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World Championships - CM
Stuttgart, Germany, September 26-30, 2007
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Race 6 - September 30: Elite men's road race - 14 laps, 267.4km
Italian Paolo Bettini prevails in Stuttgart
After a week of polemics Bettini claims second rainbow jersey in a row
By Gregor Brown in Stuttgart, with additional reporting by Bjorn Haake
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Paolo Bettini of Italy prevailed in Stuttgart, Germany, after a week of polemics that threatened his participation. The 33 year-old from La California formed part of a five-man group with Fränk Schleck (Luxembourg), Cadel Evans (Australia), Alexandr Kolobnev (Russia) and home rider Stefan Schumacher. It stayed clear following the advantage gained over the Birkenkopf at 9.2 kilometres remaining. Bettini passed Kolobnev as he led out the sprint, while Schumacher kept powering for third over Schleck and Evans.
"It was a difficult week. I was accused [of certain things]," said an emotional Bettini at the finish. "This is a present for all the people. It was not an easy victory. Grazie a tutti!"
He complemented his nine-man squadra azzurra, "It was a difficult circuit. You can only win with a great team. We had a team that could make the difference." Bettini became the fifth rider to archive the back-to-back Worlds win. His compatriot Gianni Bugno was last rider to double (1991 and 1992) – he achieved his first of two wins in Stuttgart.
Team Italy put the final moves in place when Davide Rebellin attacked towards the top of the Birkenkopf during the penultimate lap. The rider from Veneto was joined by Alexandr Kolobnev (Russia). The Italian/Russian duo kept clear for nearly the 19.1 kilometre circuit. At the end of the 13th circuit, taken at 42.8km/h, they were only holding on to about 20 seconds, but it was enough to give Bettini and Filippo Pozzato a breather for the final artilleries were fired.
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Michael Boogerd (Netherlands) launched on the steep Hedwig with 15 kilometres remaining. In one of the final days of his professional career, the Dutchman put in a powerful and timely move that brought out the group of favourites that would go on to fight out for the rainbow jersey. In the move were Paolo Bettini, Pozzato, Rebellin (Italy), Samuel Sánchez (Spain), Cadel Evans (Australia), Kolobnev, Fränk Schleck (Luxembourg), Schumacher, Fabian Wegmann (Germany), Philippe Gilbert (Belgium), Björn Leukemans (Belgium), Boogerd, Thomas Dekker (Netherlands), Karsten Kroon (Netherlands) and Martin Elmiger (Switzerland).
Sánchez, in red-hot form after the Vuelta a España, drove the escape down the backside of the Herdweg, putting the pressure on the riders who had their legs shattered from the day's efforts. Over the following three kilometres, Bettini was seen talking with team-mate 'Pippo' Pozzato. The two leaders were plotting how to keep the world title within Italy's boarders.
The first time "Il Grillo Livornese" fired on the Birkenkopf his escape companions realized they were going to try every trick they had to restrain the 2006 Champion. The second shot left only 2006 Amstel Gold winner Schleck and 2007 Amstel winner Schumacher in tow.
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The three traded pulls in their bid for freedom while Kolobnev re-found his legs to chase with Evans as company. The Russian/Australian duo joined the three up front, and the escape pushed towards the start of the final 2,800 metres kilometres of the Am Kochenhof.
Evans was the most worried in the group of five due to his lack of a real sprint. The 30 year-old Australian was forced to make his move early, nearing the final kilometre, under a pedestrian bridge. Schumacher reacted first, and brought back the other three riders to set up for the final kilometre. The group, lined down the left, slowly made its way up the gentle climb as the chase of Sánchez was closing.
Five hundred, four hundred, three hundred and finally the right hand corner at two hundred metres remaining to Worlds' gold. Kolobnev led out at 50 metres with Schumacher, Bettini, Schleck and Evans on his wheel. Bettini came up the right side of the 26 year-old Russian with Schumacher on his wheel. Kolobnev held for second while Schumacher took bronze in front of a home crowd.
"We arrive with an advantage," Kolobnev recalled of the final kilometre. "We arrived in the last kilometres, and we know that there were not many metres to play out tactics. Coming out of the last curve I was in the lead, maybe this was not the best situation.
