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Tour de Georgia - 2.HC
USA, April 16-22, 2007
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Stage 3 - April 18: Rome to Chattanooga, TN , 190.2km
New stage turns Georgia upside-down and inside-out
Breakaway puts twenty-nine minutes (yes, twenty-nine) on peloton
By Mark Zalewski, North American Editor with Kirsten Robbins in Chattanooga, Tennessee
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Everyone knew that the first climbing stage of the Tour de Georgia, a new course from Rome to Chattanooga, was going to change the general classification - and even produce what is referred to as a 'laughing group' of riders, usually sprinters, off the back. What nobody figured was that the laughing group would be more than a hundred riders large. A group of riders broke away only 26 kilometres into the stage, and out of that came thirteen, amassing a lead of more than 29 minutes by the finish. In the end it was Gianni Meersman (Discovery Channel) catching a sprinting Jeffry Louder (Health Net-Maxxis) in the closing metres for the win. Also sprinting was David Canada Gracia (Saunier Duval-Prodir) who was the highest in the overall, taking the leader's jersey away from Daniele Contrini (Tinkoff Credit Systems.)
"It was really hard but my teammate Janez was really good today," said Meersman. "Without his efforts it would have been impossible to win the race today. He kept everything together today and was chasing down all of the attacks that were going in the end."
Meersman came around Louder in the closing meters after the American launched a last-ditch effort just inside of one kilometre. "It was expected that the guys were going to chase me down. I was hoping they wouldn't because I was sort of the least known riders on one of the smaller teams. I thought maybe they would look at each other a little more. I wanted to give a good dig because Tim [Johnson] worked really hard [for me] today. I was disappointed that I couldn't find it in the end to win."
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Louder's Health Net-Maxxis teammate Tim Johnson was named the most aggressive rider today for pulling up all four of the rated climbs. However, on the last climb, Johnson admitted that it was more of a survival tactic. "The last time, that was self-preservation," he told Cyclingnews. "I was cramping and I wanted to go up the climb at my speed and maybe I can stay on a little longer. I was so close to getting back on over the top, it sucked so bad. Lucas Euser (Slipstream-Chipotle) and I chased like maniacs."
The highest-placed finisher in the sprinting group was David Canada Gracia who assumes the race lead by three seconds over five of his other breakaway compatriots. "Tomorrow is 30 kilometres and I think I can have a good day," he said regarding his chances in tomorrow's time trial. "I am strong in the climbs too but I know Janez is stronger than I am there so perhaps we can use my other teammates who are strong like Simoni and Millar in our tactics over the next days. I can climb well in these kinds of climbs here. If it were longer climbs like in Europe then it isn't possible for me to go with someone like him."
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The rider Canada was referring to is Discovery Channel's Janez Brajkovic, who won the best young rider jersey in last year's race. "Originally there were four guys and a lot of counter attacks and bridges until we could not see the group anymore," he said. "We were working and new that the peloton was not chasing. I guess that is how it all happened. In the end I hope I can win this race and that would be a good race for me. I think my time trial is as good as my climbing so I am not too worried about the time trial. I know Canada is also a strong time trialist so we will see how that goes."
Saunier Duval-Prodir's directeur sportif Matteo Algeri is pleased with how things turned out. "I predicted Canada to be very strong here this week, even though we have other strong riders like Simoni and Millar," he told Cyclingnews after the stage. In terms of team strategy for the rest of the race, he said, "Absolutely we are going to try to use Simoni and Millar to help us in tactics to win this race. It will be a good change for Simoni to help another rider. He is going to enjoy doing this job because he really likes helping the other riders. He will help Canada here and then expect to be helped in the Giro later on."
"I think there are only two riders now that can win the GC, Canada or [Brajkovic]. They are both strong riders but either way it is going to be a fight. We are ready for that!"
2.5mph slower??
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That was the rough calculation of difference between the breakaway and peloton over the 131 mile stage. There were many hypotheses as to why this was allowed to happen. Discovery Channel's Levi Leipheimer, a possible contender until today, had his own. "I think the story is we can't do everything and when there is a breakaway everyone looks to us. But this time the break was good for us so we had to let it go. Obviously it was great for Gianni to win the stage - we weren't expecting that. He was out there to motor the break for Janez. We are definitely counting on Janez - he was fifth at Tirenno and was a leader at the Vuelta, so we have a lot of confidence in him."
