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71st Flèche Wallonne - PT
Belgium, April 25, 2007
Main Page Results Live report ProTour standings Video highlights
Tin-tin Rebellin gets another Gerolsteiner win
By Shane Stokes and Gregor Brown in Huy
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ProTour leader Davide Rebellin fortified his hold on the white jersey with an impressive win on top of the Mur de Huy today. His victory comes just after team-mate Stefan Schumacher won Amstel on Sunday.
The 35 year-old Italian repeated his 2004 victory when he kicked clear with 200 metres to go, going around a fading Matthias Kessler (Astana) and opening up a six second winning margin. Last year's champion Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) put in a late surge to take second, with Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) also getting by the German to take third.
"It was a day without stress for me," said Rebellin after taking his second career win in Flèche. "I made it the finale and it was possible to go for the win. I risked a lot because the escape of Di Luca and Valverde was dangerous."
In 2004 he first won the Flèche on his way to making history; he had already taken victory he Amstel Gold three days before and came good in Liège-Bastogne-Liège four days later. That fabulous week was the first time that cycling had ever seen an Ardennes Triple. Three years on the rider from Verona showed his class once more.
Rebellin's compatriot Di Luca won the 2005 edition, making the first three over the line all recent winners of the gruelling mid-week Classic. "At Amstel I did a great race; I was with the best," noted Di Luca to Cyclingnews at the start. "Today and Sunday I will try to be with best once again to play for victory."
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Having already won both Amstel and Flèche in 2005 Di Luca still wanted to add another Flèche to his palmarès. "Liege is more important but I would also like to win today, what is important to win one of them. The team is doing well. We have a great team."
After the race he was satisfied with his performance. "I went with the best. I did well with the third place," noted Di Luca, exhausted after the day's efforts. He was in the leading escape in the final ten kilometres but it was caught with only three kilometres remaining.
Astana's Alexander Vinokourov and Kessler then took over the charge once the race hit the base of the Huy. This moved suited 'Tin-Tin' Rebellin, whose last win came in October 2006, with the overall of the Giro dell'Emilia. "The climbs went well," he noted. "In the finale Vinokourov did a lot of work, then Kessler, the peloton was all lined out. I think it was a little far out for them but it worked well for me."
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Valverde was content with result and hopes that with sixth in Amstel and second today, he is building towards the elusive Liège win. "I was very happy and I am feeling better than Amstel. The team did really well today and it is a pity that I could not repay them but I can't win all the races. Overall, to be in the front was good."
The Spaniard thought ahead to Sunday, "In Liège I think I will see the same rivals as today." Di Luca will be one of his key rivals. "He was a little upset with me and then came up to me to talk after the race. He thought I should have collaborated but I said that I had a teammate, Joaquím Rodríguez, up ahead, so I could no help him... Joaquím rode a great race."
The 2006 winner showed class by keeping his head and fighting for a podium spot. "After we were caught by the bunch I felt I did not have any more strength but in the finale but then in the final metres I found something more. I was able to catch and pass Riccò and Kessler."
Rebellin, who was not presented the white ProTour jersey after the race, now leads the overall classification. It is interesting to note that since the ProTour classification started in 2005 that the winner of this Ardennes Classic has also gone on to win the final overall.
How it unfolded
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The race departed from a sunny and hot Charleroi. Most of the 189 riders gathered were talking of the incidents of the last week but all were ready start racing the 202.5 kilometres to the Mur de Huy. There was one non-starter, Vladimir Gusev (Discovery Channel).
The riders were set to cover the 1,300 metre Mur beast three times, the final being the finish. The climb has a 9.3% average gradient and some sections of 14, 19 and 25%. Between the second and third ascent there was a collection of côtes (or "hills" in this French-speaking part of Belgium) which helped thin the pack, including the Pailhe (km 115), Peu d'Eau (km 137), Haut-Bois (km 142), Thon (km 152.5), Bonneville (km 160.5), Bohissau (km 172.5), and Ahin (km 188).
