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43rd Amstel Gold Race - PT
Netherlands, April 20, 2008
Main Page Results Live report ProTour standings
Cunego a man for all seasons
Il piccolo principe reigns on the Cauberg
By Brecht Decaluwé and Gregor Brown in Valkenburg, The Netherlands
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Italian Damiano Cunego from Cerro Veronese has won the 43rd edition of the Amstel Gold Race in a nine-man sprint towards the top of the famous Cauberg lump near Valkenburg, The Netherlands. The 26 year-old from the Lampre-Fondital team held off Fränk Schleck and Alejandro Valverde in his first participation in the Amstel Gold Race and went on to claim his first-ever victory in a Spring Classic. Last year's winner Stefan Schumacher couldn't live up to the expectations and finished in a second group that finished 45" behind the light-weighted Italian.
"I was very nervous and impressed," Cunego reacted after his win. "I have never ridden this race and tried to stay cool and follow the others. It's a surprise for me to win here, because I considered it as a test for the upcoming races like Liège-Bastogne-Liège, which I know much better. There are two important races left where I want to excel, but for sure tonight I'll go to bed satisfied," Cunego continued. "There were a lot of attacks and counterattacks during the finale and sometimes I bridged up the gaps myself. I realized it could make me tired, but I knew it was even harder to follow me," the winner of the Giro d'Italia 2004 said, pointing out that he was feeling exceptionally strong.
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The 2008 edition of the most important Dutch cycling race was marked by multiple attacks, which were always quickly neutralized by the teams from the favourites. It was a nervous finale and the climbs of the Eyserbosweg and the Keutenberg didn't bring the expected fireworks, although there was an – unsuccessful – effort from Kim Kirchen and Johan Vansummeren. A little later Sergey Ivanov and Christian Pfannberger anticipated on attacks from the big guns by sneaking away between the Eyserbosweg and the Fromberg, with 17 kilometres to go. These two riders were joined by a group of seven riders including multiple pre-race favourites Fränk Schleck, Davide Rebellin, Damiano Cunego, Karsten Kroon and Thomas Dekker. This decisive breakaway approached the Cauberg with an advantage of 30" on a big group, including last year's winner Stefan Schumacher.
Spanish champion Joaquím Rodríguez Oliver (Caisse d'Epargne) neutralized late attacks from Kroon and Dekker and then led the leaders during the first part of the climb, all in support for his fast team leader Alejandro Valverde. "I talked to Valverde in the final kilometres, and he was going well and had good legs – I wanted to work for him," the Spaniard explained after the race.
When Fränk Schleck jumped away with 500 metres to go, right on the steepest part of the Cauberg, the Spanish champion was dropped, together with Pfannberger, Ivanov and Kroon, who also did some pulling on the final climb for his CSC team leader. The move of the Luxemburger was marked closely by Cunego, followed by Rebellin, Valverde and local favourite Thomas Dekker of Rabobank. A little later Schleck accelerated again and Rebellin had to let go of Cunego's wheel, creating a gap that had to be closed by Valverde. The latter didn't have the power left to come back and by then Dekker was dropped as well. The sprint was almost ruined as the sprinters almost headed into the deviation for the cars, but luckily nobody was hampered by the confusion. With about one hundred metres to go Cunego jumped out of Schleck's wheel and the feathery Italian speeded to his first win in the Amstel Gold Race.
Fränk Schleck - winner in 2006 – jumped away halfway the ultimate ascent of the Cauberg, but his move was neutralized by the little prince, Damiano Cunego. "The only chance for me to win, was trying to jump away before the sprint. I didn't want to do it, but in the radio Bjarne Riis shouted that I had to do it. It almost worked out, but Damiano knew he had to stay on my wheel. He did everything right," Schleck explained about the chosen tactics in the uphill sprint in Valkenburg.
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There were a lot of fast legs in the group that fought for the victory and it was surprising to see that Alejandro Valverde Belmonte couldn't quite match the speed from Cunego and Schleck. Nevertheless, the Spaniard was happy with his performance. "The Spring Classics aren't a real objective for me this year," said Valverde, who wants to perform well in the Tour de France in July. "I didn't have anything left in the tank for the sprint. Clearly, Cunego is the well-deserved winner; he was the strongest man in the race, together with Schleck," Valverde added. Valverde also said: "I'm happy with third place as it is my best ever result in this race."
The runner-up from last year, Davide Rebellin couldn't keep up with the acceleration from Schleck and Cunego, and the 36 year-old had to settle for fourth place this year. "I knew that I could make the difference on the Cauberg. I was going well, but I was not super. It was up to Caisse to do the pulling, and then in the finale I was just hoping to ride on the wheel of a sprinter," said Rebellin to Cyclingnews. Too bad for the winner of this race back in 2004 that he couldn't hold on to the wheel of that sprinter, because it was the winner's wheel. The experienced Italian agreed that he wasn't good enough for the win in the end. "Cunego went really strong today and so he deserved this win," Rebellin concluded.
The man who started the winning break was Astana's Serguei Ivanov. But he paid for his efforts, when he jumped clear and was first joined by Pfannberger and then the others. "I had some cramps in the finale, and I couldn't pull the pedals like it should be on the climbs. That's why I tried to get away. I was in a very good position with Pfannberger but I was without a chance in the sprint," said the 33 year-old Russian. "I gave my best and I'm happy with my performance. I'm in top condition, but it's too bad there are no races left for me anymore," Ivanov reminded us about the non-selection from Team Astana for Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Today's protagonists who missed out for the win receive another chance on Wednesday with the Flèche Wallonne, and next week there's the Liège-Bastogne-Liège that concludes the Spring Classics season.