"I knew Paolo would be stronger than me, he was so strong that it was almost impossible to stop him today."
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Schumacher, who lives only 20 kilometres outside of Stuttgart, was disappointed to not take the rainbow jersey but happy to make his presence felt at home. "I wanted to become world champion, I did my very best," said the bald-headed rider. "In the last two months after the Tour de France, I did everything for this day.
"It was impossible to beat Paolo [Bettini]. I felt on the last climb that he was stronger than I was. Okay, he was better. At first, in the final two kilo meters I felt good for the sprint, and then I realized my legs were empty. I wanted to get first, but third in my hometown is still a great success."
Schleck, on the left of Schumacher, ended in fourth ahead of Evans. "I did not have anything left for the finish," said Evans who had quietly made his way to the business end as the race progressed. "I am not going to complain about the final result; it is a good promise for the Tour of Lombardia, and then I will go for my holidays."
Evans' holidays will seem even more pleasant given the demanding Vuelta and the finale of the World Championships. He had in mind that he could play a team role for Australian's sprinter. "I thought there would be a group of four or five to fight of the win. We did all we could today for Alby [Allan Davis - ed.]. I was there in the front group to neutralize the others. ... The Vuelta had cooked me. Being up there with Bettini and those guys, I can't complained about that, but in a world championships only the jersey counts, coming fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth does not matter."
Bettini ended his victory firing an imaginary gun into the air. It was an expression or relief, getting back at those who had tried to keep him down in the days approaching his season's objective. "So many people shot at me this week, so I wanted to do the same when I crossed the line. The gun was not fired at someone in particular. If someone felt it, then, they know who they are."
The double World Champion used his beloved sport get revenge, most likely at Stuttgart Administrator for Culture, Education and Sport Doctor Susanne Eisenmann, who had tried to prevent him from racing. "It was directed at those outside of cycling that make statements and know nothing about cycling. They make their statements for economical reasons."
How it unfolded
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The Italians lined up on the front, with the defending champion Paolo Bettini, who was able to start despite a court injunction taken out against him. But the judges ruled in favour of the classics specialist, who was one of the heavy favourites for the main event of this 2007 World Championships.
The bunch rolled out at 10:30 local time under sunny skies and the Italians took off their vests immediately after the start. A few kilometres of gentle rolling along, but as expected the underdogs sought the limelight and Robert Kiserlovski of Croatia was the first to go. He was joined by Slovakian Roman Bronis a little while later and the two quickly built a lead of 15 seconds.
The French decided to light up the race and the pace got faster. However, it was American Tyler Farrar who got away and dragged Vladislav Borisov (Russia), Zolt Der (Serbia) and Yukiya Arashiro (Japan) with him. They passed the duo on front, but could not hold very long. Farrar was the last to survive and finished the first lap in 28'12", five seconds ahead of the bunch.
Stéphane Augé (France) and Colombian Marlon Alirio Perez Arango were the next to go, and they made it off the front. Their lead quickly grew past the one-minute mark and when it reached 1'35", the peloton reacted and with two kilometres left in the second lap, the gap was down to 1'20". They finished the second time around slightly slower, in 28'41", with the gap to the peloton having grown again, to 2'08".
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The next to head off was Polish rider Marcin Sapa (Poland), who was quickly joined by Dainius Kairelis, but they were only handful of seconds ahead as the duo up front lost 30 seconds of their lead and were ahead by 1'40" with about 47 kilometres done. As the two chasers were caught a few kilometres after their attack, the next rider to launch was Sergey Kolesnikov of Russia. Russia had a strong team and wanted to put someone in the action right away.
Kolesnikov was at one minute as the third lap came to a close, but the Russian was flying and came ever closer to the leaders. He caught them with less than 215 kilometres to go, with the peloton at two and a half minutes. The lap ended up the slowest so far (30'23"), and the peloton took even more time, as they really relaxed and were now 3'26" behind the charging three.
Kolesnikov punctured shortly after the start of the fourth lap, but was quickly back up with the French and the Colombian. He had to later change from the neutral wheel to one from his team and had to chase again, but the lead went up to 4'10" over the bunch. The fourth lap was faster again, in 31'09", at an average speed of 36.789 km/h. The total average after 76.4 kilometres was 38.710 km/h. Not for the bunch, though, which was back at 5'17" at this point.