Another factor for letting the break go was its composition, with the majority of teams represented, including every ProTour team save for Predictor-Lotto. "I knew it was going to change the GC, I just didn't think it would be like that!" said Health Net-Maxxis' Nathan O'Neill. "That was a September kind of move, that many guys getting up the road with 20 minutes. Lotto chased and rode like maniacs - they almost caught them! But they rode so hard they blew themselves to pieces. If they had been a bit more gentle with it Tinkoff might have jumped in."
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Toyota-United also missed the move, but did not have the energy to chase after yesterday's stage win. "With the guys working so hard the past two days it didn't leave too many options for us to mark the early moves," said director sportif Harm Jansen. "But the primary object is still stage wins for us - that is what the team is built for."
With Predictor-Lotto burning all of its matches in a solo effort, and teams like Toyota-United unable to help, Tinkoff was left to do the work with only six riders. "I was tired from the other two days and with only six [riders] we couldn't do it alone," said Daniele Contrini. "My time in yellow was bellisimo! It has been a very special race. It is too bad no other teams wanted to chase."
Some discussion of the peloton in danger of being time cut circulated as the clock neared thirty minutes, with team liason Kevin Livingston remembering the second stage of the 1998 Tirreno-Adriatico in which 125 riders were eliminated. However, that was due to poor conditions and a rider protest. Today's stage was held under near-perfect weather, with light breezes and mostly sunny skies.
How it unfolded
The Darlington School in Rome, Georgia welcomed the Tour de Georgia back with open arms. However, instead of a time trial start, as it was two years ago, the school children sent the entire field off at once, for a new road stage to Chattanooga, Tennessee. The course was a welcome change to previous editions of the race, with four KOM climbs to ensure a break-up of the general classification.
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As in the two previous days the riders began attacking early, led mainly by the smaller domestic squads. However, the constant downward trend of the opening kilometres made it difficult for any group to get away. David McCann, the Irish national champion riding for the Colavita-Sutter Home team made a move along the winding and hilly section of the parcours, with Michael Lange (Slipstream-Chipoitle) and Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick Step-Innergetic) trying to join him. Unfortunately for them, the course turned onto a wide, five-lane highway which negated any advantage.
Counter attacks flew off the front with Karl Menzies (Health Net-Maxxis) and Valery Kobzarenko (Navigators Insurance) giving it a go, but to no avail. A few kilometres later, with the five kilometre-to-go sign for the first KOM ahead, Jeffry Louder (Health Net-Maxxis) and Scott Zwizanski (Priority Health) jumped up the road with about twenty others chasing. As the category four KOM climb kicked up the group thinned a little with thirteen surviving over the top: Janez Brajkovic and Gianni Meersman (Discovery Channel), Christian Vandevelde (Team CSC), Rubens Bertogliati and David Canada Gracia (Saunier Duval - Prodir), Ivan Santaromita and Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick Step-Innergetic), Tim Johnson and Jeff Louder (Health Net-Maxxis), Ciaran Power (Navigators Insurance), Lucas Euser (Slipstream-Chipotle), Tyler Wren (Colavita/Sutter Home) and Scott Nydam (BMC).
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The group held about a minute's lead on the peloton on top of the first KOM with Louder taking the points ahead of Brajkovic, Seeldrayers and Euser. The descent was a gnarly one, with tight and steep switch-backs. This was to be the theme of the day in terms of descending.
On the flats between the first two KOMs, the Predictor-Lotto team decided it wanted to be included in the action and put six riders on the front, bringing the gap down to under half a minute. "There were a lot of attacks and many breaks before the big one," said Johnson. "It went up to a minute right away and then went back down so I thought that was it for us."
But Predictor-Lotto went too hard, too soon, and no other team was interested in helping. Soon the break was back up over a minute... and then two... and then four...