The flag dropped to start the race soon after 11:20 am, and immediately the attacked commenced. Freddy Bichot (Agritubel), Morris Possoni (Lampre-Fondital), and Paul Manning (Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner) went clear at kilometre four. The trio marked the first attack of the day but also was the first capture of the day for the peloton.
Another attack was made from trio Hugo Sabido (Barloworld), Niki Terpstra (Milram) and, again, Manning. They were joined by Iñigo Landaluze (Euskaltel-Euskadi), and Didier Rous (Bouygues Telecom), but the five fell to the power of a Rabobank-led peloton.
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Bichot was key in forming the race's first successful escape. The Frenchman of Agritubel led an attack at kilometre 40 that was joined by Gorka Verdugo (Euskaltel-Euskadi), David Loosli (Lampre-Fondital), and Christophe Le Mevel (Crédit Agricole). The four men quickly built a gap that by the first ascent of the Mur was 6'50".
Over the Côte d'Ereffe (kilometre 84.5), the gap stablized. The four riders - two French, one Italian and one Spaniard - steadily plugged towards the second climb of the Mur. For the second time they covered the Huy, amongst throngs of fans, free of the peloton. At the top of the Huy the gap was just under five minutes, at 4'30".
The peloton was being led by Gerolsteiner, for Rebellin and Schumacher, and Caisse d'Epargne for Valverde. The two teams kept the gap at four minutes going into the Côte de Pailhe. Slightly before the climb, Ivan Rovny (Tinkoff Credit Systems) gave a dig to try to join the front four on his own.
The 19 year-old Russian quickly put a minute into the peloton and sat about two minutes behind the four escapees. He was only able to hang off the front for 15 kilometres, and he was pulled back under the strenght of Liquigas and Caisse.
Liquigas was showing the same force that they did in Amstel for its leader Di Luca. The Italian won Amstel and Fleche in 2005 before going on to win the inagural edition of the ProTour general classification.
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Axel Merckx (T-Mobile) exploded the race before the Côte de Peu d'Eau. The Belgian launched off the peloton and quickly gained a gap. Behind him was shrapnel; the race now seemed to be taking shape as small groups formed.
Crashes slowed down Tim Klinger (Gerolsteiner) and three-time World Champion Oscar Freire (Rabobank) on the backside of the Peu d'Eau. Up front, Merckx's move had been pulled back but the peloton was now being shredded to bits. The tension was also being felt up front, where the leaders only had a 30 second gap.
Verdugo and Bichot moved off on their own in a desperate attempt to remain free. However, their time seemed limited because the big teams were cueing up for a showdown with only five climbs remaining before the last ascent of Huy. Bichot, after going free at kilometre 40, finally cracked at kilometre 144.
Verdugo was solo but his move would soon be caught, clearing way for the big artilleries. The major teams were allowing the Basque his freedom; he faced the Côte de Thon with just over one minute's advantage. Behind Bichot had been caught by an attack from Benny De Schrooder (Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen).
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Saunier Duval kicked into action after the Thon. The team sent its men, including Gilberto Simoni, to the front for Riccardo Riccò. In the town of Sclayn there was now only 40 seconds between Verdugo and the peloton. Left to race were 46 kilometres and four climbs; Côte de Bonneville, Côte de Bohisseau, Côte de Ahin, and the Mur de Huy.
The Bonneville cracked many riders off the back of the peloton and spelled the end for Verdugo, while up front it was Cédric Vasseur (Quickstep-Innergetic) and Michael Rogers (T-Mobile) who were leading the charge. The Frenchman took a small adantage, near 10 seconds, in an attempt to soften his rivals for his teammates.
Philippe Gilbert (Française Des Jeux) fired off the front immediately after Vasseur was caught. The native Walloon held his own over the Bohissau but behind the pace was kicked up another notch. Joaquím Rodríguez (Caisse d'Epargne) blasted on the climb. The Spaniard momentarily worked his way off the front with Alexander Efimkin (Barloworld) in an attempt to weaken the field for teammate Valverde.
