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Giro finale
Photo ©: Bettini

93rd Tour de France - ProT

France, July 1-23, 2006

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Stage 2 - Monday, July 3: Obernai - Esch-sur-Alzette (Luxembourg), 228.5 km

McEwen thrives in chaos

Danger-prone Viking back in maillot jaune

By Anthony Tan & Brecht Decaluwé in Esch-sur-Alzette, with additional reporting from Jeff Jones

Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto)
Photo ©: AFP
(Click for larger image)

Indecision characterised the finale yesterday, with none of the favoured sprinters willing to take control. But one day later, the world's best were ready to stamp their authority on the road to Esch-sur-Alzette.

However, there were two things they didn't count on. First, a daring attack by T-Mobile's Matthias Kessler with six kilometres to go, and second, a crash just 2,000 metres from the finish that brought more than half the bunch to a complete halt, aiding the former's chances.

But with all the fast fellows still up front and Kessler holding a very tentative eight-second lead 1000 metres from the finish, the German met his fate and came up 200 metres short of a stage victory. Behind him, the final 500 metres was as intense as it gets at the Tour de France, as Robbie McEwen, Thor Hushovd and Tom Boonen had their 53x11s humming.

Singing the sweetest tune was Australian pocket rocket McEwen; his compact, 70 kilogram, muscled figure wrenching every last iota of out of body and bike, following through with a perfect throw to capture his ninth Tour stage win. Belgian world champion Boonen finished fast to take second, while Hushovd wanted the same line as McEwen and wouldn't budge, pulling his foot as a result and pedaling across the line with one leg, simultaneously throwing his right hand up in protest.

"Every stage you win in the Tour de France is special. This may be the last one, but I remember every single one of them in a different way," said McEwen.

McEwen powers to the line
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)
...almost home
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)
...and triumphs
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)

"Every year you have to prove yourself again and again. And you can't forget the fact that I've just turned 34; they often say that when sprinters get older, they get slower; I haven't slowed down yet, so that's a good sign," he grinned.

"I think that what makes it special is that every year you start with a big zero on the scoreboard. You have to come here and you have to score. That's the pressure to get that stage win; now I've got it and that takes a bit pressure away. But we can go for more!

"The stage was nice because the way the team worked very well together. It was a very tough final with those small hills. I survived the stage very well and had plenty of speed. Fred [Rodriguez] brought me up to about seventh position in the last kilometre, being in front of me in the wind, and just improving our position the whole time. He did the perfect job.

"I started on the wheel of O'Grady and he was behind Zabel, then I went passed both of them. Because O'Grady passed Zabel on his left, I needed to go even more to the left. From there, I rode a direct line to the finish line as the road curved just a little bit to the right. With about hundred metres to go, I felt something against my foot and I pulled back to the right. That proved to be Hushovd."

As the saying goes, though, good things come in threes, and three third places (including two intermediate sprints) today has seen Hushovd back in yellow.

Was he surprised to be back in the maillot jaune so soon?

"Yeah sure, after all what happened yesterday!" he exclaimed. "First of all, when I was in the hospital [last night], I was afraid that I couldn't even race today. But later on, in the hotel, I knew it wasn't too bad; I could move and use my arm. This morning, I knew I could race and I knew that I was only two seconds behind the yellow jersey, so I wanted to try get it back.

"I was feeling a bit up and down [today]. The first half hour was alright but then I felt a bit tired. Mainly because of the everything that happened yesterday.

"I've taken lots of medication for the treatment of my wound. I feel it when I'm riding, but especially the shocks are hurting; that's because of the haematoma which is underneath - it's painful. That mix gave me a sore stomach. That's why I got to the medical car. I think the status of my arm will improve during the coming days."

On his reaction at the finish line, Hushovd said: "When you sprint you enjoy all the adrenaline... when the incident happened, I got scared and afterwards that turned into anger. That was my first reaction; when I saw the video, I understood it wasn't his [McEwen's] fault.

"Sprints are sometimes really dangerous, like yesterday. Nobody made mistakes. Robbie, just like other sprinters sometimes, makes some dangerous manoeuvres, but he didn't make mistakes [today]. I can't blame him today; I can blame myself a bit."