At the steep climb going into the fifth lap, it was Bettini who provided a little clap on his riders Bertolini and Tonti, and the two attacked. A group of eight formed, including Burghardt, Fisher, Grabovskiy, but the peloton reacted quickly. The acceleration dropped the lead to 3'45", however. The Italians were still active in front and the constant accelerations after 90kms split the peloton, with only 50-60 riders at the front. They quickly put two minutes on the rest of the field.
At the end of the fifth lap, ridden in 31'47", the first peloton was only 38 seconds behind, with the second bunch at 3'25". The break of three was soon swallowed by the 50 riders that went away, and included, among others, Voigt, Knees, Fischer, Hincapie, Gerrans, Bodrogi
The Dutch were chasing in the bunch behind. Ukrainian Ruslan Podgornyy attacked out of the first group and gained several seconds. The difference between the two main groups was 2'40" after about 100 kilometres of racing. The sixth lap was done in 28'56" and left the racers with an overall time just below three hours. This was also true for the first chase group, just about 23 seconds behind, but not for the main bunch, which was three minutes back.
Exactly at the halfway point, after 133.7 kilometres, the lap time was 29'17" for the leader, about a minute ahead of the chasers. Three kilometres later the Ukrainian is swallowed up, as some confusion arose when the two bigger groups were ready to merge. Some dropped out of the front group, some jumped from the second to the first, but there was still a split and 24 riders were ahead. American Bobby Julich and Australian Simon Gerrans were in this group.
The group consisted of Bobby Julich (United States Of America), Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Norway), Kim Kirchen (Luxembourg), Jens Voigt and Marcus Burghardt (Germany), Carlos Barredo Llamazales, Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni and Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spain), Rene Mandri (Estonia), Stijn Devolder, Philippe Gilbert and Johan Van Summeren (Belgium), Matej Stare (Slovenia), Alessandro Ballan, Alessandro Bertolini and Damiano Cunego (Italy), Vladimir Efimkin (Russia), Robert Gesink and Karsten Kroon (Netherlands), Simon Gerrans (Australia), Sandy Casar (France), Christian Pfannberger (Austria), Ruslan Podgornyy (Ukraine) and Luis Felipe Laverde Jimenez (Colombia)
Andriy Grivko (Ukraine) was chasing by himself. It took him a few kilometres but he eventually caught up with the front group. The latter got a little more organised and extended the lead to 1'30". Round eight was run in 29'18", almost identical to the previous split time. The peloton came through 1'45" in arrears, led by Rabobank. Even though the Oranjes had two riders up front, they apparently didn't rate the chances of Karsten Kroon and young Robert Gesink too high and dropped the hammer down for a high-speed chase.
Lap nine passed in 29'47". After four and a half hours of racing the lead was more than two minutes, with 171.9 kilometres covered. American Bobby Julich was active in this phase of the race, as was the Italian squad. Especially Alessandro Bertolini was doing a lot of work on the front. Alessandro Ballan and Damiano Cunego were also in the group.
The tenth lap saw the fastest split yet, with 27'30". The climb up the Herdweg for the eleventh time started to hurt people and Devolder dropped back and later abandoned the race.
With about 66 kilometres to go the front group was finally caught by the peloton, if that was the name it deserved. There really only 60 riders left. Bertolioni was still driving it, with Voigt near the front as well. Bertolini did everything he could for his squadra azzurra.
This lap was faster than any other. At an average speed of 42.158 km/h, the time was 27'11". Three more laps or 57.3 kilometres were still to race. With 50 kilometres Ballan put in a vicious attack. He was joined, then dropped by Ludovic Turpin of France. But at that phase in the race, no one was allowed too much lee-way, and as the come around the next time, with 38.2 kilometres left, it was grupo compatto, as the Italians were very prominent on the front. 27'38" was the time for lap 12.
Going through the start-finish, an attack by Croatian Matija Kvasina brought some action, as Denis Menchov countered. A small group group built, including Aussie Cadel Evans and Davide Rebellin, but the pace was too high, and even though it was strung out everything was pretty much one peloton.