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Caisse mounted the chase for Valverde while Bettini was seen suffering at the rear end. The race was unfolding and the Italian did not seem to have the legs. He violently threw off one of his water bottles. He eventually dropped off the pace to talk with his team car.
On the Coote de Ahin, Ivanov started to fade. Liquigas was heading the peloton when an attack came from the winner of Pais Vasco, Juan José Cobo (Saunier Duval-Prodir). Over the top, the Spaniard bridged with the Russian - the two held on to a 20 second gap.
An attack by Kim Kirchen (T-Mobile) prompted Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) and Joaquím Rodríguez (Caisse d'Epargne) into action. The trio briged to the two leaders at kilometre 12.5. Another formed behind them, containing Cristian Moreni (Cofidis), Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne), Yaroslav Popovych (Discovery Channel), and Thomas Dekker (Rabobank).
Di Luca, Kirchen, Valverde, and Rodriguez then went clear together, with the latter surging clear with approximately eight kilometres remaining. Aided by Valverde's presence in the break, he opened up a lead of six seconds. However there was a big chase on behind and everything came back together with less than three kilometres to go.
Simon Gerrans (AG2R-Prévoyance) led the bunch as they approached the kite and the last ascent of the fearsome Mur de Huy, then Astana took over and appeared to be setting things up for Vinokourov.
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However it was the Kazakhstani himself who led the frontrunners into the final 500 metres, the bunch really starting to fragment as the gradient kicked in. His teammate Kessler then took over, with Rebellin and Ricco on his wheel, and his efforts pulled a small group clear.
Rebellin remained calm and perfectly poised, biding his time as the others wilted under the pace set by Kessler. He came around the Astana rider with 150 metres to go and kicked hard, opening up a considerable gap by the line. Behind, Valverde and Di Luca overhauled a fading Kessler to take second and third, respectively, while the German hung on to take fourth ahead of Ricco and Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R-Prévoyance). CSC's Frank Schleck showed he is recovering from the injuries incurred three days ago by taking seventh.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by AFP
- An exhausted Rebellin raises his arms in victory
- Rebellin prepares to salute the crowds
- Fans reach out to try and touch the winner of La Fleche Wallonne
- Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) timed his attack to perfection
- Serguei Ivanov (Astana) gets in a tight tuck on a descent while on the attack.
- Rebellin begins his move to come around Kessler
- Kessler's attack was quickly marked by Rebellin
- Alexander Vinokourov didn't have the legs on the Mur
Images by Gregor Brown/Cyclingnews
- The football stadium in Charleroi.
- Amstel Winner Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner).
- Discovery bikes.
- Riccardo Riccò's Scott (Saunier Duval-Prodir).
- SRAM cranks on Riccardo Riccò's Scott.
- Riccardo Riccò's Scott bike.
- Cannondales of Barloworld.
- Carlos Barredo (Quickstep-Innergetic)
- Jens Voigt (Team CSC) chills at the start.
- Former World Champion Igor Astarloa (Milram).
- Liquigas wait to sign in.
- Egoi Martínez (Discovery Channel)
- Alberto Contador (Discovery Channel)
- Marco Pinotti (T-Mobile) will travel to Romandie after the Flèche.
- Kim Kirchen (T-Mobile)
- The start in Charleroi.
- Axel Merckx (T-Mobile)
- Axel Merckx (T-Mobile) in his last season as a pro.
- Bobby Julich (Team CSC)
- ProTour leader Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner)
- Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) won the Flèche in 2005 in between winning Amstel and Liege.
Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti
- Tour de France boss Christian Prudhomme from race organisers ASO was in Charleroi.
- Stefan Schumacher and Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) were the focus of attention after their 1-2 last Sunday at Amstel Gold.
- Rebellin wearing the white jersey of ProTour leader.
- Former world champion Igor Astarloa (Milram) won this race back in 2003.
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Prodir) looking serious at the sign on.
- Alexander Vinokourov chats with teammate Andreas Klöden.