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

Asked if there was any bad blood between the two, McEwen replied: "I've already spoken with Thor since the finish. Thor and I watched to the video together. Thor came with his front wheel against my left foot. We're still friends, no worries."

Now five seconds ahead of Boonen and eight in front of McEwen, with overnight leader George Hincapie ten seconds behind in fourth place, the hard-as-nails God of Thunder will have to call on all his superpowers to survive tomorrow's stage to Valkenburg in Holland. Six categorised climbs in the last 100 kilometres and the famous Cauberg - the finish of the Amstel Gold Race each year - two kilometres from the finish will make the stage to Pays-Bas the most difficult to control so far.

Said a confident Hushovd: "I know that hill very well - that's where I won the time trial at the under 23 World's. Tomorrow is a hard day; it's up and down the whole day. I know that if I'm in form, I can survive the climbs. But it depends on how the race will develop, that will be affected by the climbers. I want to try and keep the jersey."

"I think it can end in a sprint," predicted McEwen. "It will be something maybe slightly tougher than today, but it will be very difficult to escape on those last climbs. I think pretty much all sprinters will be there: Hushovd, Boonen, Freire, Zabel, O'Grady... they wont worry too much about those hills. I hope to be there, too, and go for another stage win.

"I expect Boonen and Hushovd to be strong and they are strong. But they are not the only strong sprinters. Today, I showed that I was stronger."

How it unfolded

Things get rolling
Photo ©: Jon Devich
(Click for larger image)

Stage 2 began in warm and sunny conditions just outside of Strasbourg in Obernai, an agricultural/tourist town in the Bas-Rhin. The riders faced 228.5 km of lumpy terrain en route to Esch-sur-Alzette, near the southern end of Luxembourg. One rider of the 176 did not start: Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas), who has been suffering from a prostate infection and was taking antibiotics, but he was not recovered in time before the Tour started. But one rider who did start was big Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole), who despite having several stitches to a cut in his right arm after yesterday, was looking forward to doing battle again, in true Viking style.

As with yesterday's stage, it didn't take long for the main breakaway of the day to be established. Today it was the turn of two unheralded Spanish riders, David de la Fuente (Saunier Duval) and Aitor Hernández (Euskaltel-Euskadi), who took off during the first kilometre and were not chased by the peloton. Again, the Tour is not being raced like it has been in recent years, with attack after attack going in the first 50 km before a break finally gets clear.

David de la Fuente (Saunier Duval)
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)

The two leaders were allowed a sizeable gap: 11'20 after 31 km as they climbed the cat. 3 Col des Pandours, where Hernández took the four points at the summit ahead of De la Fuente, with mountains leader Wegmann in third ahead of Jérôme Pineau (Bouygues). The placings were almost identical over the Col de Valsberg (km 50), except Pineau was third ahead of Wegmann. This put Hernández in the virtual lead for the spotted jersey.

As the breakaways averaged 36.9 km/h for the first hour, Discovery Channel began to ride tempo behind, protecting George Hincapie in the maillot jaune, and quickly pegging the gap back to 10 minutes. The situation remained like that until Quick.Step and Davitamon began to ride, pulling the leaders back to 7'25 at the first intermediate sprint of the day at Marimont-Les-Benestroff (km 107). De la Fuente took the points there, but the battle was on in the bunch for third: Tom Boonen edged out Hushovd for the final two seconds, clearly setting his sights on the green jersey. Hushovd was also thinking of yellow, as two seconds was all he needed to reclaim it from Hincapie.

The next sprint at Holling saw the same placings up front, but Boonen went too early behind and Hushovd easily came around him, claiming a virtual lead in the overall classification. This hotly contested battle for the intermediate sprints would have put a smile on McEwen's face, as he chose not to spend any more energy than he had to today.

Riders on the front
Photo ©: Jon Devich
(Click for larger image)

On the day's third climb, the cat. 4 Côte de Kédange-sur-Canner (km 187.5), the gap between Hernández and De la Fuente had dropped to just 3'00, thanks to the work of Quick.Step's Cretskens, Davitamon's Vansevenant, Vansummeren and Brandt, and Credit Agricole's Charteau. De la Fuente could sense that Hernández was suffering, and sprinted for the summit, dropping the Euskaltel rider and making a bid for a solo victory with 40 clicks left to travel. Wegmann again took third, keeping his chances for the dots alive.