The next to go was Kanstantsin Siutsou, but he also could only stay away a brief moment. When Davide Rebellin attacked, however, things started to break up as the legs got tired. Alexandr Kolobnev joined him, as Robert Gesink was desperately trying to hold on at the end. He was within 20 metres over a little rise, but as the group went down the other side at full speed the young Dutchman couldn't quite get the power out of his legs.
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Rebellin and Kolobnev quickly built a ten-second lead and then took advantage of the fact that everyone was looking at each other. The Italians were in a good position finally with 22 kilometres to go the Spaniards were taking control of the front, but the lead was up to 35 seconds. The accelerations had shelled out more people, with the peloton getting smaller by the minute.
The next to last lap was ridden in 26'47", the fastest so far, at 42.737 km/h. The gap was down to 18 seconds as Rebellin and Kolobnev were trying to hang on. But the duo cracked under the pressure of German Champion Fabian Wegmann. His captain Stefan Schumacher was right there, as were Bettini, Gilbert, Evans, Freire and some of the other favourites.
Under the acceleration of Samuel Sanchez the small group of maybe 20 riders exploded again and five riders were able to go off the front. It was Fränk Schleck of Luxembourg, Stefan Schumacher (Germany), Paolo Bettini (Italy), Alexander Kolobnev (Russia) and Cadel Evans (Australia). They were followed by eight chasers, including Wegmann, Elmiger, Sanchez and Boogerd.
The front formation had a bit of trouble figuring out the pace lining as some were less willing to work than others. Bettini was trying to encourage them, but they never did get a good gap. They were barely hanging on to a lead of 15 seconds, which wouldn't give them many tactical options in the final few hundred metres.
Evans was not trying to avoid a sprint, instead waiting for the final metres. Schleck tried to get way, but couldn't do it. The five came down the home straight together and Bettini proved his strength once again. Kolobnev managed to get silver while local favourite Schumacher, who comes from near Stuttgart, got the bronze medal. They held off the chase by just six seconds. The last lap turned out to be the fastest, with a time of 26'30" and an average speed of 43.245 km/h.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Shane Stokes / Cyclingnews.com
- Defending champ Paolo Bettini rolls down to the sign on.
- Davide Rebellin was controversially left off the Squadra Azzurra a few times but he's very much part of the team now. He's an outside chance for the win today.
- Mark Cavendish (Britain) has had a great first pro season but today's course is likely to be too hilly for him.
- Alejandro Valverde (Spain) makes some last minute adjustments to his bike.
- Valverde is here thanks to a CAS judgement which said that the UCI cannot block his entry over Puerto allegations.
- Depending on your view, a win by Valverde today would be vindication or a credibility blow to the sport.
- Spanish team-mate Samuel Sanchez is another who could win, as shown by his superb form towards the end of the Vuelta.
- Aussie hope Michael Rogers was in good mood this morning. The sun was one reason for that.
- Goodbye to the gnashers. Dutchman Michael Boogerd's pearlie whites are doing their final worlds.
- Luxembourg's hope Frank Schleck. His brother Andy and Kim Kirchen are the other big names in the squad.
- The push to get pictures before the start.
- Spaniard Oscar Freire is going for a record fourth win today.
- Italian Damiano's Cunego's explosiveness could bring him success.
- Paolo Bettini, lost in thought before the start.
- Michael Rogers is focussed. Literally.
- Jens Voigt's Duracell bunny battery should see him on the attack on home soil.
- Paolo Bettini shares a laugh with the rest of the Squadra Azzurra before the start.
- A minute before the start, the bunch waits for the gun to sound.
Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net
- Defending World Champion Paolo Bettini (Italy) does just that...defends his title.
- Paolo Bettini (Italy) has plenty of time at the end of his sprint to celebrate.
- Paolo Bettini (Italy) counts his world titles.
Images by Cyclingnews.com
- The fans got into the spirit.
- The elite men roll out, ready for action.
- Alejandro Valverde (Spain) made it to the start line after all.
- Maxime Montfort (Belgium) looks serious.
- The peloton passes in a big bunch.
- Looking down on a colorful peloton on a bright, sunny day.
- Paolo Bettini (Italy) makes it two for two.
- Paolo Bettini (Italy) gives his special winner's salute.
- Elite men's podium: second - Alexandr Kolobnev (Russian Federation), Winner - Paolo Bettini (Italy), and third - Stefan Schumacher (Germany)
- Paolo Bettini (Italy) does his medal-for-lunch shot.