- Jens Voigt (Team CSC) chews the fat with Klöden.
- Spaniards Igor Astarloa (Milram) and Oscar Freire (Rabobank).
- Alberto Contador (Discovery Channel).
- Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) looking pensive at the start.
- Ricardo Riccò does a last minute bike check.
- The peloton rolls out with Alexander Vinokourov (Astana) sitting at the back.
- Vinokourov was active in the breaks today.
- Christophe Moreau (Ag2r Prévoyance) on the attack.
- Christophe Le Mevel (Crédit Agricole) leads the escape on the Mur de Huy.
- The Mur de Huy has sections as steep as 25 percent.
- Le Mevel was marked by Gorka Verdugo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) on the Mur.
- The peloton grinds its way up the Mur.
- It's a long way up to the front.
- Riccò climbs the Mur de Huy.
- Matthias Kessler (Astana) up the Mur.
- Contador climbing on the Mur.
- Rinaldo Nocentini (Ag2r Prévoyance).
- Thomas Dekker (Rabobank).
- World champion Paolo Bettini wasn't feeling well today.
- Fränk Schleck (Team CSC) will be a contender for Liege-Bastogne-Liege on Sunday.
- Vino looking solid on the Mur.
- Picturesque scenery in the Belgian Ardennes.
- The peloton winds its way through Wallonian countryside.
- Davide Rebellin keeps out the wind.
- Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step) didn't have good legs today.
- Local boy Philippe Gilbert (Française Des Jeux) tried a solo move with 34km remaining.
- The peloton thinning out on narrow roads.
- Serguei Ivanov (Astana) attacked 25km from the finish.
- Ivanov hammers along in the aero position.
- Kim Kirchen (T-Mobile) leads Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) and Joaquím Rodríguez (Caisse d'Epargne) in a promising late move.
- Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) finishes second.
- Matthias Kessler (Astana) beats Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Prodir) for fourth.
- Rinaldo Nocentini (Ag2r Prévoyance) had great ride for fifth.
- Ouch! The pain shows on the face of Gerolsteiner's Fabian Wegmann.
- Oscar Freire (Rabobank) finishes 12th.
- Manuele Mori (Saunier Duval-Prodir).
- An exhausted Kessler at the finish.
- There's nothing like a can of Coke to bring you back to life.
- Good ride mate! Valverde congratulates Rebellin on his second Flèche Wallonne win.
Images by Shane Stokes/Cyclingnews
- Former Italian champion Salvatore Commesso (Tinkoff Credit Systems) at the start in Charleroi.
- CSC veteran Bobby Julich feels his form has improved.
- Australian AG2R rider Simon Gerrans waits for the off.
- Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) was racing in Fleche. He will be aiming for a strong showing in Liege-Bastogne-Liege on Sunday, a race he won two years ago.
- He's looking forward to a good Tour de France.
- CSC's Bobby Julich gets some more carbs on board.
- A great vantage point for some spectators.
- CSC team-mates Jens Voigt and Frank Schleck talk before the start.
- Schleck suffered badly bruised ribs in a crash during the Amstel Gold race.
- They roll out of Charleroi.
- 2005 Fleche Wallonne winner Danilo Di Luca gets his race underway.
- Davide Rebellin won the men's race.
- The Italian at the post-race press conference. The water is, of course, by Gerolsteiner.
- Luckily it was only the riders legs which blew up today. Huy is an attractive area of Belgium, but also features a rather large nuclear power station.
Images by Erik Van Breugel/www.cyclingmoments.com
- The leading quartet on their first ascent of the Mur.
- The peloton tackle the Mur for a second time.
- Valverde looking easy on his second ascent.
- Ricardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) grimaces on the Mur.
- Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) gives it everything to come round Valverde.
- Andy Schleck (Team CSC) wondering where the summit could be.
- Neo pro Jelle Vanendert (Chocolade Jacques) finished 13th, the first Belgian rider.
- Juan José Cobo (Saunier Duval) grinds up the Mur.
- Andreas Klöden (Astana) battles the Mur de Huy's steep slopes.