As Radio Tour relayed the ascending time gaps the jaws dropped farther and farther. At one point the race officials were sure their time checks had to be wrong, but they were not. It was just a slow-moving peloton and a motivated breakaway. "I had to bridge to the break because we had nobody represented," said CSC's Christian Vandevelde. "I just tried to keep it going because it was in my best interest for the overall. It was just trying to keep the troops motivated out there."
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But certainly some team would bring the break back... to at least a manageable gap? The short answer, no.
"I was completely shocked at the break today," Johnson continued. "I started laughing when the gap was grew from three to ten to fifteen to twenty minutes. This kind of thing doesn't happen that often in any race!"
"It was a very unexpected break today," said Saunier Duval-Prodir's director sportif Matteo Alegri. "We always wanted to have our riders in the break but we did not expect the time to grow so much. It is because the break away was well sorted many of the teams were happy with it."
The time rose near twenty minutes and held as the four riders ascended and descend the next two KOMs, with Louder taking the points and a $1,500 bonus just ahead of Euser on the second KOM. Finally, as the break neared the final KOM, putting them atop Lookout Mountain, the fate for the peloton was sealed. On the ascent, Johnson set the pace as he had done on the three previous climbs. Directly on his wheel was Vandevelde. "I think everyone was tired -- it was a long day," he said. "I was starting to cramp towards the end. I was just doing damage control -- being by yourself it is hard to control things."
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About half-way up the climb a few riders on the back looked to be struggling, including Tyler Wren. Soon, Seeldrayers attacked with Bertogliati giving chase. This broke the break with only seven riders hanging on to chase. The two lead riders held only a ten to fifteen second gap on top of the KOM and onto the dangerous descent into the city -- the same course as last year's time trial finish. On the descent the lead was only a few seconds as the tight curves wreaked havoc on the tired riders.
Half-way down disaster struck Ciaran Power as he overcooked one of the outward-facing turns. "I was behind Ciaran and I knew he was going too fast and braking too much," recalled Vandevelde. "I was saying to myself, 'Don't watch, don't watch, don't watch...' but saw it out of the corner of my eye -- he flew up in the air and went over the guardrail." Power managed to climb back onto the course and continue riding - eventually finishing and walking to the ambulance to be checked out at hospital.
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Near the bottom the break regrouped and started the final kilometres of flat towards the finish along the river. With four kilometres to go, Louder launched an attack that lasted about a kilometre. But a strong ride by another domestic pro, Scott Nydam, brought the chase to Louder's wheel. Soon after reaching Louder's wheel, it was Brajkovic coming by and rolling off the front. But inside of two kilometres it all came back together. The eight leaders were obviously tired, not even pedaling, enjoying the huge lead to rest and play a little cat-and-mouse as they rode under the flame rouge.
Brajkovic was flanked on either side by the Saunier Duval-Prodir riders, waiting for him to make a move. Then, out of nowhere, it was Louder again from 700 meters, trying to surprise the ProTour riders. It almost worked as he held about a twenty meter lead up until he was inside 50 meters, when Meersman came past for the win. "This is my first pro win and I am so happy!" he said after the race.
Tomorrow's stage is the only time trial, which will play a major factor in deciding which of the remaining few riders will wear the yellow jersey to the top of Brasstown Bald, and maybe into Atlanta on Sunday. Tune in for Cyclingnews' live updates from the first rider, Garrett Peltonen (Priority Health) at 11:00 a.m. until the race leader David Canada Gracia (Saunier Duval-Prodir) crosses the line on top of Lookout Mountain, Georgia!
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us
- Phil Zajicek (Navigators) was a big hit with the fans today.
- Brian Vandborg (Discovery) gets things rolling right from the start.
- Tight switchbacks on the route out of Rome.
- The break starts to take shape.
- The lead group starts working smoothly together.
- The peloton rolls past a pond along the way.
- Daniele Contrini (Tinkoff Credit Systems) aware of losing the leader jersey today.
- The bunch rolls past another lake along the route.
- Heading towards Chattanooga.
- Passing by some old rail cars in the sprint town of Summerville.
- Christian Vandevelde (Team CSC) was looking strong in the break all day.