- Paolo Bettini (Italy) with the Italian flag draped around his neck.
- The one armed salute from Paolo Bettini (Italy)
- Paolo Bettini (Italy) raises his arms in celebration on the podium.
- Philippe Gilbert (Belgium) finished eight for the day.
- Stijn Devolder (Belgium) was one of many riders who would not finish.
- Jurgen Van Goolen (Belgium) in a Dutch sandwich.
- Koos Moerenhout (Netherlands) among other Dutch riders at the front of the peloton.
- Michael Boogerd (Netherlands) and other Dutch team-mates.
- Johan Van Summeren (Belgium) leads the pack.
- Nothing but hugs for the Italians after winning the men's and women's world championships.
- A steep climb took its toll after many laps.
- No time to enjoy this view on the climb.
- The peloton rounds a corner.
- Michael Boogerd (Netherlands) and others in the pack.
- Alejandro Valverde (Spain) finished 57th for the day.
- Stijn Devolder (Belgium)
- Jens Voigt (Germany) stands up on the pedals.
Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti
- Erik Zabel (Germany) finished down in 18th spot.
- Stefan Schumacher (Germany) was feeling calm before the race.
- Gerald Ciolek (Germany) didn't make it to the finish line in Stuttgart.
- Paolo Bettini (Italy) is ready to defend his world title...
- ...and put a week of controversy behind him.
- Frank Schleck (Luxembourg) gets ready to race.
- Wait a minute, you look like the last guy! Frank Schleck's brother Andy is also ready to roll.
- Oscar Freire Gomez (Spain) awaits the start.
- Oscar Freire Gomez (Spain) shares a chat with defending champion Paolo Bettini (Italy).
- Michael Boogerd (Netherlands) was hoping to pull off victory.
- Carlos Sastre (Spain) wanted a strong showing, but didn't finish the race.
- Thomas Dekker (Netherlands) was focused before the race.
- Alejandro Valverde (Spain) had to fight for months just to start the World Championship race.
- Thank god I'm here: The road to Stuttgart has been a long one for Alejandro Valverde (Spain).
- The peloton gets ready to depart.
- Hmmm, I wonder where these guys hail from?
- The Italian's sure know how to win, by forming a wall at the start!
- The nerves are high as the start nears.
- The Italians were determined to dominate from the start, literally!
- And they're off and racing.
- The peloton sets out cleanly, just a few hundred more kilometres to go.
- Andrea Tonti (Italy) rides in the bunch, but didn't make the finish line.
- Alessandro Bertolini (Italy) finished six minutes down in 62nd spot.
- Davide Rebellin (Italy) rides in the bunch before going on to finish sixth, six seconds behind countryman Paolo Bettini.
- Damiano Cunego (Italy) finished down in 50th spot, some 57 seconds behind.
- Paolo Bettini (Italy) rolls around the course early on.
- Riders travel across a flat section of the course during the 267.4 kilometre race.
- There were as many nationalities represented in the crowd as were in the race.
- Alessandro Bertolini (Italy) and Matteo Tosatto (Italy) in the peloton during the race.
- Gruppo compacto in the early phase of the road race.
- The peloton together early on in the lengthy race.
- Stéphane Augé (France) and Colombian Marlon Alirio Perez Arango lead a small escape early in the race.
- The main bunch passes by a heap of flags while a small break has gone up the road.
- Riders swap turns driving a reasonably large group of riders.
- Alessandro Bertolini (Italy) leads a small group up the incline.
- The main bunch approaches the foot of a climb...
- ...and starts to make its way up as the cars trail close behind.
- The Netherlands squad gather at the front of a group.
- Jens Voigt (Germany) powers across his home course.
- Damiano Cunego (Italy) was a part of a large break...
- ...as were Italian team-mates Alessandro Ballan and eventual winner Paolo Bettini.
- Filippo Pozzato (Italy) rides in the bunch.
- Michael Boogerd (Netherlands), shown early in the race, launched on the steep Hedwig with 15 kilometres remaining.
- Sylvain Chavanel (France) and Pierrick Fedrigo (France) in the bunch.
- Paolo Bettini (Italy) charges up a climb at the head of his bunch.
