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Giro finale
Photo ©: Bettini

61st Vuelta a España - GT

Spain, August 26-September 17, 2006

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Stage 4 - August 29: Almendralejo - Cáceres, 142 km

Zabel grabs first Grand Tour sprint win since 2003 Vuelta

By Shane Stokes in Cáceres

Germany's Erik Zabel
Photo ©: AFP
(Click for larger image)

Today was the third road race stage of the Vuelta a España, and also the third day running that the sprint finish produced an unexpected result. That Erik Zabel was in the thick of the action will not surprise anyone, especially given his 11 second and 12 third places this season, but few would have predicted that he would turn back the clock so dramatically and beat younger sprinters with better recent form.

It was, as he said himself, a big relief to finally end the drought in a major race. Zabel won the first stage of the Bayern - Rundfahrt - Tour of Bavaria back in May, but as his post-stage comments attest, this is in a different league altogether.

“There is a special feeling about this victory because after a difficult season with many second and third places, to win here is very special,” the Milram rider said after the podium presentation. “It is also important because this is a new team for me. The victory is thanks to the work of my team-mates such as Velo, Petacchi, Poitschke, Ongarato and Sacchi, who helped me a lot.

“When I went to the team I had the mentality to help Petacchi for the season, but after his crash in the Giro I had to change my focus and try to win again. I finally have a victory so it is perfect.”

Norway's Thor Hushovd
Photo ©: AFP
(Click for larger image)

Yesterday’s leg was the longest of this year’s Vuelta but Zabel’s win today came at the end of the shortest road stage, a 135 kilometre race from Almendralejo to Cáceres. Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole) was second for the third day in a row, doubtlessly frustrated by yet another runner-up slot but, equally, glad to once again retain the race leader’s maillot oro. Third place went to Jean Patrick Nazon of the AG2R Prévoyance squad, while CSC’s Stuart O’Grady was a fast-finishing fourth. The latter drops from second to third, with Zabel equal on time but overtaking him due to his win today.

The stage saw yet another long distance attempt to break the bunch, with Relax-Gam’s Raúl García De Mateo starting his effort after just two kilometres, building a maximum lead of 6’33, staying away for 116 clicks but being gobbled up with ten kilometres remaining. The inevitable bunch sprint followed, with Zabel proving that there is life in them thar 36 year old legs yet. To underline that fact, he plans to finish the Vuelta and chase a big result in the worlds.

“I will do the world championships in Salzburg because I like to ride for my country there,” he stated. “The main objective of course in me coming to this Vuelta is because I love this race, but secondly it is because I still think it is the best preparation for the worlds. All going to plan, I will finish the Vuelta in Madrid, and then we have still a week to have a good rest and recover. I hope I will have good legs then, like I did in Zolder, Hamilton, Lisbon and, of course, Verona.

“I am feeling happy and am hoping that the worlds will work out alright. Maybe the course could be a little too hard for me, but I thought the same before Lisbon and I was fifth there. Okay, Di Luca and Bettini are perhaps the favourites for Salzburg, but maybe I can take my chance too.”

Theo Eltink
Photo ©: Unipublic
(Click for larger image)

As has been the case since the start of this race, the sun was burning down again once more today. The riders have been battling dehydration as a result, drinking up to 20 bottles during each stage. Several of them have said that this could increase tiredness levels and so tomorrow’s first day in the mountains will be of crucial importance. Stage five’s 178 kilometre ordeal is to the summit finish at the Estación de Esquí de Covatilla, a stage which Alejandro Valverde is looking forward to.

"Personally, I feel very well, physically and mentally. It is with great hopes that I will face the first mountains, and it will also be the first occasion to get an idea of the form of my rivals! The heat which accompanied us till now made these first stages harder and more difficult to manage than we expected them to be when we started from Málaga.

“I imagine that tomorrow there will be some riders which will be in difficulty because of those high temperatures. All that I hope is that it will not be me or one of my team-mates! I do not think that this fifth stage can definitively exclude one or more riders from the fight for the victory in Madrid. On the other hand, I believe that the ninth stage, the one that will finish at the top of the Cobertoria and which is the hardest of these three early mountain stages, will do it."