Hernández came back to the peloton before the final sprint in Yutz (km 198), which meant that there were 4 and 2 second time bonuses up for grabs. Boonen took four seconds while Hushovd claimed two, increasing his buffer over Hincapie for the yellow. With the gap coming down fast, De la Fuente survived until the penultimate climb, the Côte de Kanfen (km 212.5), where Wegmann attacked with Lefevre (Bouygues), Verdugo (Euskaltel) and eventually Gilbert (FDJ). Wegmann bridged up to the Saunier Duval rider on the last climb at 13 km to go, and although he took three points, De la Fuente was second and took over the maillot á pois.

Wegmann continued on his own with Gilbert's group sweeping up De la Fuente but dangling 20 seconds behind the leader, with the bunch another 20 seconds back, trying to get organised. Lampre-Fondital and Milram were now working, and Wegmann and the rest didn't last. With 7 km to go, it was peloton groupé.

Matthias Kessler (T-Mobile)
Photo ©: Sirotti
(Click for larger image)

With six kilometres to go, the road went up and down again as the riders entered Luxembourg. Matthias Kessler (T-Mobile) took a flyer and rode an excellent final 5.7 km, looking like he might snatch the stage from under the sprinters' noses. But Ballan and Flecha combined at the head of the bunch to pull back the T-Mobile man in the last 200 metres, before McEwen, Hushovd and Boonen launched their sprints on the right side of the road. McEwen hit the front and was not headed. Hushovd had his wheel, but lost momentum in the final metres when he clicked out of the pedals after McEwen drifted into him. That cost the Norwegian at least one place, and he finished third behind McEwen and Boonen, the latter also not having a smooth run. Still, the extra eight seconds plus his gains on the road were enough to put the tough Viking back in yellow for tomorrow.

Stage 3 - Tuesday, July 4: Esch-sur-Alzette - Valkenburg (Netherlands), 216 km

Stage 3 will be like a classics cross between Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Amstel Gold as it winds north through the Belgian Ardennes and into the hilly southeast corner of the Netherlands to finish atop the Cauberg climb as in the Amstel Gold classics. If it comes down to a front group, look for names like Dutch champ Boogerd, Valverde or Frank Schleck to take the honours.

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 Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com