- Michael Rogers leads his Australian team-mates in a group, but didn't make it to the event's finish line.
- Michael Boogerd (Netherlands) and Paolo Bettini keep close watch on one another.
- Thomas Voeckler (France) and Filippo Pozzato (Italy) ride in the bunch.
- He was active early on but Filippo Pozzato (Italy) could only manage 51st by day's end.
- Italians Matteo Tosatto, Alessandro Bertolini and Damiano Cunego stick close together.
- A large group crosses the start/finish line for another lap.
- Alejandro Valverde (Spain) finished the race in 57th.
- Jens Voigt may not have finished the race but German team-mate Fabian Wegmann finished in the top 10, taking ninth spot.
- Alejandro Valverde (Spain) moves to the front of his group...
- ...and continues to pull it up a climb.
- The riders sprint towards home after 267.4 kilometres on the bike.
- Defending world champ Paolo Bettini (Italy) gestures as if he's holding a shotgun…
- ...then takes aim, but at who? ...we'll leave that up to your imagination.
- Russian Alexandr Kolobnev feels the pain of being so close to victory as Italy's Paolo Bettini celebrates.
- Italian Paolo Bettini is clearly pumped up with excitement after defending his world championship.
- Paolo Bettini shows his chest...
- ...before throwing his first in the air as he celebrates his biggest, and only, major win of 2007.
- World beater: Paolo Bettini (Italy) retains his World Champion status in the Elite Men's road race.
- Riders sprint for the minor places.
- These guys started at the front and finished at the back, so why are they so happy? Oh, that's right their man Bettini won!
- Davide Rebellin (Italy) led the second bunch home to take sixth place.
- Paolo Bettini (Italy) is congratulated after the finish by officials.
- Paolo Bettini's wife Monica was on hand for another of those congratulations kisses.
- On top of the world: Paolo Bettini (Italy) celebrates on the podium.
- Paolo Bettini ensured that the Italian flag returned to the top step of the World Championship podium.
- Last year Paolo Bettini stuck his tongue out, but this year it was the gun gesture that was a common sight.
- Draped in the Italian flag, Paolo Bettini looks content with his accomplishment.
- I told you so: UCI President Pat McQuaid and Italian Paolo Bettini have been at loggerheads for the past week, but Bettini is a man of his word and retained the World Championship to add salt to the UCI's wounds.
- Paolo Bettini (Italy) is number one for another year.
- Italy's Paolo Bettini may have arrived in Germany in an all black outfit, but he'll leave as a colourful man with the UCI's rainbow World Champion jersey.
- Podium (L-R): Alexandr Kolobnev (Russian Federation), Paolo Bettini (Italy) and Stefan Schumacher (Germany).
- Italian Paolo Bettini put a tough week behind him and enjoyed his moment on the podium.
- Podium (L-R): Alexandr Kolobnev (Russian Federation), Paolo Bettini (Italy) and Stefan Schumacher (Germany).
- 2007 World Championship medallists: Alexandr Kolobnev (Russian Federation), Paolo Bettini (Italy)
- Gold at the end of the rainbow: A happy
- Oh common Stefan, third's not so bad, give us a smile!
- Russian Alexandr Kolobnev was happy with his efforts on the day.
- Stefan Schumacher (Germany) celebrates with a home crowd on the podium.
- Alexandr Kolobnev (Russian Federation) was happy with his second spot.
- Stefan Schumacher (Germany) kisses his bronze medal.
- ...and enters the post-race press conference.
- UCI president Pat McQuaid was angry and annoyed at Paolo Bettini earlier in the week, but the two seemed to have put that behind them by Sunday.
Images by PhotoSport International
- Organisers had a clear message for Eddy Merckx, that he wasn't welcome, and the fans had an even clearer message for the organisers.