As a result, the general classification contenders will be growing increasingly nervous this evening. As Valverde says, an off day tomorrow may not necessarily be fatal to maillot oro hopes, but it would certainly make things a whole lot more difficult for that fight.

However, that all lies ahead. For now, it is the sprinters Zabel and Hushovd who hold centre stage.

How it unfolded

Caceres's origins as a village are very old as historians estimate the first settlement in that area dates back to 25 B.C. Once a Roman colony called Norbensis Caesarina, Caceres was declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site in 1986 based on the ancient history of the city, which is a mix of Roman, Islamic, Gothic and Renaissance styles.

After three stages, not a single rider has abandoned the 2006 Vuelta - all 189 riders who started in Malaga took the start in Almendralejo for the shortest of all this year's stages (following the longest of all stages yesterday).

The Relax team was willing to play their chances of appearing on today's highlights and had Raul Garcia de Mateo force a solo breakaway at the very beginning of the stage. The peloton let Garcia de Mateo build a gap of 6:24 by kilometer 38. At the first intermediate sprint in La Garrovilla (km 39), the Relax rider passed first solo and Thor Hushovd (second) and Stuart O'Grady (third) swept up the remaining points.

The peloton held a calm pace knowing the solo breakaway was unlikely to succeed. The greatest worry for most riders instead was the extreme heat they suffered for another day (the temperature was 40º Celsius at the time of the race).

At the second intermediate sprint, in Puebla de Obando (km 90), the lone leader had a scarce advantage of just 2:32. Like the first sprint, Hushovd took second and O'Grady third. At km 112 (23 km to go), the gap between the leader and the rest was just a little bit more of a minute and with ten kilometers to go, de Mateo was caught.

From there, the wind was a handicap for the men who wanted to attack the peloton. Markel Irizar (Euskaltel) made an unsuccessful effort with 8 km to go. Then Team Milram pulled for a big tempo with 3 km to go and controlled the final and decisive metres of the stage in order to help the evergreen Erik Zabel win for the first time in this Vuelta.

Jean Patrick Nazon got a good position in the bunch sprint but Zabel honored his team's efforts and prevailed over Hushovd and Nazon.

Stage 5 - August 30: Plasencia - Estación de Esquí La Covatilla (Béjar), 178 km

The first mountainous stage of this year's Vuelta. The journey will have four climbs: Puerto de Piornal (Cat. 1 - 1,270 m. above sea level - km 52.7), Puerto de Honduras (Cat. 1 - 1,440 m. - km 100.5), Alto de Lagunilla (Cat. 2 - 940 m. - km 136.5) and La Covatilla ski station (Cat. Special - 1,960 m. - km 178 finish). There are two intermediate sprints in Jaraiz de la Vera (km 31) and Cabezuela del Valle (km 79.8). It will be the first key stage of the race and the favorites for the final triumph will have the first test.

"It is the first time that such a big tour reaches the mountains so soon," Carlos Sastre said. "It is an uncertainty for all of us who are here in this Vuelta. It will be a fun stage; we will have real tension."

Oscar Pereiro agrees. "It will be the day when I will see what I came for in this Vuelta a España. So far they [his rivals] let me go quiet, relaxed. Tomorrow will be a crucial day for me."

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Shane Stokes/Cyclingnews.com