Results

1 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto                              5.36.14 (40.775 km/h)
2 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step-Innergetic
3 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole
4 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank
5 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
6 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas
7 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC
8 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Francaise Des Jeux
9 Erik Zabel (Ger) Milram
10 Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner
11 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Cofidis
12 Inaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
13 Michael Albasini (Swi) Liquigas
14 Francisco Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir
15 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Francaise Des Jeux
16 Michael Rogers (Aus) T-Mobile
17 Andreas Klöden (Ger) T-Mobile
18 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
19 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
20 Yaroslav Popovyvch (Ukr) Discovery Channel
21 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel
22 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) T-Mobile
23 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir
24 David Canada (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir
25 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis
26 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole
27 Georg Totschnig (Aut) Gerolsteiner
28 Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) T-Mobile
29 Christian Vandevelde (USA) Team CSC
30 Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak
31 Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Milram
32 Matthias Kessler (Ger) T-Mobile
33 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC
34 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
35 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Liquigas
36 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC
37 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Davitamon-Lotto
38 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Discovery Channel
39 Christian Knees (Ger) Milram
40 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas
41 Marco Velo (Ita) Milram
42 Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Rabobank
43 Laurent Brochard (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
44 Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC
45 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank
46 Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Quick-Step-Innergetic
47 José Rujano (Ven) Quick-Step-Innergetic
48 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Milram
49 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
50 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
51 Marcus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner
52 Iker Camano (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
53 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Discovery Channel
54 Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Phonak
55 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
56 Serguei Gonchar (Ukr) T-Mobile
57 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Milram
58 Mirko Celestino (Ita) Milram
59 Sylvain Calzati (Fra) AG2R-Prevoyance
60 Christophe Moreau (Fra) AG2R-Prevoyance
61 Christophe Brandt (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
62 José Azevedo (Por) Discovery Channel
63 Benoît Salmon (Fra) Agritubel
64 Axel Merckx (Bel) Phonak
65 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Quick-Step-Innergetic
66 José Luis Arrieta (Spa) AG2R-Prevoyance
67 Benjamin Noval (Spa) Discovery Channel
68 Christopher Horner (USA) Davitamon-Lotto
69 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Gerolsteiner
70 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner
71 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
72 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Lampre-Fondital
73 Didier Rous (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
74 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
75 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
76 Pavel Padrnos (Cze) Discovery Channel
77 Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R-Prevoyance
78 José Luis Rubiera (Spa) Discovery Channel
79 Robert Hunter (RSA) Phonak
80 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Crédit Agricole
81 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) AG2R-Prevoyance
82 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
83 Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank
84 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux
85 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2R-Prevoyance
86 Moises Duenas (Spa) Agritubel
87 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
88 Patrice Halgand (Fra) Crédit Agricole
89 David Lopez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
90 Giuseppe Guerini (Ita) T-Mobile
91 Bram Tankink (Ned) Quick-Step-Innergetic
92 Gorka Verdugo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
93 Isaac Galvez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
94 Ronny Scholz (Ger) Gerolsteiner
95 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
96 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
97 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir
98 Christophe Rinero (Fra) Saunier Duval - Prodir
99 Christophe Laurent (Fra) Agritubel
100 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
101 Alexandre Moos (Swi) Phonak
102 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
103 Victor Hugo Pena (Col) Phonak
104 Riccardo Ricco (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir
105 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC
106 Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero (Spa) Phonak
107 Florent Brard (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
108 David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
109 Patrick Calcagni (Swi) Liquigas
110 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Phonak
111 Christophe Mengin (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux
112 Julian Dean (NZl) Crédit Agricole
113 Gustav Larsson (Swe) Francaise Des Jeux
114 Eduardo Gonzalo (Spa) Agritubel
115 Beat Zberg (Swi) Gerolsteiner
116 Ivan Ramiro Parra (Col) Cofidis
117 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Crédit Agricole
118 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Quick-Step-Innergetic
119 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC
120 Inigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
121 Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) Agritubel
122 Unai Etxebarria (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi
123 David Kopp (Ger) Gerolsteiner
124 Stephane Goubert (Fra) AG2R-Prevoyance
125 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Crédit Agricole
126 Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
127 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
128 Sandy Casar (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux
129 Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
130 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
131 José Alberto Martinez (Spa) Agritubel
132 Xabier Zandio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
133 Jose Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
134 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank
135 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank
136 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
137 Simon Gerrans (Aus) AG2R-Prevoyance
138 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Francaise Des Jeux
139 David Moncoutié (Fra) Cofidis
140 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Cofidis
141 Carlos Da Cruz (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux
142 Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Milram                                         2.18
143 Björn Schröder (Ger) Milram
144 Manuel Calvente (Spa) Agritubel
145 Samuel Plouhinec (Fra) Agritubel
146 Stéphane Auge (Fra) Cofidis                                       2.51
147 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner
148 Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Cofidis
149 Bert Grabsch (Ger) Phonak
150 José Angel Gomez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                     2.51
151 Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team CSC                                  3.30
152 Patxi Vila (Spa) Lampre-Fondital
153 Kjelt Carlström (Fin) Liquigas                                    3.54
154 Matej Mugerli (Slo) Liquigas
155 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
156 Ruben Lobato (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir
157 Cédric Coutouly (Fra) Agritubel
158 Nicolas Portal (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
159 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir
160 Viatscheslav Ekimov (Rus) Discovery Channel
161 Bram De Groot (Ned) Rabobank
162 Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                               6.55
163 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick-Step-Innergetic
164 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Cofidis
165 Sébastien Joly (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux
166 Johan Vansummeren (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                           8.28
167 Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank
168 Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Quick-Step-Innergetic                    9.14
169 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Crédit Agricole
170 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Crédit Agricole
171 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas
172 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Cofidis
173 Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
174 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Quick-Step-Innergetic                       9.37
175 Aitor Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                          13.23
DNS Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas
 
