-Innergetic
129 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Quick-Step-Innergetic
130 Victor Hugo Pena (Col) Phonak
131 Benoît Salmon (Fra) Agritubel
132 Simon Gerrans (Aus) AG2R-Prevoyance
133 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
134 Moises Duenas (Spa) Agritubel
135 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner
136 Florent Brard (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
137 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank
138 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
139 Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) Agritubel
140 David Lopez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
141 Nicolas Portal (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
142 Johan Vansummeren (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
143 Alexandre Moos (Swi) Phonak
144 Viatscheslav Ekimov (Rus) Discovery Channel
145 Julian Dean (NZl) Crédit Agricole
146 Sandy Casar (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux
147 Giuseppe Guerini (Ita) T-Mobile
148 Beat Zberg (Swi) Gerolsteiner
149 Ivan Ramiro Parra (Col) Cofidis
150 Stephane Goubert (Fra) AG2R-Prevoyance
151 Manuel Calvente (Spa) Agritubel
152 Inigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
153 Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank
154 Cédric Coutouly (Fra) Agritubel
155 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2R-Prevoyance
156 Jose Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
157 Unai Etxebarria (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi
158 Sylvain Calzati (Fra) AG2R-Prevoyance
159 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Cofidis
160 David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
161 David Moncoutié (Fra) Cofidis
162 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Crédit Agricole
163 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
164 Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
165 Matej Mugerli (Slo) Liquigas
166 Patrick Calcagni (Swi) Liquigas
167 Sébastien Joly (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux
168 Kjelt Carlström (Fin) Liquigas
169 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
170 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Crédit Agricole
171 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Crédit Agricole
172 Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Milram                                          0.42
173 Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Quick-Step-Innergetic
174 Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                              1.20
175 Stéphane Auge (Fra) Cofidis                                        2.08
176 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas                                      2.29
 
Points
 
1 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Cofidis                                             35 pts
2 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto                                    30
3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Milram                                                26
4 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                                  24
5 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas                                            22
6 Isaac Galvez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                      20
7 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC                                          19
8 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Francaise Des Jeux                                18
9 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole                                     17
10 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank                                           16
11 Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner                                      15
12 Inaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                   14
13 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step-Innergetic                                13
14 Francisco Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                        12
15 Robert Hunter (RSA) Phonak                                            11
16 Laurent Brochard (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                               10
17 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                   9
18 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Francaise Des Jeux                              8
19 Carlos Da Cruz (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux                                7
20 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Davitamon-Lotto                                   6
21 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas                                        5
22 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Discovery Channel                                  4
23 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel                                3
24 Christophe Laurent (Fra) Agritubel                                     2
25 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir                              1
 
Mountains
 
Côte de Heiligenstein - Cat. 4, km 101.5
1 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                       3 pts
2 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                  2
3 Unai Etxebarria (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                 1
 
Sprints
 
Saverne - km 53
1 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux                              6 pts
2 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                  4
3 Unai Etxebarria (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                 2
 
Plobsheim - km 137
1 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                  6 pts
2 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux                              4
3 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                  2
 
Kehl - km 175.5
1 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                  6 pts
2 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Crédit Agricole                                 4
3 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel                                 2
 
Young rider
 
1 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Francaise Des Jeux                           4.10.00
2 Francisco Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir
3 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Francaise Des Jeux
4 Marcus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner
5 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Francaise Des Jeux
6 José Rujano (Ven) Quick-Step-Innergetic
7 Christian Knees (Ger) Milram
8 Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Milram
9 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank
10 Eduardo Gonzalo (Spa) Agritubel
11 Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank
12 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Milram
13 Aitor Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
14 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir
15 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux
16 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
17 Riccardo Ricco (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir
18 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Quick-Step-Innergetic
19 Moises Duenas (Spa) Agritubel
20 David Lopez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
21 Johan Vansummeren (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
22 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
23 Matej Mugerli (Slo) Liquigas
 
Most combative
 
1 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
 
Teams
 
1 Francaise Des Jeux                                               12.30.00
2 Davitamon - Lotto
3 Liquigas
4 Saunier Duval - Prodir
5 Caisse D’Epargne-Illes Balears
6 Bouygues Telecom
7 Team Milram
8 Lampre-Fondital
9 Discovery Channel Team
10 Cofidis Credit Par Telephone
11 Quick Step - Innergetic
12 Gerolsteiner
13 Phonak Hearing Systems
14 Euskaltel - Euskadi
15 Team CSC
16 Rabobank
17 Credit Agricole
18 T-Mobile Team
19 Agritubel
20 AG2R Prevoyance
 