Results
1 Paolo Bettini (Italy) 6.44.43 (39.642 km/h) 2 Alexandr Kolobnev (Russian Federation) 3 Stefan Schumacher (Germany) 4 Fränk Schleck (Luxembourg) 5 Cadel Evans (Australia) 6 Davide Rebellin (Italy) 0.06 7 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spain) 0.08 8 Philippe Gilbert (Belgium) 9 Fabian Wegmann (Germany) 10 Martin Elmiger (Switzerland) 11 Thomas Dekker (Netherlands) 12 Michael Boogerd (Netherlands) 0.14 13 Björn Leukemans (Belgium) 0.15 14 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spain) 0.49 15 Aleksandr Kuschynski (Belarus) 16 Alexandre Usov (Belarus) 17 Beat Zberg (Switzerland) 18 Erik Zabel (Germany) 19 Thor Hushovd (Norway) 20 Radoslav Rogina (Croatia) 21 Murilo Antonio Fischer (Brazil) 22 Matej Mugerli (Slovenia) 23 George Hincapie (United States Of America) 24 Marcus Ljungqvist (Sweden) 25 Chris Sörensen (Denmark) 26 Jurgen Van Goolen (Belgium) 27 Leonardo Duque (Colombia) 28 Rene Mandri (Estonia) 29 Gustav Larsson (Sweden) 30 Pierrick Fedrigo (France) 31 Thomas Lövkvist (Sweden) 32 Alexander Efimkin (Russian Federation) 33 Tomasz Marczynski (Poland) 34 Jan Valach (Slovakia) 35 Sebastian Langeveld (Netherlands) 36 Christian Vandevelde (United States Of America) 37 Nuno Ribeiro (Portugal) 38 Christian Pfannberger (Austria) 39 Unai Etxebarria Arana (Venezuela) 40 David George (South Africa) 41 Ludovic Turpin (France) 42 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Norway) 43 Vladimir Efimkin (Russian Federation) 44 Sergey Lagutin (Uzbekistan) 45 Mario Aerts (Belgium) 46 Vladimir Karpets (Russian Federation) 47 Denis Menchov (Russian Federation) 48 Przemyslaw Niemiec (Poland) 49 Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spain) 50 Damiano Cunego (Italy) 0.57 51 Filippo Pozzato (Italy) 52 Alessandro Ballan (Italy) 53 Allan Davis (Australia) 1.05 54 David Millar (Great Britain) 55 Matthew Lloyd (Australia) 1.10 56 Karsten Kroon (Netherlands) 1.24 57 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spain) 2.47 58 Matija Kvasina (Croatia) 3.10 59 Kristjan Fajt (Slovenia) 3.38 60 Gorazd Stangelj (Slovenia) 3.41 61 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Belarus) 5.17 62 Alessandro Bertolini (Italy) 6.01 63 Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium) 6.34 64 Maxime Monfort (Belgium) 6.52 65 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spain) 7.52 66 Simon Gerrans (Australia) 8.09 67 Sylvain Chavanel (France) 68 Thomas Voeckler (France) 15.51 69 Erki Pütsep (Estonia) 70 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hungary) 17.10 71 Vladimir Tuychiev (Uzbekistan) 21.57 72 Hossein Askari (Islamic Republic Of Iran) DNF Carlos Sastre Candil (Spain) DNF Stéphane Goubert (France) DNF Robert Gesink (Netherlands) DNF Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spain) DNF Serguei Yakovlev (Kazakhstan) DNF Hernani Broco (Portugal) DNF Marcus Burghardt (Germany) DNF Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland) DNF Andy Schleck (Luxembourg) DNF Philip Deignan (Ireland) DNF Jens Voigt (Germany) DNF Gerald Ciolek (Germany) DNF Amaël Moinard (France) DNF Volodymyr Zagorodny (Ukraine) DNF Laurens Ten Dam (Netherlands) DNF Bobby Julich (United States Of America) DNF Jason Mccartney (United States Of America) DNF Christian Knees (Germany) DNF Johan Van Summeren (Belgium) DNF Dominique Rollin (Canada) DNF Andriy Grivko (Ukraine) DNF Evgeny Petrov (Russian Federation) DNF Assan Bazayev (Kazakhstan) DNF