Points
 
1 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto                                   35 pts
2 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step-Innergetic                                30
3 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole                                    26
4 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank                                           24
5 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                                 22
6 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas                                           20
7 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC                                         19
8 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Francaise Des Jeux                               18
9 Erik Zabel (Ger) Milram                                               17
10 Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner                                     16
11 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Cofidis                                        15
12 Inaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                  14
13 Michael Albasini (Swi) Liquigas                                      13
14 Francisco Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                       12
15 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Francaise Des Jeux                            11
16 Michael Rogers (Aus) T-Mobile                                        10
17 Andreas Klöden (Ger) T-Mobile                                         9
18 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto                                     8
19 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears               7
20 Yaroslav Popovyvch (Ukr) Discovery Channel                            6
21 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel                               5
22 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) T-Mobile                                         4
23 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir                             3
24 David Canada (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                             2
25 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis                                        1
 
Mountains
 
Col des Pandours - Cat. 3, km 35.5
1 Aitor Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                4 pts
2 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                        3
3 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                      2
4 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                   1
 
Col de Valsberg - Cat. 3, km 50
1 Aitor Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                4 pts
2 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                        3
3 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                   2
4 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                      1
 
Côte de Kédange-sur-Canner - Cat. 4, km 187.5
1 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                        3 pts
2 Aitor Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                2
3 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                      1
 
Côte de Kanfen - Cat. 4, km 212.5
1 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                        3 pts
2 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                      2
3 Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                 1
 
Côte de Volmerange-les-Mines - Cat. 4, km 215
1 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                      3 pts
2 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                        2
3 Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                 1
 
Sprints
 
Marimont-Les-Benestroff, km 107
1 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                        6 pts
2 Aitor Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                4
3 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step-Innergetic                                 2
 
Holling, km 169.5
1 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                        6 pts
2 Aitor Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                4
3 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole                                     2
 
Yutz, km 198.5
1 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                        6 pts
2 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step-Innergetic                                 4
3 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole                                     2
 
Young rider
 
1 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Francaise Des Jeux                          5.36.14
2 Francisco Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir
3 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Francaise Des Jeux
4 Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Milram
5 Christian Knees (Ger) Milram
6 José Rujano (Ven) Quick-Step-Innergetic
7 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Milram
8 Marcus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner
9 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
10 Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank
11 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux
12 Moises Duenas (Spa) Agritubel
13 David Lopez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
14 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
15 Riccardo Ricco (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir
16 Eduardo Gonzalo (Spa) Agritubel
17 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank
18 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Francaise Des Jeux
19 Matej Mugerli (Slo) Liquigas                                       3.54
20 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir
21 Johan Vansummeren (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                            8.28
22 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Quick-Step-Innergetic                        9.37
23 Aitor Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                           13.23
 
Most combative
 
1 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir
 
Teams
 
1 Liquigas                                                        16.48.42
2 T-Mobile Team
3 Davitamon - Lotto
4 Saunier Duval - Prodir
5 Team CSC
6 Team Milram
7 Discovery Channel Team
8 Gerolsteiner
9 Rabobank
10 Quick Step - Innergetic
11 Francaise Des Jeux
12 Credit Agricole
13 Lampre-Fondital
14 Euskaltel - Euskadi
15 Bouygues Telecom
16 Phonak Hearing Systems
17 Cofidis Credit Par Telephone
18 Caisse D’Epargne-Illes Balears
19 AG2R Prevoyance
20 Agritubel
 