Images by AFP Photo

  • Germany's Erik Zabel (L) of Team Milram, Norway's Thor Hushovd (2L) of Credit Agricole, France's JP Nazon Jean Patrik (2R) of AG2R Prevoyance and Spanish Jose Verdoso (R) of Saunier Duval sprint to the finish line.
  • Germany's Erik Zabel (L) of Team Milram, Norway's Thor Hushovd (2L) of Credit Agricole, France's JP Nazon Jean Patrik (2R) of AG2R Prevoyance and Spanish Jose Verdoso (R) of Saunier Duval sprint to the finish line.
  • Norway's Thor Hushovd of team Credit Agricole puts on the race leader's gold jersey after the fourth stage of the Tour of Spain between Almendranejo and Caceres, 29 August 2006. Erik Zabel won the tight sprint ahead of Hushovd and France's Nazon taking third place
  • Germany's Erik Zabel of team Milram celebrates on the podium after winning the fourth stage of the Tour of Spain between Almendranejo and Caceres, 29 August 2006. Zabel won the tight sprint ahead of Norway's Thor Hushovd and France's Nazon taking third place
  • Spain's Raul Garcia of team Relax-gam leads the pack during the fourth stage of the Tour of Spain between Almendranejo and Caceres, 29 August 2006. Germany's Erik Zabel won the stage ahead of Norway's Thor Hushovd and France's Nazon taking third place
  • The pack rides during the fourth stage of the Tour of Spain between Almendranejo and Caceres, 29 August 2006. Germany's Erik Zabel won the stage ahead of Norway's Thor Hushovd and France's Nazon taking third place