General classification after stage 1
 
1 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel                           4.18.15
2 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole                                   0.02
3 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC                                       0.06
4 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner
5 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
6 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC
7 Michael Rogers (Aus) T-Mobile                                        0.08
8 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Discovery Channel                             0.10
9 Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak                                            0.11
10 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux
11 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears               0.12
12 Serguei Gonchar (Ukr) T-Mobile
13 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step-Innergetic                              0.13
14 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas                                     0.14
15 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto                                   0.15
16 Christophe Moreau (Fra) AG2R-Prevoyance
17 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Cofidis
18 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir                           0.16
19 Bert Grabsch (Ger) Phonak
20 Christopher Horner (USA) Davitamon-Lotto                            0.17
21 Victor Hugo Pena (Col) Phonak                                       0.18
22 Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) T-Mobile
23 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
24 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
25 Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank
26 Andreas Klöden (Ger) T-Mobile                                       0.19
27 Viatscheslav Ekimov (Rus) Discovery Channel
28 Isaac Galvez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                   0.20
29 Marcus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner
30 Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R-Prevoyance
31 Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC
32 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) T-Mobile                                       0.21
33 Yaroslav Popovyvch (Ukr) Discovery Channel                          0.22
34 Michael Albasini (Swi) Liquigas
35 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Discovery Channel                               0.23
36 Christian Vandevelde (USA) Team CSC
37 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Cofidis
38 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Gerolsteiner
39 Didier Rous (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                  0.24
40 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
41 Robert Hunter (RSA) Phonak
42 Gustav Larsson (Swe) Francaise Des Jeux
43 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Francaise Des Jeux                            0.25
44 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Cofidis
45 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis
46 Ronny Scholz (Ger) Gerolsteiner
47 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
48 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
49 Laurent Brochard (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
50 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC                                           0.26
51 Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Phonak
52 José Azevedo (Por) Discovery Channel
53 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                             0.27
54 Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank
55 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas
56 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir
57 Bram De Groot (Ned) Rabobank                                        0.28
58 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
59 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
60 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
61 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC
62 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank
63 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) AG2R-Prevoyance
64 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Francaise Des Jeux
65 Erik Zabel (Ger) Milram
66 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                              0.29
67 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2R-Prevoyance
68 José Alberto Martinez (Spa) Agritubel
69 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Phonak
70 Julian Dean (NZl) Crédit Agricole                                   0.30
71 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
72 José Angel Gomez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir
73 Patrice Halgand (Fra) Crédit Agricole
74 Florent Brard (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
75 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Lampre-Fondital                                0.31
76 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Francaise Des Jeux
77 Christophe Brandt (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                             0.32
78 Beat Zberg (Swi) Gerolsteiner
79 Bram Tankink (Ned) Quick-Step-Innergetic
80 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Quick-Step-Innergetic
81 Benjamin Noval (Spa) Discovery Channel
82 Inigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                             0.33
83 José Rujano (Ven) Quick-Step-Innergetic
84 Unai Etxebarria (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi
85 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick-Step-Innergetic
86 Xabier Zandio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
87 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Liquigas
88 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                0.34
89 José Luis Arrieta (Spa) AG2R-Prevoyance
90 Sandy Casar (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux
91 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
92 Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Quick-Step-Innergetic
93 Christian Knees (Ger) Milram                                        0.35
94 Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
95 Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
96 Pavel Padrnos (Cze) Discovery Channel
97 Iker Camano (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                 0.36
98 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank
99 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Cofidis
100 Johan Vansummeren (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
101 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Milram
102 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Crédit Agricole
103 Jose Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears    0.37
104 Matthias Kessler (Ger) T-Mobile
105 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank                                      0.38
106 Björn Schröder (Ger) Milram                                        0.39
107 Mirko Celestino (Ita) Milram
108 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Crédit Agricole
109 Sébastien Joly (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux
110 Ivan Ramiro Parra (Col) Cofidis
111 Axel Merckx (Bel) Phonak
112 José Luis Rubiera (Spa) Discovery Channel                          0.40
113 Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero (Spa) Phonak
114 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Davitamon-Lotto
115 Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Rabobank
116 Patxi Vila (Spa) Lampre-Fondital
117 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                              0.41
118 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole
119 David Canada (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir
120 Simon Gerrans (Aus) AG2R-Prevoyance
121 Sylvain Calzati (Fra) AG2R-Prevoyance
122 Moises Duenas (Spa) Agritubel
123 Alexandre Moos (Swi) Phonak                                        0.42
124 Matej Mugerli (Slo) Liquigas
125 Riccardo Ricco (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir                        0.43
126 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
127 Carlos Da Cruz (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux
128 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Milram
129 Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Cofidis                                         0.44
130 Samuel Plouhinec (Fra) Agritubel
131 David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
132 Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) Agritubel
133 Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
134 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Crédit Agricole                             0.45
135 Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team CSC
136 Christophe Mengin (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux
137 Giuseppe Guerini (Ita) T-Mobile
138 Inaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
139 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Quick-Step-Innergetic
140 Georg Totschnig (Aut) Gerolsteiner
141 Benoît Salmon (Fra) Agritubel                                      0.46
142 Marco Velo (Ita) Milram
143 David Kopp (Ger) Gerolsteiner
144 Gorka Verdugo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                              0.47
145 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC
146 Aitor Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                            0.48
147 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Crédit Agricole
148 David Moncoutié (Fra) Cofidis
149 David Lopez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
150 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
151 Christophe Rinero (Fra) Saunier Duval - Prodir                     0.49
152 Christophe Laurent (Fra) Agritubel
153 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Crédit Agricole
154 Kjelt Carlström (Fin) Liquigas                                     0.50
155 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas
156 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank
157 Cédric Coutouly (Fra) Agritubel                                    0.51
158 Stephane Goubert (Fra) AG2R-Prevoyance
159 Francisco Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir
160 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                              0.52
161 Patrick Calcagni (Swi) Liquigas
162 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Quick-Step-Innergetic
163 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
164 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                    0.54
165 Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Milram
166 Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner                                   0.58
167 Eduardo Gonzalo (Spa) Agritubel                                    1.00
168 Nicolas Portal (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                1.03
169 Manuel Calvente (Spa) Agritubel                                    1.06
170 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                  1.09
171 Ruben Lobato (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                          1.12
172 Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Milram                                          1.27
173 Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Quick-Step-Innergetic                     1.46
174 Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                              2.10
175 Stéphane Auge (Fra) Cofidis                                        3.10
176 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas                                      3.13
 