General classification after stage 2
 
1 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole                               9.54.19
2 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step-Innergetic                              0.05
3 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto                                 0.08
4 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel                             0.10
5 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC                                      0.16
6 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner
7 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
8 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC
9 Michael Rogers (Aus) T-Mobile                                       0.18
10 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Discovery Channel                           0.20
11 Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak                                          0.21
12 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux
13 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears              0.22
14 Serguei Gonchar (Ukr) T-Mobile
15 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas                                    0.24
16 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto                                  0.25
17 Christophe Moreau (Fra) AG2R-Prevoyance
18 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir                          0.26
19 Bert Grabsch (Ger) Phonak
20 Christopher Horner (USA) Davitamon-Lotto                           0.27
21 Victor Hugo Pena (Col) Phonak                                      0.28
22 Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) T-Mobile
23 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
24 Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank
25 Andreas Klöden (Ger) T-Mobile                                      0.29
26 Isaac Galvez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                  0.30
27 Marcus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner
28 Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R-Prevoyance
29 Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC
30 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) T-Mobile                                      0.31
31 Yaroslav Popovyvch (Ukr) Discovery Channel                         0.32
32 Michael Albasini (Swi) Liquigas
33 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Discovery Channel                              0.33
34 Christian Vandevelde (USA) Team CSC
35 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Gerolsteiner
36 Didier Rous (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                 0.34
37 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
38 Robert Hunter (RSA) Phonak
39 Gustav Larsson (Swe) Francaise Des Jeux
40 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Francaise Des Jeux                           0.35
41 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Cofidis
42 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis
43 Ronny Scholz (Ger) Gerolsteiner
44 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
45 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
46 Laurent Brochard (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
47 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC                                          0.36
48 Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Phonak
49 José Azevedo (Por) Discovery Channel
50 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                            0.37
51 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir
52 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                             0.38
53 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
54 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
55 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC
56 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank
57 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) AG2R-Prevoyance
58 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Francaise Des Jeux
59 Erik Zabel (Ger) Milram
60 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                             0.39
61 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2R-Prevoyance
62 José Alberto Martinez (Spa) Agritubel
63 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Phonak
64 Julian Dean (NZl) Crédit Agricole                                  0.40
65 Patrice Halgand (Fra) Crédit Agricole
66 Florent Brard (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
67 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Lampre-Fondital                               0.41
68 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Francaise Des Jeux
69 Christophe Brandt (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                            0.42
70 Beat Zberg (Swi) Gerolsteiner
71 Bram Tankink (Ned) Quick-Step-Innergetic
72 Benjamin Noval (Spa) Discovery Channel
73 Inigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                            0.43
74 José Rujano (Ven) Quick-Step-Innergetic
75 Unai Etxebarria (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi
76 Xabier Zandio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
77 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Liquigas
78 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                               0.44
79 José Luis Arrieta (Spa) AG2R-Prevoyance
80 Sandy Casar (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux
81 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
82 Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Quick-Step-Innergetic
83 Christian Knees (Ger) Milram                                       0.45
84 Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
85 Pavel Padrnos (Cze) Discovery Channel
86 Iker Camano (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                0.46
87 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank
88 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Cofidis
89 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Milram
90 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Crédit Agricole
91 Jose Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears    0.47
92 Matthias Kessler (Ger) T-Mobile
93 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank                                      0.48
94 Mirko Celestino (Ita) Milram                                       0.49
95 Ivan Ramiro Parra (Col) Cofidis
96 Axel Merckx (Bel) Phonak
97 José Luis Rubiera (Spa) Discovery Channel                          0.50
98 Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero (Spa) Phonak
99 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Davitamon-Lotto
100 Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Rabobank
101 Patxi Vila (Spa) Lampre-Fondital
102 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                             0.51
103 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole
104 David Canada (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir
105 Simon Gerrans (Aus) AG2R-Prevoyance
106 Sylvain Calzati (Fra) AG2R-Prevoyance
107 Moises Duenas (Spa) Agritubel
108 Alexandre Moos (Swi) Phonak                                       0.52
109 Riccardo Ricco (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir                       0.53
110 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
111 Carlos Da Cruz (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux
112 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Milram
113 David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                 0.54
114 Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) Agritubel
115 Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
116 Christophe Mengin (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux                        0.55
117 Giuseppe Guerini (Ita) T-Mobile
118 Inaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
119 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Quick-Step-Innergetic
120 Georg Totschnig (Aut) Gerolsteiner
121 Benoît Salmon (Fra) Agritubel                                     0.56
122 Marco Velo (Ita) Milram
123 David Kopp (Ger) Gerolsteiner
124 Gorka Verdugo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                             0.57
125 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC
126 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Crédit Agricole                           0.58
127 David Moncoutié (Fra) Cofidis
128 David Lopez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
129 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
130 Christophe Rinero (Fra) Saunier Duval - Prodir                    0.59
131 Christophe Laurent (Fra) Agritubel
132 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Crédit Agricole
133 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas                                       1.00
134 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank
135 Stephane Goubert (Fra) AG2R-Prevoyance                            1.01
136 Francisco Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir
137 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                             1.02
138 Patrick Calcagni (Swi) Liquigas
139 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Quick-Step-Innergetic
140 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
141 Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Milram                                      1.04
142 Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner                                  1.08
143 Eduardo Gonzalo (Spa) Agritubel                                   1.10
144 Björn Schröder (Ger) Milram                                       3.07
145 Samuel Plouhinec (Fra) Agritubel                                  3.12
146 José Angel Gomez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                     3.31
147 Manuel Calvente (Spa) Agritubel                                   3.34
148 Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Cofidis                                        3.45
149 Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Milram                                         3.55
150 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                 4.10
151 Viatscheslav Ekimov (Rus) Discovery Channel                       4.23
152 Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team CSC                                  4.25
153 Bram De Groot (Ned) Rabobank                                      4.32
154 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                              4.34
155 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                   4.40
156 Matej Mugerli (Slo) Liquigas                                      4.46
157 Kjelt Carlström (Fin) Liquigas                                    4.54
158 Cédric Coutouly (Fra) Agritubel                                   4.55
159 Nicolas Portal (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears               5.07
160 Ruben Lobato (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                         5.16
161 Stéphane Auge (Fra) Cofidis                                       6.11
162 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Cofidis                                     7.20
163 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick-Step-Innergetic                        7.38
164 Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                               7.40
165 Sébastien Joly (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux                           7.44
166 Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank                                        9.05
167 Johan Vansummeren (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                           9.14
168 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Cofidis                                        9.47
169 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas                                   9.51
170 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Crédit Agricole                           10.03
171 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Crédit Agricole                           10.09
172 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Quick-Step-Innergetic                      10.19
173 Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Quick-Step-Innergetic                   11.10
174 Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                            11.34
175 Aitor Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                          14.13
 