Images by Unipublic

Results

1 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram                                 3.24.46
2 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole                                  
3 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                            
4 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC                                       
5 Francisco José Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                   
6 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Française des Jeux                             
7 André Greipel (Ger) T-Mobile Team                                   
8 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic                           
9 Robbie Mcewen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto                                 
10 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas                                        
11 Inaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                
12 Mario De Sarraga (Spa) Relax-Gam                                   
13 Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Team                                    
14 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                            
15 Uros Murn (Slo) Phonak Hearing Systems                             
16 Sebastian Siedler (Ger) Team Milram                                
17 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                  
18 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Bouygues Telecom                            
19 Pedro Horrillo (Spa) Rabobank                                      
20 Aaron Kemps (Aus) Astana Team                                      
21 Rony Martias (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                
22 Marco Velo (Ita) Team Milram                                       
23 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                        
24 Franck Renier (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                               
25 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                      
26 Pablo Lastras (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                 
27 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                              
28 Ángel Gómez Gómez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                       
29 Juan José Cobo (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                          
30 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas                                    
31 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner                               
32 Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone           
33 José Miguel Elias (Spa) Relax-Gam                                  
34 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Davitamon-Lotto                               
35 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Team Milram                              
36 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                             
37 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone              
38 José Luis Arrieta (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                            
39 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                               
40 Rubén Pérez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                
41 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux                                
42 Bastiaan Giling (Ned) T-Mobile Team                                
43 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic                         
44 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Liquigas                                   
45 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team CSC                                     
46 Michael Barry (Can) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team             
47 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC                                       
48 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Credit Agricole                               
49 Alexandre Usov (Blr) AG2R Prevoyance                               
50 Steve Morabito (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                        
51 Frédéric Finot (Fra) Française des Jeux                            
52 David Cañada (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                            
53 Francesco Failli (Ita) Liquigas                                    
54 Andrea Moletta (Ita) Gerolsteiner                                  
55 Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                                 
56 José Ange Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir               
57 Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone            
58 Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Team CSC                                   
59 Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                              
60 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team           
61 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Credit Agricole                            
62 Mathieu Claude (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                              
63 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                            
64 Hervé Duclos-Lassalle (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone       
65 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears            
66 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                 
67 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                                       
68 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                                    
69 Nacor Burgos (Spa) Relax-Gam                                       
70 Theo Eltink (Ned) Rabobank                                         
71 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                              
72 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                             
73 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Team                                
74 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team            
75 Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Astana Team                                
76 Lorenzo Bernucci (Ita) T-Mobile Team                               
77 Luis Pérez (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                  
78 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) Lampre-Fondital                                
79 Nicki Sorensen (Den) Team CSC                                      
80 Benoît Joachim (Lux) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team            
81 Jesús Hernández (Spa) Relax-Gam                                    
82 Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Phonak Hearing Systems                      
83 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC                                   
84 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) T-Mobile Team                                  
85 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval-Prodir                            
86 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team             
87 Thomas Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team          
88 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team         
89 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team            
90 Daniel Moreno (Spa) Relax-Gam                                      
91 Joan Horrach (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                  
92 Fabien Patanchon (Fra) Française des Jeux                          
93 Davide Vigano (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic                          
94 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic                         
95 Mauricio Ardila (Col) Rabobank                                     
96 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                               
97 Daniele Nardello (Ita) T-Mobile Team                               
98 Scott Davis (Aus) T-Mobile Team                                    
99 David Navas (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                                  
100 Alberto Benítez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                        
101 Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz) Astana Team                                
102 Thomas Ziegler (Ger) T-Mobile Team                                
103 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team           
104 Florian Stalder (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                      
105 Luis Fernández Oliveira (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems              
106 Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                
107 David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                 
108 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas                                     
109 David Loosli (Swi) Lampre-Fondital                                
110 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears            
111 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears             
112 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                 
113 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Team                            
114 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Phonak Hearing Systems                       
115 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                               
116 Christophe Detilloux (Bel) Française des Jeux                     
117 Sven Montgomery (Swi) Gerolsteiner                                
118 Aketza Peña (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                               
119 Pieter Mertens (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                              
120 Iñigo Chaurreau (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                             
121 Markus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                  
122 Ian Mcleod (RSA) Française des Jeux                               
123 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                                    
124 André Korff (Ger) T-Mobile Team                                   
125 René Haselbacher (Aut) Gerolsteiner                               
126 Pierre Drancourt (Bel) Bouygues Telecom                           
127 Stéphane Goubert (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                            
128 Josep Jufre (Spa) Davitamon-Lotto                                 
129 Sergio Paulinho (Por) Astana Team                                 
130 David George (RSA) Relax-Gam                                      
131 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                              
132 Miguel A. Martín Perdiguero (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems          
133 Bingen Fernández (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone           
134 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Team Milram                                    
135 Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Liquigas                             
136 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre-Fondital                             
137 Xabier Zandio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                
138 Kjell Carlström (Fin) Liquigas                                    
139 Addy Engels (Ned) Quick Step-Innergetic                           
140 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic                        
141 Benoît Poilvet (Fra) Credit Agricole                              
142 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Credit Agricole                                
143 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC                                  
144 Daniel Becke (Ger) Team Milram                                    
145 Charles Wegelius (GBr) Liquigas                                   
146 Dario Andriotto (Ita) Liquigas                                    
147 Iñigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                           
148 Ángel Vallejo (Spa) Relax-Gam                                     
149 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner                                
150 Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) Team CSC                                       
151 Jorge García (Spa) Relax-Gam                                      
152 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Team CSC                                   
153 Sébastien Joly (Fra) Française des Jeux                           
154 Markel Irizar (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                             
155 Eric Leblacher (Fra) Française des Jeux                           
156 Bart Dockx (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                                  
157 Torsten Hiekmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner                               
158 Stephan Schreck (Ger) T-Mobile Team                               
159 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir                       
160 Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                               
161 Frédéric Bessy (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone             
162 Enrico Poitschke (Ger) Team Milram                                
163 William Walker (Aus) Rabobank                                     
164 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Credit Agricole                             
165 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone          
166 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank                                  
167 Thierry Marichal (Bel) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone           
168 José Vicent Garcia Acosta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears    
169 José Antonio Garrido (Spa) Quick Step-Innergetic                  
170 Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic                        
171 Carlos Barredo (Spa) Astana Team                                  
172 José Antonio Redondo (Spa) Astana Team                            
173 Steve Zampieri (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                       
174 Freddy Bichot (Fra) Française des Jeux                            
175 Marcel Strauss (Swi) Gerolsteiner                                 
176 Claudio Corioni (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                             
177 Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic                    
178 Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                              
179 Björn Leukemans (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                             
180 Christophe Kern (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                            
181 Volodymyr Dyudya (Ukr) Team Milram                            0.54
182 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Team Milram                            1.15
183 Christopher Horner (USA) Davitamon-Lotto                          
184 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank                                     
185 Wim De Vocht (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                            3.03
186 Mads Kaggestad (Nor) Credit Agricole                          3.19
187 Raúl García De Mateo (Spa) Relax-Gam                          4.12
188 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Credit Agricole                        5.42
189 Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Credit Agricole                               
 