Points classification
 
1 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Cofidis                                             35 pts
2 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole                                     32
3 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto                                    30
4 Erik Zabel (Ger) Milram                                                26
5 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC                                          24
6 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                                  24
7 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas                                            22
8 Isaac Galvez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                      20
9 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Francaise Des Jeux                                18
10 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel                               17
11 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                16
12 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank                                           16
13 Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner                                      15
14 Inaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                   14
15 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step-Innergetic                                13
16 Francisco Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                        12
17 Robert Hunter (RSA) Phonak                                            11
18 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux                            10
19 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC                                        10
20 Laurent Brochard (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                               10
21 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                   9
22 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                      8
23 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Francaise Des Jeux                              8
24 Carlos Da Cruz (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux                                7
25 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                6
26 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Davitamon-Lotto                                   6
27 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas                                        5
28 Michael Rogers (Aus) T-Mobile                                          4
29 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Discovery Channel                                  4
30 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Crédit Agricole                                4
31 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Discovery Channel                               3
32 Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak                                              2
33 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                 2
34 Unai Etxebarria (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                2
35 Christophe Laurent (Fra) Agritubel                                     2
36 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                  1
37 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir                              1
 
Mountains classification
 
1 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                       3 pts
2 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                  2
3 Unai Etxebarria (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                 1
 
Young rider classification
 
1 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux                        4.18.26
2 Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank                                        0.07
3 Marcus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                     0.09
4 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Francaise Des Jeux                             0.14
5 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Francaise Des Jeux                              0.17
6 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                               0.18
7 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Francaise Des Jeux                            0.20
8 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Quick-Step-Innergetic                          0.21
9 José Rujano (Ven) Quick-Step-Innergetic                              0.22
10 Christian Knees (Ger) Milram                                        0.24
11 Johan Vansummeren (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                             0.25
12 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank                                       0.27
13 Moises Duenas (Spa) Agritubel                                       0.30
14 Matej Mugerli (Slo) Liquigas                                        0.31
15 Riccardo Ricco (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir                         0.32
16 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
17 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Milram
18 Aitor Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                             0.37
19 David Lopez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
20 Francisco Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                      0.40
21 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                     0.43
22 Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Milram
23 Eduardo Gonzalo (Spa) Agritubel                                     0.49
 
Teams classification
 
1 Discovery Channel Team                                           12.55.16
2 Team CSC                                                             0.01
3 T-Mobile Team                                                        0.07
4 Caisse D’Epargne-Illes Balears
5 Phonak Hearing Systems                                               0.14
6 Gerolsteiner                                                         0.18
7 Davitamon - Lotto                                                    0.31
8 Credit Agricole
9 Liquigas                                                             0.32
10 AG2R Prevoyance
11 Cofidis Credit Par Telephone                                        0.34
12 Lampre-Fondital                                                     0.37
13 Francaise Des Jeux                                                  0.39
14 Saunier Duval - Prodir                                              0.42
15 Rabobank
16 Bouygues Telecom                                                    0.46
17 Quick Step - Innergetic
18 Euskaltel - Euskadi                                                 1.03
19 Team Milram                                                         1.16
20 Agritubel                                                           1.23

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