Points classification
 
1 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto                                   65 pts
2 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole                                    62
3 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step-Innergetic                                49
4 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                                 46
5 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC                                         43
6 Erik Zabel (Ger) Milram                                               43
7 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas                                           42
8 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank                                           40
9 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Francaise Des Jeux                               36
10 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Cofidis                                           35
11 Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner                                     31
12 Inaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                  28
13 Francisco Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                       24
14 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel                              22
15 Isaac Galvez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                    20
16 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Francaise Des Jeux                            19
17 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                      18
18 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                               16
19 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Cofidis                                        15
20 Michael Rogers (Aus) T-Mobile                                        14
21 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears              13
22 Michael Albasini (Swi) Liquigas                                      13
23 Robert Hunter (RSA) Phonak                                           11
24 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux                           10
25 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC                                       10
26 Laurent Brochard (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                              10
27 Andreas Klöden (Ger) T-Mobile                                         9
28 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                  9
29 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                     8
30 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto                                     8
31 Aitor Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                               8
32 Carlos Da Cruz (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux                               7
33 Yaroslav Popovyvch (Ukr) Discovery Channel                            6
34 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Davitamon-Lotto                                  6
35 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas                                       5
36 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir                             4
37 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) T-Mobile                                         4
38 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Discovery Channel                                 4
39 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Crédit Agricole                               4
40 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Discovery Channel                              3
41 Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak                                             2
42 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                2
43 Unai Etxebarria (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi                               2
44 David Canada (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                             2
45 Christophe Laurent (Fra) Agritubel                                    2
46 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                 1
47 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis                                        1
 
Mountains classification
 
1 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                       14 pts
2 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                     12
3 Aitor Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                               10
4 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                   3
5 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                 2
6 Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                 2
7 Unai Etxebarria (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                1
 
Young rider classification
 
1 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux                       9.54.40
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 José Rujano (Ven) Quick-Step-Innergetic                             0.22
9 Christian Knees (Ger) Milram                                        0.24
10 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank                                      0.27
11 Moises Duenas (Spa) Agritubel                                      0.30
12 Riccardo Ricco (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir                        0.32
13 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
14 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Milram
15 David Lopez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                0.37
16 Francisco Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                     0.40
17 Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Milram                                       0.43
18 Eduardo Gonzalo (Spa) Agritubel                                    0.49
19 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                    4.19
20 Matej Mugerli (Slo) Liquigas                                       4.25
21 Johan Vansummeren (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                            8.53
22 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Quick-Step-Innergetic                        9.58
23 Aitor Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                           13.52
 
Teams classification
 
1 Discovery Channel Team                                          29.43.58
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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