- It was a long lonely road for the break today.
- The main bunch gets strung out through the green Georgia countryside.
- David Zabriskie (Team CSC) has a chat with the medical crew.
- George Hincapie (Discovery) loads up with water bottles from the team car.
- Ben Jacques-Maynes (Priority Health) spent the day sporting the KOM jersey.
- George Hincapie (Discovery) moves through the field to hand out bottles.
- The bunch keeping things moving... barely.
- Christian Vandevelde (Team CSC) checks riders behind him on the descent.
- The group making its way past more ponds.
- Janez Brajkovic (Discovery) became the team's top placed GC rider today.
- The break still rolling along.
- Daniele Contrini (Tinkoff Credit Systems) catching back up to the field.
- Tinkoff Credit Systems did spend a little time on the front working for the jersey.
- Tim Johnson (Health Net) drove the break all day, earning the most aggressive rider jersey.
- Team BMC comes to the front to do a little work.
- Kevin Seeldrayers (Quickstep-Innergetic) tried hard to get away on the last climb but didn't quite make it.
- Rubens Bertogliati (Saunier Duval-Prodir) and Kevin Seeldrayers (Quickstep-Innergetic) trying to open up a gap on the rest of the break.
- Gianni Meersman (Discovery Channel) takes the win in a sprint against his remaining breakaway companions.
- Gianni Meersman (Discovery) gets the win after a long day in the saddle.
- Ciaran Power (Navigators) spends time in the medical tent before heading to the hospital.
Images by John Pierce/Photosport International
- Discovery's young gun Janez Brajkovic drives the escape.
- David Canada (Saunier Duval) marked by Brajkovic and Gianni Meersman (Discovery).
- Gianni Meersman (Discovery) wins the sprint comfortably in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
- Yeah! Meersman was pumped with his win.
- The jersey wearers after stage three (l-r): Daniele Contrini (Tinkoff), Tim Johnson and Jeffry Louder (Health Net), David Canada (Saunier Duval) and Janez Brajkovic (Discovery).
- The breakaway kicks up dust on the dirt roads of Georgia
- A sluggish peloton was content to give a long leash to the break
- Lovely Georgia scenery
- Brajkovic takes a bottle
- Meersman in the break
Images by Trish Albert/www.southeasterncycling.com
- Cesar Grajales (Jittery Joes) is interviewed by Versus.
- Ivan Dominguez's (Toyota United) prototype Fuji
- Contrasts The Jittery Joes camp chairs and the Discovery Channel bus
- Stage 2's Most Aggressive Rider Austin King (Jittery Joes) signs autographs
- Stage 2 winner Ivan Stevic (Toyota United)
- George Hincapie (Discovery) on his way to sign in
- Euro hairstyles invade Georgia
- Tyler Hamilton (Tinkoff) on his way to sign in.
- Tom Danielson and Freddy Rodriguez (Predictor Lotto) shake hands.
- David Zabriskie (CSC) jokes around at the start.
- Janez Brajkowiz (Discovery) celebrates his stage win.