- Sergui Ivanov (Astana) tried a late escape but couldn't make it stick.
- Joaquím Rodríguez (Caisse d'Epargne).
- Axel Merckx (T-Mobile) after his last Flèche Wallonne.
- The podium (l-r): Alejandro Valverde (2nd), Davide Rebellin (1st) and Danilo Di Luca (3rd).
- Marianne Vos winner of the women's Flèche Wallonne joins the men's podium.
Images by Luc Claessen/www.ctm-images.com
- Tin-Tin Rebellin amongst the crowds.
- Dario Cioni (Predictor-Lotto) relaxes at the start.
- Alberto Contador (Discovery Channel)
- Andy Schleck (Team CSC) climbs.
- Paolo Bettini (Quickstep-Innergetic) powers up a steep corner.
- Bram De Groot (Rabobank) climbs.
- Christophe Moreau (Ag2r Prévoyance) finishes.
- Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) looked smooth; he went on to finish on the podium.
- Frederik Veuchelen (Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen) works his way to the finish.
- José Vicente Garcia (Caisse d'Epargne)
- Jens Voigt (Team CSC) on the Mur de Huy.
- Philippe Gilbert (Française Des Jeux) arrives
- Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner)
- Thomas Dekker (Rabobank) will try again in Liège.
- Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) supported Rebellin for the win.
- Thomas Lövkvist (Française Des Jeux)
- Wim Van Huffel (Predictor-Lotto)
- Alexander Vinokourov (Astana) arrives.
- The race finishes.
- Rebellin arrives to win.
- Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) climbs up the Mur.
- Rebellin and Vos, winners of the Flèche.
- The podium Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne), Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) and Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas).
Results
1 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 4.48.06 (42.173 km/h) 2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0.06 3 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas 4 Matthias Kessler (Ger) Astana 0.08 5 Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir 6 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) Ag2r Prévoyance 0.13 7 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 0.16 8 John Gadret (Fra) Ag2r Prévoyance 0.19 9 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 10 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Lampre-Fondital 11 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner 12 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank 13 Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen 0.23 14 Benoît Salmon (Fra) Agritubel 15 Manuele Mori (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir 0.25 16 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Bouygues Telecom 0.27 17 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 18 Eduardo Gonzalo (Spa) Agritubel 0.29 19 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française Des Jeux 0.31 20 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir 21 Rémi Pauriol (Fra) Crédit Agricole 0.35 22 Alexander Efimkin (Rus) Barloworld 23 Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Quickstep-Innergetic 0.38 24 Patxi Vila (Spa) Lampre-Fondital 0.40 25 Bram Tankink (Ned) Quickstep-Innergetic 26 Bert De Waele (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner 0.42 27 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 28 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team CSC 29 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor-Lotto 30 Wim Van Huffel (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 0.45 31 Mirko Celestino (Ita) Milram 0.48 32 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 33 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Française Des Jeux 34 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 0.50 35 Eros Capecchi (Ita) Liquigas 36 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank 37 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel 0.55 38 Julien Loubet (Fra) Ag2r Prévoyance 39 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 0.58 40 Carlos Barredo (Spa) Quickstep-Innergetic 1.00 41 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole 42 Igor Astarloa (Spa) Milram 1.02 43 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis 44 Pieter Mertens (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 45 Francesco Bellotti (Ita) Crédit Agricole 46 Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Predictor-Lotto 47 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 1.07 48 Jurgen Van den Broeck (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 49 Patrick Calcagni (Swi) Liquigas 1.10 50 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Ag2r Prévoyance 1.12 51 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis 52 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Quickstep-Innergetic 53 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Team CSC 54 Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 55 Alberto Contador (Spa) Discovery Channel 56 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile 1.20 57 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 58 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems 1.23 59 Iker Camaño (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 1.24 60 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française Des Jeux 1.26 61 Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) T-Mobile 1.28 62 Morris Possoni (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 1.32 63 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Cofidis 1.33 64 Giampaolo Cheula (Ita) Barloworld 65 Juan José Cobo (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 1.36 66 Egoi Martínez (Spa) Discovery Channel 1.45 67 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 1.51 68 Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Liquigas 2.06 69 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 2.12 70 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Astana 2.14 71 