James Lewis Perry (South Africa) DNF Matti Breschel (Denmark) DNF Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spain) DNF Xavier Florencio Cabre (Spain) DNF Tomislav Danculovic (Croatia) DNF Jure Golcer (Slovenia) DNF Romain Feillu (France) DNF Sandy Casar (France) DNF Hrvoje Miholjevic (Croatia) DNF Martin Mares (Czech Republic) DNF Andrea Tonti (Italy) DNF Matteo Tosatto (Italy) DNF William Walker (Australia) DNF Piotr Zielinski (Poland) DNF Fuyu Li (People's Republic Of China) DNF Petr Bencik (Czech Republic) DNF Maros Kovac (Slovakia) DNF Glen Alan Chadwick (New Zealand) DNF Matej Jurco (Slovakia) DNF Yukiya Arashiro (Japan) DNF Takashi Miyazawa (Japan) DNF Vladislav Borisov (Russian Federation) DNF Dmitriy Fofonov (Kazakhstan) DNF Bruno Neves (Portugal) DNF Marcin Sapa (Poland) DNF Roman Kreuziger (Czech Republic) DNF Kim Kirchen (Luxembourg) DNF Robert Kiserlovski (Croatia) DNF Michael Rogers (Australia) DNF Luis Felipe Laverde Jimenez (Colombia) DNF Krzysztof Szczawinski (Poland) DNF Romas Sinicinas (Lithuania) DNF Matej Stare (Slovenia) DNF Hugo Sabido (Portugal) DNF Martin Garrido Mayorga (Argentina) DNF Frederik Willems (Belgium) DNF Danail Petrov (Bulgaria) DNF Vladimir Gusev (Russian Federation) DNF Roger Hammond (Great Britain) DNF John Devine (United States Of America) DNF Tyler Farrar (United States Of America) DNF Ronny Scholz (Germany) DNF David Kopp (Germany) DNF Volodymyr Bileka (Ukraine) DNF Dmytro Grabovskyy (Ukraine) DNF Scott Davis (Australia) DNF Jacek Morajko (Poland) DNF Hayden Roulston (New Zealand) DNF Maarten Den Bakker (Netherlands) DNF Richard Ochoa Quintero (Venezuela) DNF Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Colombia) DNF Martin Riska (Slovakia) DNF Svein Tuft (Canada) DNF Stéphane Auge (France) DNF Bram Tankink (Netherlands) DNF Matias Medici (Argentina) DNF Nebojsa Jovanovic (Serbia) DNF Stijn Devolder (Belgium) DNF Juan Pablo Dotti (Argentina) DNF Muradjan Khalmuratov (Uzbekistan) DNF Darren Lill (South Africa) DNF Bernhard Kohl (Austria) DNF Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Colombia) DNF Mathew Hayman (Australia) DNF Luis Ministro Moyano (Argentina) DNF Ariel Maximiliano Richeze (Argentina) DNF Borut Bozic (Slovenia) DNF Mark Cavendish (Great Britain) DNF Daryl Impey (South Africa) DNF Fumiyuki Beppu (Japan) DNF Roman Bronis (Slovakia) DNF Andris José Hernandez (Venezuela) DNF Koos Moerenhout (Netherlands) DNF Trent Lowe (Australia) DNF Dainius Kairelis (Lithuania) DNF Mehdi Sohrabi (Islamic Republic Of Iran) DNF Jeremy Vennell (New Zealand) DNF Cameron Evans (Canada) DNF Christian Poos (Luxembourg) DNF Kristijan Durasek (Croatia) DNF Lars Ytting Bak (Denmark) DNF Ruslan Podgornyy (Ukraine) DNF Sergey Kolesnikov (Russian Federation) DNF Juan José Haedo (Argentina) DNF Gerrit Glomser (Austria) DNF Marlon Alirio Perez Arango (Colombia) DNF Zolt Der (Serbia) DNF Mads Kaggestad (Norway) DNF Laurent Didier (Luxembourg) DNF Seyed Mostafa Seyed Rezaei Khormizi (Islamic Republic Of Iran) DNF Alex Cano Ardila (Colombia) DNF David Zabriskie (United States Of America) DNF Renato Seabra (Brazil) DNF Ricardo Martins (Portugal) DNF Aleksejs Saramotins (Latvia) DNF Medhi Fahridi Kovij (Islamic Republic Of Iran) DNF Jan Sipeky (Slovakia) DNF Dragan Spasic (Serbia) DNF Luciano André Pagliarini Mendonca (Brazil) DNF Robert Hunter (South Africa) DNF Mikhaylo Khalilov (Ukraine) DSQ Marzio Bruseghin (Italy) DNS José Rodrigues (Portugal)