- New Yellow Jersey David Canada (SaunierDuval)
- The stage 3 jersey winners
Results
1 Gianni Meersman (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 4.33.18 (41.80 km/h) 2 David Canada Gracia (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 0.01 3 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 4 Christian Vandevelde (USA) Team CSC 5 Kevin Seeldrayers (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 6 Jeffry Louder (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis 7 Scott Nydam (USA) BMC Racing Team 8 Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Saunier Duval - Prodir 9 Timothy Johnson (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis 2.20 10 Lucas Euser (USA) Team Slipstream 11 Ivan Santaromita (Swi) Quick Step - Innergetic 3.35 12 Tyler Wren (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 13 Ciaran Power (Irl) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 5.05 14 Nick Reistad (USA) USA National Development Team 29.07 15 Chad Beyer (USA) USA National Development Team 16 Thomas Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 17 Charles Dionne (Can) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 18 John Devine (USA) USA National Development Team 19 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 20 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Predictor-Lotto 21 Jacob Rosenbarger (USA) BMC Racing Team 22 Steffen Weigold (Ger) Tinkoff Credit Systems 23 Cameron Wurf (Aus) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 24 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir 25 Jonathan Garcia (USA) BMC Racing Team 26 Tyler Hamilton (USA) Tinkoff Credit Systems 27 Craig Lewis (USA) Team Slipstream 28 Emile Abraham (Tri) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 29 Geert Steurs (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 30 Sheldon Deeny (USA) USA National Development Team 31 Christophe Brandt (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 32 Evan Elken (USA) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 33 Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 34 Brian Vandborg (Den) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 35 Eric Riggs (USA) USA National Development Team 36 Richard England (Aus) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 37 Edward King (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 38 Christophe Rinero (Fra) Saunier Duval - Prodir 39 Pavel Brutt (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems 40 Ben Day (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 41 David Mccann (Irl) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 42 Cody Stevenson (Aus) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 43 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC 44 Leonardo Scarselli (Ita) Quick Step - Innergetic 45 Doug Ollerenshaw (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis 46 Ian Mckissick (USA) BMC Racing Team 47 Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 48 Scott Moninger (USA) BMC Racing Team 49 Jackson Stewart (USA) BMC Racing Team 50 Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team CSC 51 Tommy Nankervis (Aus) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 52 Hubert Schwab (Swi) Quick Step - Innergetic 53 Neil Shirley (USA) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 54 Valery Kobzarenko (Ukr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 55 Cesar Augusto Grajales (Col) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 56 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Health Net presented by Maxxis 57 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC 58 Anders Lund (Den) Team CSC 59 Nathan O'neill (Aus) Health Net presented by Maxxis 60 Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Team CSC 61 Ivan Stevic (SCG) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 62 Maarten Wynants (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 63 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 64 Omer Kem (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 65 Daniele Contrini (Ita) Tinkoff Credit Systems 66 Peter Hatton (Aus) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 67 Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 68 Danny Pate (USA) Team Slipstream 69 Dominique Cornu (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 70 Guido Trentin (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir 71 Pavel Padrnos (Cze) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 72 Benjamin Brooks (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 73 Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 74 Davide Frattini (Ita) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 75 Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net presented by Maxxis 76 Jonathan Patrick McCarty (USA) Team Slipstream 77 Martin Pedersen (Den) Team CSC 78 Timothy Duggan (USA) Team Slipstream 79 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 80 Viktor Rapinski (Blr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 81 Adam Bergman (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 82 Stefano Zanini (Ita) Predictor-Lotto 83 Michael Lange (USA) Team Slipstream 84 Jason Donald (USA) Team Slipstream 85 Eric Keim (USA) USA National Development Team 86 Brian Dziewa (USA) USA National Development Team 87 Thomas Peterson (USA) Team Slipstream 88 Karl Menzies (Aus) Health Net presented by Maxxis 89 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir 90 Scott Zwizanski (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 91 Alessandro Proni (Ita) Quick Step - Innergetic 92 Alexandre Moos (Swi) BMC Racing Team 93 Anthony Colby (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 94 Gustavo Artacho (Arg) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 95 Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team CSC 96 Elio Aggiano (Ita) Tinkoff Credit Systems 97 Justin England (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 98 Garrett Peltonen (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 99 Caleb Manion (Aus) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 100 Glen Alan Chadwick (NZl) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 101 Chris Wherry (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 102 Andrea Tonti (Ita) Quick Step - Innergetic 103 Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) Tinkoff Credit Systems 104 Mauro Facci (Ita) Quick Step - Innergetic 105 Caleb Fairly (USA) USA National Development Team 106 Austin King (USA) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 107 Trent Wilson (Aus) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 108 Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 109 Nick Gates (Aus) Predictor-Lotto 110 Henk Vogels (Aus) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 111 Matt Shriver (USA) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 112 Burke Swindlehurst (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 113 Kirk O'bee (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis 114 Christopher Baldwin (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team Sprints Sprint #1 1 Timothy Johnson (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis 5 pts 2 Kevin Seeldrayers (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 3 3 Ivan Santaromita (Swi) Quick Step - Innergetic 1 Sprint #2 (finish line) 1 Gianni Meersman (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 15 pts 2 David Canada Gracia (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 12 3 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 10 4 Christian Vandevelde (USA) Team CSC 7 5 Kevin Seeldrayers (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 6 6 Jeffry Louder (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis 5 7 Scott Nydam (USA) BMC Racing Team 4 8 Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Saunier Duval - Prodir 3 9 Timothy Johnson (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis 2 10 Lucas Euser (USA) Team Slipstream 1 Mountains Climb #1 (30.6 km) 1 Jeffry Louder (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis 4 pts 2 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 3 3 Kevin Seeldrayers (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 2 4 Lucas Euser (USA) Team Slipstream 1 Climb #2 (109.3 km) 1 Jeffry Louder (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis 4 pts 2 Lucas Euser (USA) Team Slipstream 3 3 Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Saunier Duval - Prodir 2 4 Scott Nydam (USA) BMC Racing Team 1 Climb #3 (144.9 km) 1 Timothy Johnson (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis 6 pts 2 Lucas Euser (USA) Team Slipstream 5 3 Jeffry Louder (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis 4 4 Scott Nydam (USA) BMC Racing Team 3 5 Ivan Santaromita (Swi) Quick Step - Innergetic 1 Climb #4 (176.1 km) 1 Kevin Seeldrayers (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 6 pts 2 Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Saunier Duval - Prodir 5 3 Christian Vandevelde (USA) Team CSC 4 4 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 3 5 David Canada Gracia (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 1 Best Young Rider 1 Gianni Meersman (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 4.33.18 2 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.01 3 Kevin Seeldrayers (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 4 Lucas Euser (USA) Team Slipstream 2.20 5 Ivan Santaromita (Swi) Quick Step - Innergetic 3.35 6 Nick Reistad (USA) USA National Development Team 29.07 7 Chad Beyer (USA) USA National Development Team 8 John Devine (USA) USA National Development Team 9 Cameron Wurf (Aus) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 10 Craig Lewis (USA) Team Slipstream 11 Sheldon Deeny (USA) USA National Development Team 12 Eric Riggs (USA) USA National Development Team 13 Edward King (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 14 Tommy Nankervis (Aus) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 15 Anders Lund (Den) Team CSC 16 Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Team CSC 17 Peter Hatton (Aus) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 18 Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 19 Dominique Cornu (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 20 Martin Pedersen (Den) Team CSC 21 Michael Lange (USA) Team Slipstream 22 Thomas Peterson (USA) Team Slipstream 23 Caleb Fairly (USA) USA National Development Team Most aggressive rider 1 Timothy Johnson (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis Teams 1 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 14.09.02 2 Prodir-Saunier Duval 0.01 3 The Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis 2.20 4 Quick Step-Innergetic 3.35 5 BMC Racing Team 29.07 6 Team CSC 7 Team Slipstream Powered by Chipotle 31.26 8 Colavita/Sutter Home Presented by Cooking Light Team 32.41 9 Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 34.11 10 USA Cycling National Development Team 58.13 11 Predictor-Lotto 12 Priority Health Cycling Team Presented by Bissell 13 Tinkoff Credit Systems 14 Jittery Joe's 15 Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team General classification after stage 3 1 David Canada Gracia (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 13.34.21 2 Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Saunier Duval - Prodir 0.03 3 Christian Vandevelde (USA) Team CSC 4 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 5 Jeffry Louder (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis 6 Kevin Seeldrayers (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 7 Scott Nydam (USA) BMC Racing Team 0.23 8 Lucas Euser (USA) Team Slipstream 2.22 9 Timothy Johnson (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis 2.51 10 Tyler Wren (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 3.57 11 Ivan Santaromita (Swi) Quick Step - Innergetic 12 Ciaran Power (Irl) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 5.23 13 Gianni Meersman (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 6.31 14 Daniele Contrini (Ita) Tinkoff Credit Systems 27.47 15 Doug Ollerenshaw (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis 28.16 16 Ben Day (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 28.25 17 Ivan Stevic (SCG) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 28.54 18 Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team CSC 29.00 19 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Predictor-Lotto 29.02 20 Charles Dionne (Can) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 29.06 21 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 22 Thomas Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 23 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Health Net presented by Maxxis 24 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC 25 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 26 Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net presented by Maxxis 27 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 28 Jason Donald (USA) Team Slipstream 29 Alessandro Proni (Ita) Quick Step - Innergetic 30 Emile Abraham (Tri) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 29.07 31 Andrea Tonti (Ita) Quick Step - Innergetic 29.08 32 John Devine (USA) USA National Development Team 29.09 33 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir 34 Christophe Brandt (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 35 Tyler Hamilton (USA) Tinkoff Credit Systems 36 Geert Steurs (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 37 Hubert Schwab (Swi) Quick Step - Innergetic 38 Craig Lewis (USA) Team Slipstream 39 Cesar Augusto Grajales (Col) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 40 Nathan O'neill (Aus) Health Net presented by Maxxis 41 Christophe Rinero (Fra) Saunier Duval - Prodir 42 Leonardo Scarselli (Ita) Quick Step - Innergetic 43 Sheldon Deeny (USA) USA National Development Team 44 Edward King (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 45 Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team CSC 46 Valery Kobzarenko (Ukr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 47 Danny Pate (USA) Team Slipstream 48 Pavel Brutt (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems 49 Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 50 Scott Moninger (USA) BMC Racing Team 51 Dominique Cornu (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 52 Maarten Wynants (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 53 Peter Hatton (Aus) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 54 David Mccann (Irl) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 55 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir 56 Anthony Colby (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 57 Tommy Nankervis (Aus) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 58 Thomas Peterson (USA) Team Slipstream 59 Neil Shirley (USA) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 60 Guido Trentin (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir 61 Jonathan Patrick McCarty (USA) Team Slipstream 62 Alexandre Moos (Swi) BMC Racing Team 63 Benjamin Brooks (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 64 Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 65 Karl Menzies (Aus) Health Net presented by Maxxis 66 Trent Wilson (Aus) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 67 Ian Mckissick (USA) BMC Racing Team 68 Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) Tinkoff Credit Systems 69 Justin England (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 70 Christopher Baldwin (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 71 Jonathan Garcia (USA) BMC Racing Team 29.29 72 Brian Vandborg (Den) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 73 Pavel Padrnos (Cze) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 74 Timothy Duggan (USA) Team Slipstream 75 Gustavo Artacho (Arg) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 76 Henk Vogels (Aus) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 77 Jacob Rosenbarger (USA) BMC Racing Team 29.38 78 Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 79 Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 29.48 80 Michael Lange (USA) Team Slipstream 81 Jackson Stewart (USA) BMC Racing Team 29.51 82 Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Team CSC 83 Nick Gates (Aus) Predictor-Lotto 84 Caleb Manion (Aus) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 29.56 85 Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 29.58 86 Davide Frattini (Ita) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 87 Kirk O'bee (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis 88 Cody Stevenson (Aus) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 30.18 89 Chad Beyer (USA) USA National Development Team 30.20 90 Eric Keim (USA) USA National Development Team 30.47 91 Viktor Rapinski (Blr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 31.02 92 Eric Riggs (USA) USA National Development Team 31.55 93 Glen Alan Chadwick (NZl) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 32.18 94 Steffen Weigold (Ger) Tinkoff Credit Systems 32.24 95 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC 96 Mauro Facci (Ita) Quick Step - Innergetic 97 Anders Lund (Den) Team CSC 32.34 98 Martin Pedersen (Den) Team CSC 99 Chris Wherry (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 100 Burke Swindlehurst (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 101 Matt Shriver (USA) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 33.18 102 Adam Bergman (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 33.37 103 Evan Elken (USA) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 33.40 104 