Ludovic Turpin (Fra) Ag2r Prévoyance 2.39 72 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Ag2r Prévoyance 73 Pedro Arreitunandia (Spa) Barloworld 2.47 74 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Ag2r Prévoyance 75 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 2.55 76 Joaquím Rodríguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 3.02 77 Serge Pauwels (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen 4.07 78 Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems 79 William Walker (Aus) Rabobank 4.09 80 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 4.14 81 José Joaquín Rojas (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 82 Hubert Dupont (Fra) Ag2r Prévoyance 83 Jurgen Van de Walle (Bel) Quickstep-Innergetic 4.22 84 Axel Merckx (Bel) T-Mobile 4.25 85 Kjell Carlström (Fin) Liquigas 86 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 6.04 87 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Milram 6.09 88 Jon Bru (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 6.15 89 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Cofidis 6.39 90 Constantino Zaballa (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 7.07 91 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Crédit Agricole 7.17 92 Dario Cioni (Ita) Predictor-Lotto 7.46 93 Nicki Sørensen (Den) Team CSC 8.10 94 Stef Clement (Ned) Bouygues Telecom 95 Laurent Lefèvre (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 96 Mario Aerts (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 8.17 97 Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen 8.31 98 Scott Davis (Aus) T-Mobile 8.36 99 Michael Rogers (Aus) T-Mobile 100 David López García (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 101 Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) Barloworld 102 Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 8.55 103 Antonio Colom (Spa) Astana 9.03 104 Steve Zampieri (Swi) Cofidis 9.09 105 Benjamin Noval (Spa) Discovery Channel 11.18 106 Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner 107 Chris Anker Sørensen (Den) Team CSC 108 Hugo Sabido (Por) Barloworld 109 José Alberto Benítez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 110 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quickstep-Innergetic 111 Sergio Paulinho (Por) Discovery Channel 112 Ricardo Serrano (Spa) Tinkoff Credit Systems 113 Tim Klinger (Ger) Gerolsteiner 114 Nikolas Maes (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen 115 Didier Rous (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 116 Benoît Poilvet (Fra) Crédit Agricole 117 Yoann Le Boulanger (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 118 Gorka Verdugo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 119 Maxim Iglinsky (Kaz) Astana 120 Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC 121 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank 122 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française Des Jeux DNF Nico Sijmens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner DNF Christophe Edaleine (Fra) Crédit Agricole DNF Amaël Moinard (Fra) Cofidis DNF Bingen Fernández (Spa) Cofidis DNF Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Cofidis DNF Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital DNF David Loosli (Swi) Lampre-Fondital DNF Theo Eltink (Ned) Rabobank DNF Bram De Groot (Ned) Rabobank DNF Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Française Des Jeux DNF Cyrille Monnerais (Fra) Française Des Jeux DNF Thierry Marichal (Bel) Française Des Jeux DNF Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Discovery Channel DNF Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel DNF Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel DNF Nick Ingels (Bel) Predictor-Lotto DNF Mads Kaggestad (Nor) Crédit Agricole DNF Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Crédit Agricole DNF 237 DNF Paul Manning (GBr) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner DNF Jean-Claude Lebeau (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner DNF Steven Kleynen (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner DNF Frédéric Gabriel (Fra) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner DNF David Boucher (Fra) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner DNF Nikolai Trussov (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems DNF Alexander Serov (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems DNF Ivan Rovny (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems DNF Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Tinkoff Credit Systems DNF Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Tinkoff Credit Systems DNF Tom Stubbe (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen DNF Jens Renders (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen DNF Benny De Schrooder (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen DNF Johan Coenen (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen DNF Niki Terpstra (Ned) Milram DNF Carlo Scognamiglio (Ita) Milram DNF Arkaitz Durán (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir DNF Thomas Frei (Swi) Astana DNF Igor Abakoumov (Bel) Astana DNF Francesco Failli (Ita) Liquigas DNF Michael Albasini (Swi) Liquigas DNF Thomas Ziegler (Ger) T-Mobile DNF Marco Pinotti (Ita) T-Mobile DNF Michael Barry (Can) T-Mobile DNF Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC DNF Rubén Pérez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi DNF Iñigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi DNF Aitor Galdos (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi DNF Unai Etxebarria (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi DNF Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne DNF Vicente Reynes (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne DNF Johannes Frohlinger (Ger) Gerolsteiner DNF Torsten Hiekmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner DNF Björn Schröder (Ger) Milram DNF Mirco Lorenzetto (Ita) Milram DNF Matej Jurco (Svk) Milram DNF Ryan Cox (RSA) Barloworld DNF Félix Rafael Cárdenas (Col) Barloworld DNF Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) Agritubel DNF Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel DNF Manuel Calvente (Spa) Agritubel DNF Freddy Bichot (Fra) Agritubel DNF Aivaras Baranauskas (Ltu) Agritubel DNF Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) Agritubel DNF Geert Verheyen (Bel) Quickstep-Innergetic DNF Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quickstep-Innergetic DNF Tom Stamsnijder (Ned) Gerolsteiner DNF Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner DNF José Vicente Garcia (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