Points
 
1 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram                                      25 pts
2 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole                                20
3 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                          16
4 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC                                     14
5 Francisco José Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                 12
6 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Française des Jeux                           10
7 André Greipel (Ger) T-Mobile Team                                  9
8 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic                          8
9 Robbie Mcewen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto                                7
10 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas                                       6
11 Inaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                               5
12 Mario De Sarraga (Spa) Relax-Gam                                  4
13 Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Team                                   3
14 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                           2
15 Uros Murn (Slo) Phonak Hearing Systems                            1
 
Sprints
 
La Garrovilla, km 39                                             
 
1 Raúl García De Mateo (Spa) Relax-Gam                               4 pts
2 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole                                 2
3 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC                                      1
 
Puebla de Obando, km 90                                          
 
1 Raúl García De Mateo (Spa) Relax-Gam                               4 pts
2 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole                                 2
3 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC                                      1
 
Teams
 
1 Team Milram                                                 10.14.18
2 Saunier Duval - Prodir                                              
3 Bouygues Telecom                                                    
4 Ag2r Prevoyance                                                     
5 Liquigas                                                            
6 Phonak Hearing Systems                                              
7 Team CSC                                                            
8 Française des Jeux                                                  
9 Gerolsteiner                                                        
10 Astana                                                             
11 Credit Agricole                                                    
12 Euskaltel - Euskadi                                                
13 Relax - GAM                                                        
14 T- Mobile TeaO                                                     
15 Cofidis, le Credit Par Telephone                                   
16 Quick Step - Innergetic                                            
17 Lampre - Fondital                                                  
18 Rabobank                                                           
19 Caisse D'Epargne - Illes Balears                                   
20 Davitamon - Lotto                                                  
21 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                                 
 