Cameron Wurf (Aus) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 34.11 105 Austin King (USA) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 35.07 106 Elio Aggiano (Ita) Tinkoff Credit Systems 35.10 107 Scott Zwizanski (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 35.37 108 Brian Dziewa (USA) USA National Development Team 35.43 109 Richard England (Aus) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 37.21 110 Nick Reistad (USA) USA National Development Team 37.27 111 Omer Kem (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 38.07 112 Caleb Fairly (USA) USA National Development Team 113 Stefano Zanini (Ita) Predictor-Lotto 39.47 114 Garrett Peltonen (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 41.01 Sprint classification 1 Daniele Contrini (Ita) Tinkoff Credit Systems 23 pts 2 Gianni Meersman (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 15 3 Ivan Stevic (SCG) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 15 4 Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team CSC 14 5 David Canada Gracia (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 14 6 Viktor Rapinski (Blr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 13 7 Doug Ollerenshaw (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis 13 8 Ben Day (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 11 9 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 11 10 Glen Alan Chadwick (NZl) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 10 11 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 10 12 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Predictor-Lotto 10 13 Kevin Seeldrayers (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 9 14 Timothy Johnson (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis 7 15 Christian Vandevelde (USA) Team CSC 7 16 Alessandro Proni (Ita) Quick Step - Innergetic 7 17 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Health Net presented by Maxxis 7 18 Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 6 19 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 5 20 Karl Menzies (Aus) Health Net presented by Maxxis 5 21 Jeffry Louder (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis 5 22 Austin King (USA) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 4 23 Garrett Peltonen (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 4 24 Charles Dionne (Can) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 4 25 Scott Nydam (USA) BMC Racing Team 4 26 Emile Abraham (Tri) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 3 27 Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Saunier Duval - Prodir 3 28 Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net presented by Maxxis 3 29 Ciaran Power (Irl) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 3 30 Ivan Santaromita (Swi) Quick Step - Innergetic 1 31 Andrea Tonti (Ita) Quick Step - Innergetic 1 32 Thomas Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 1 33 Lucas Euser (USA) Team Slipstream 1 Mountains classification 1 Jeffry Louder (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis 12 pts 2 Lucas Euser (USA) Team Slipstream 9 3 Kevin Seeldrayers (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 8 4 Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Saunier Duval - Prodir 7 5 Timothy Johnson (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis 6 6 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 6 7 Christian Vandevelde (USA) Team CSC 4 8 Scott Nydam (USA) BMC Racing Team 4 9 Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 4 10 Nathan O'neill (Aus) Health Net presented by Maxxis 3 11 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Health Net presented by Maxxis 2 12 David Canada Gracia (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 1 13 Ivan Santaromita (Swi) Quick Step - Innergetic 1 14 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 1 Best young rider classification 1 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 13.34.24 2 Kevin Seeldrayers (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 3 Lucas Euser (USA) Team Slipstream 2.19 4 Ivan Santaromita (Swi) Quick Step - Innergetic 3.54 5 Gianni Meersman (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 6.28 6 John Devine (USA) USA National Development Team 29.06 7 Craig Lewis (USA) Team Slipstream 8 Sheldon Deeny (USA) USA National Development Team 9 Edward King (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 10 Dominique Cornu (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 11 Peter Hatton (Aus) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 12 Tommy Nankervis (Aus) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 13 Thomas Peterson (USA) Team Slipstream 14 Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 29.35 15 Michael Lange (USA) Team Slipstream 29.45 16 Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Team CSC 29.48 17 Chad Beyer (USA) USA National Development Team 30.17 18 Eric Riggs (USA) USA National Development Team 31.52 19 Anders Lund (Den) Team CSC 32.31 20 Martin Pedersen (Den) Team CSC 21 Cameron Wurf (Aus) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 34.08 22 Nick Reistad (USA) USA National Development Team 37.24 23 Caleb Fairly (USA) USA National Development Team 38.04 Team Classification 1 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 41.12.08 2 Prodir-Saunier Duval 0.07 3 The Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis 1.37 4 Quick Step-Innergetic 3.41 5 Team CSC 29.10 6 BMC Racing Team 29.16 7 Team Slipstream Powered by Chipotle 31.32 8 Colavita/Sutter Home Presented by Cooking Light Team 32.47 9 Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 33.38 10 Tinkoff Credit Systems 57.15 11 Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 58.17 12 Predictor-Lotto 58.19 13 Jittery Joe's 58.22 14 Priority Health Cycling Team Presented by Bissell 59.01 15 USA Cycling National Development Team 59.33