ProTour standings
1 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 132 pts 2 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank 82 3 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC 79 4 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner 75 5 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 67 6 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 58 7 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 57 8 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep-Innergetic 57 9 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 53 10 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 50 11 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas 50 12 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Lampre-Fondital 46 13 Roger Hammond (GBr) T-Mobile Team 45 14 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 45 15 Robbie Mcewen (Aus) Predictor-Lotto 44 16 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile Team 41 17 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) T-Mobile Team 40 18 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Rabobank 40 19 Leif Hoste (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 40 20 Allan Davis (Aus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 40 21 Matthias Kessler (Ger) Astana 40 22 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 38 23 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 38 24 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas 36 25 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team CSC 30 26 Björn Leukemans (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 30 27 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 30 28 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas 28 29 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 28 30 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 25 31 Roberto Petito (Ita) Liquigas 25 32 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 25 33 Riccardo Ricco (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir 24 34 David Lopez Garcia (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 23 35 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC 23 36 Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 22 37 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 22 38 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 20 39 Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 20 40 Christophe Mengin (Fra) Française des Jeux 15 41 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor-Lotto 15 42 Nick Nuyens (Bel) Cofidis-Le Crédit par Téléphone 15 43 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2r Prévoyance 11 44 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 10 45 Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Astana 10 46 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Team Milram 10 47 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 8 48 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quickstep-Innergetic 7 49 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Rabobank 7 50 John Gadret (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance 5 51 Baden Cooke (Aus) Unibet.com 5 52 Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Quickstep-Innergetic 5 53 Vicente Reynes Mimo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 5 54 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 3 55 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 3 56 Koldo Gil Perez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 3 57 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 3 58 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Team CSC 3 59 Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 3 60 Koldo Fernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 3 61 José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 3 62 Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Liquigas 3 63 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 3 64 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval-Prodir 3 65 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance 3 66 Fabio Baldato (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 2 67 Patxi Javier Vila Errandonea (Spa) Lampre-Fondital 2 68 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 2 69 Constantino Zaballa Gutierrez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 2 70 Mirco Lorenzetto (Ita) Team Milram 2 71 Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Liquigas 2 72 José Antonio Redondo Ramos (Spa) Astana 2 73 Sebastian Siedler (Ger) Team Milram 2 74 Alexandre Usov (Blr) AG2r Prévoyance 1 75 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 1 76 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Quickstep-Innergetic 1 77 Iker Camano Ortuzar (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 1 78 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance 1 79 Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner 1 80 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole 1 81 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank 1 82 Sébastien Joly (Fra) Française des Jeux 1