General classification after stage 4
 
1 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole                          13.34.59
2 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram                                    0.27
3 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC                                       
4 Francisco José Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir               0.32
5 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic                       0.34
6 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC                                0.39
7 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team CSC                                      
8 Nicki Sorensen (Den) Team CSC                                       
9 Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Team CSC                                    
10 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC                                       
11 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Team CSC                                    
12 Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) Team CSC                                        
13 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                  0.40
14 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC                               0.43
15 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas                                    0.44
16 Pablo Lastras (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears             0.46
17 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                 
18 Xabier Zandio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                 
19 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears            
20 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears              
21 José Vicent Garcia Acosta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears     
22 Marco Velo (Ita) Team Milram                                   0.47
23 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Team Milram                                     
24 Daniel Becke (Ger) Team Milram                                     
25 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas                                0.48
26 Michael Barry (Can) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team             
27 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team            
28 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team             
29 Thomas Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team          
30 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team           
31 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team            
32 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team            
33 Benoît Joachim (Lux) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team            
34 Joan Horrach (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears              0.49
35 André Greipel (Ger) T-Mobile Team                              0.50
36 Lorenzo Bernucci (Ita) T-Mobile Team                               
37 Bastiaan Giling (Ned) T-Mobile Team                                
38 Thomas Ziegler (Ger) T-Mobile Team                                 
39 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) T-Mobile Team                                  
40 André Korff (Ger) T-Mobile Team                                    
41 Scott Davis (Aus) T-Mobile Team                                    
42 Daniele Nardello (Ita) T-Mobile Team                               
43 Stephan Schreck (Ger) T-Mobile Team                                
44 Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Team                                0.51
45 Aaron Kemps (Aus) Astana Team                                      
46 Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz) Astana Team                                 
47 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Team                             
48 Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Astana Team                                
49 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Team                                
50 Carlos Barredo (Spa) Astana Team                                   
51 Sergio Paulinho (Por) Astana Team                                  
52 José Antonio Redondo (Spa) Astana Team                             
53 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Credit Agricole                           0.52
54 José Ange Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir               
55 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Liquigas                                   
56 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Credit Agricole                                 
57 Juan José Cobo (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                          
58 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval-Prodir                            
59 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Credit Agricole                            
60 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas                                      
61 David Cañada (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                            
62 Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Liquigas                              
63 Benoît Poilvet (Fra) Credit Agricole                               
64 Charles Wegelius (GBr) Liquigas                                    
65 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir                        
66 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic                     0.54
67 Davide Vigano (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic                          
68 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic                         
69 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic                         
70 Alberto Benítez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                         
71 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                               
72 Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic                     
73 José Antonio Garrido (Spa) Quick Step-Innergetic                   
74 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team     0.55
75 Inaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                            0.57
76 Pedro Horrillo (Spa) Rabobank                                      
77 Rubén Pérez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                
78 Mauricio Ardila (Col) Rabobank                                     
79 Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                 
80 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                             
81 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                            
82 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                                    
83 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                                       
84 Theo Eltink (Ned) Rabobank                                         
85 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                  
86 Markel Irizar (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                              
87 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                                     
88 William Walker (Aus) Rabobank                                      
89 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears             
90 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank                                      
91 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank                                   
92 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                       0.58
93 René Haselbacher (Aut) Gerolsteiner                                
94 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner                               
95 Andrea Moletta (Ita) Gerolsteiner                                  
96 Markus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                   
97 Torsten Hiekmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                
98 Sven Montgomery (Swi) Gerolsteiner                                 
99 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                        1.00
100 Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                             
101 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) Lampre-Fondital                               
102 David Loosli (Swi) Lampre-Fondital                                
103 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre-Fondital                             
104 Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                               
105 Francesco Failli (Ita) Liquigas                               1.01
106 Iñigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                           
107 Dario Andriotto (Ita) Liquigas                                    
108 Rony Martias (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                           1.03
109 Franck Renier (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                              
110 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                            
111 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                              
112 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Bouygues Telecom                           
113 Hervé Duclos-Lassalle (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone      
114 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                             
115 Robbie Mcewen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto                           1.04
116 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Davitamon-Lotto                              
117 Christopher Horner (USA) Davitamon-Lotto                          
118 Pieter Mertens (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                              
119 Josep Jufre (Spa) Davitamon-Lotto                                 
120 Pierre Drancourt (Bel) Bouygues Telecom                       1.05
121 Uros Murn (Slo) Phonak Hearing Systems                        1.06
122 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                       
123 Alexandre Usov (Blr) AG2R Prevoyance                              
124 José Luis Arrieta (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                           
125 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                             
126 Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                                
127 David Navas (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                                 
128 Miguel A. Martín Perdiguero (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems          
129 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Phonak Hearing Systems                       
130 Luis Fernández Oliveira (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems              
131 Steve Morabito (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                       
132 Florian Stalder (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                      
133 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                               
134 Iñigo Chaurreau (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                             
135 Stéphane Goubert (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                            
136 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Française des Jeux                       1.07
137 Christophe Detilloux (Bel) Française des Jeux                     
138 Frédéric Finot (Fra) Française des Jeux                           
139 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux                               
140 Eric Leblacher (Fra) Française des Jeux                           
141 Sébastien Joly (Fra) Française des Jeux                           
142 Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Phonak Hearing Systems                 1.08
143 Aketza Peña (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                               
144 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone         1.09
145 Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone          
146 Luis Pérez (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                 
147 Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone           
148 Bingen Fernández (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone           
149 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone          
150 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                          1.12
151 Claudio Corioni (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                             
152 Fabien Patanchon (Fra) Française des Jeux                     1.13
153 Freddy Bichot (Fra) Française des Jeux                        1.15
154 Nacor Burgos (Spa) Relax-Gam                                  1.16
155 José Miguel Elias (Spa) Relax-Gam                                 
156 Jorge García (Spa) Relax-Gam                                      
157 Daniel Moreno (Spa) Relax-Gam                                     
158 Jesús Hernández (Spa) Relax-Gam                                   
159 Ángel Vallejo (Spa) Relax-Gam                                     
160 Ian Mcleod (RSA) Française des Jeux                           1.17
161 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner                             1.19
162 Ángel Gómez Gómez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                  1.20
163 Kjell Carlström (Fin) Liquigas                                    
164 Addy Engels (Ned) Quick Step-Innergetic                       1.33
165 Steve Zampieri (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                   1.41
166 David George (RSA) Relax-Gam                                  1.47
167 Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic                    1.53
168 Mathieu Claude (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                         1.59
169 Frédéric Bessy (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone         2.01
170 David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears             2.02
171 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Team Milram                         2.03
172 Björn Leukemans (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                         2.31
173 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Team Milram                            2.38
174 Volodymyr Dyudya (Ukr) Team Milram                            2.39
175 Sebastian Siedler (Ger) Team Milram                           2.49
176 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner                            3.29
177 Thierry Marichal (Bel) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone       3.54
178 Wim De Vocht (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                            4.18
179 Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                          4.23
180 Christophe Kern (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                        4.34
181 Bart Dockx (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                              4.36
182 Raúl García De Mateo (Spa) Relax-Gam                          5.16
183 Marcel Strauss (Swi) Gerolsteiner                             5.31
184 Mario De Sarraga (Spa) Relax-Gam                              7.43
185 Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Credit Agricole                          11.36
186 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Credit Agricole                       13.38
187 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Credit Agricole                        15.39
188 Enrico Poitschke (Ger) Team Milram                           18.01
189 Mads Kaggestad (Nor) Credit Agricole                         21.00
 
Points classification
 
1 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole                                68 pts
2 Francisco José Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                 47
3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram                                      45
4 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic                         35
5 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC                                     35
6 Robbie Mcewen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto                               33
7 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas                                       31
8 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                          29
9 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Française des Jeux                           18
10 Inaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                              14
11 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                          14
12 Uros Murn (Slo) Phonak Hearing Systems                           13
13 Mario De Sarraga (Spa) Relax-Gam                                 12
14 André Greipel (Ger) T-Mobile Team                                 9
15 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                     8
16 Raúl García De Mateo (Spa) Relax-Gam                              8
17 Pedro Horrillo (Spa) Rabobank                                     8
18 Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Team                                   7
19 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                       7
20 Claudio Corioni (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                             6
21 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone             5
22 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner                              4
23 Hervé Duclos-Lassalle (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone      3
24 René Haselbacher (Aut) Gerolsteiner                               3
25 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                              3
26 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas                                   2
27 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                              1
 
Mountains classification
 
1 Mario De Sarraga (Spa) Relax-Gam                                  18 pts
2 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                      6
3 Benoît Joachim (Lux) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team            6
4 José Antonio Garrido (Spa) Quick Step-Innergetic                   6
5 Rubén Pérez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                5
6 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                               4
7 Jorge García (Spa) Relax-Gam                                       4
8 Hervé Duclos-Lassalle (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone       2
9 Mads Kaggestad (Nor) Credit Agricole                               1
 
All-rounder classification
 
1 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                     30 pts
2 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                             102
3 Hervé Duclos-Lassalle (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone     144
4 Mario De Sarraga (Spa) Relax-Gam                                 198
 
Team classification
 
1 Team CSC                                                    40.31.42
2 Caisse D'Epargne - Illes Balears                                0.07
3 Team Milram                                                     0.08
4 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                              0.09
5 T- Mobile Team                                                  0.11
6 Astana                                                          0.12
7 Saunier Duval - Prodir                                          0.13
8 Liquigas                                                            
9 Credit Agricole                                                     
10 Quick Step - Innergetic                                        0.15
11 Euskaltel - Euskadi                                            0.18
12 Rabobank                                                           
13 Gerolsteiner                                                   0.19
14 Lampre - Fondital                                              0.21
15 Bouygues Telecom                                               0.24
16 Davitamon - Lotto                                              0.25
17 Ag2r Prevoyance                                                0.27
18 Phonak Hearing Systems                                             
19 Française des Jeux                                             0.28
20 Cofidis, le Credit Par Telephone                               0.30
21 Relax - GAM                                                    0.37
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