How it unfolded
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The race started in Maastricht at 10:21am local time. 184 racers rolled across the start line. Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott) with a fever and Sebastian Langeveld (Rabobank) with ongoing knee problems did not start the race.
The break of the day formed around kilometre 35: Kristof Vandewalle (Topsport Vlaanderen), Albert Timmer (Skil-Shimano) and Yuriy Krivtsov (AG2R La Mondiale) were the lucky ones who jumped at the right moment. The peloton wasn't too worried about their escape, and the trio's lead quickly increased to a maximum of 12'43 at the Wolfsberg (the seventh of the 31 climbs to be mastered, some 86 Kilometres after the start).
However, after 100 kilometres raced, the peloton picked up the pace ever so slightly and the gap slowly started to shrink. Another 100 clicks later, with 54 kilometres to go, the breakaway's lead was down to 2'10. On the Wolfsberg (42 kilometres to go), as the charging bunch almost came within sight of the break, Niki Terpstra (Milram) bridged up to it and dragged the fatigued men along to the next hill, the Loorberg, where they finally got caught.
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It was thus a race wide open in the final 40 kilometres, and the attacks didn't cease for some time before the final winning move could eventually distance itself.
First, it was young Dutch climbing sensation Robert Gesink (Rabobank) who jumped just after the break was caught, taking with him Philippe Gilbert (Française des Jeux), Kim Kirchen (High Road), Igor Astarloa (Team Milram) and Mario Aerts (Silence-Lotto). But those five were judged too dangerous and reeled back in before they could achieve a real gap.
Then, with 27 kilometres to the line, Carlo Scognamiglio (Barloworld) tried his luck, but in vain as the bunch was driven by Gerolsteiner, Rabobank, Lampre and Cofidis. Another Italian, Dario Cataldo (Liquigas) jumped with 23 kilometres to go, but also couldn't get away significantly and was caught on the Kruisberg.
The next attack came on the Eyserbosweg, some 18 kilometres before the finish. Kim Kirchen tried again, joined by Lotto's Johan Vansummeren, but the duo only made it to the descent of that climb. By that time, the peloton had significantly shrunk to only about 30 riders, and decision time drew near.
Astana's Serguei Ivanov made another attempt to distance the field with 17 kilometres to go, joined by Christian Pfannberger (Barloworld). The duo even managed a gap of 16 seconds, but it didn't last. However, both riders were still in contention even when the group of favourites caught them after the next-to-last climb, the Keutenberg, which made the peloton fall apart completely.
Rebellin, Cunego and Schleck were the first riders to bridge up to Ivanov and Pfannberger, as a lead group of nine riders emerged: Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner), Serguei Ivanov (Astana), Joachim Rodriguez and Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne), Thomas Dekker (Rabobank), Karsten Kroon and Fränk Schleck (CSC), Damiano Cunego (Lampre) as well as Christian Pfannberger (Barloworld).
With five kilometres left before the final ascent, the Cauberg, this group of nine, out of which Rebellin temporarily attacked, had some 20 seconds over a chase group, which included: Stefan Schumacher and Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner), Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R), Jérôme Pineau (Bouygues), Simon Gerrans (Crédit Agricole), Benoît Vaugrenard (FDJ), Kjell Carlström (Liquigas), Oscar Freire, Robert Gesink (Rabobank), Johan Vansummeren (Lotto) and Kim Kirchen (High Road).
This situation was unchanged as the lead group tackled the last kilometre. On the famous Cauberg leading up to the finish line, Rodriguez led Cunego and Valverde, while Pfannberger was at the back. Then, Kroon pulled hard for Schleck, who was behind Cunego. As Kroon pulled off, the Italian pushed on, with Schleck and Valverde in his wheel. But the Luxemburger ran out of juice as Cunego opened a gap. Valverde, too, was a little short to show his otherwise excellent sprinting abilities. Rebellin and Dekker finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Brecht Decaluwé/Cyclingnews.com
- The broom wagon is being set up.
- The sun was out and a lot of people showed up to see the riders at the start in Maastricht, The Netherlands.
- It's the first year that Michael Boogerd isn't lining up in Maastricht as a rider. He popped up together with his wife and kid.
- Last year Piet Rooijakkers won the Herman Krott trophy for being the most competitive rider in the race; clearly it makes you popular.
- Johan Bruyneel talked with Roberto Amadio at the start of the Amstel Gold Race 2008.
- Cédric Vasseur with family in Maastricht. The Frenchman is now president of the CPA, an organisation that represents the riders at the UCI.
- Philippe Gilbert is the Belgian favourite in the Amstel Gold Race.
- Magnus Backstedt had bad luck in Paris-Roubaix. His wheels were broken on three spots.
- Kim Kirchen is one of the favourites for the win in the Amstel Gold Race.
Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net
- There was a large peloton in the final kilometres which was only broken up in the last 15km.
- Schleck opened up the sprint and gapped off the likes of Rebellin, but Cunego made it to his wheel.
- Cunego closed the gap as Schleck faded and began to come past.
- Damiano Cunego (Lampre) takes his first Spring Classic.
- Cunego finishes his salute and takes a breath.
- Magnus Backstedt (Slipstream Chipotle - H30) is the Swedish Champion.
Images by Elmar Krings
- Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) had a good spring campaign but is starting to get tired.
- Damiano Cunego (Lampre) won the Klasika Primavera recently and is going well.
- Maarten Den Bakker (Skil-Shimano) finished second in 1998.
- Euskaltel wasn't expected to find the hills long enough for their taste.
- Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank) just before the start and showing some confidence.
- Oscar Freire (Rabobank) wanted to deliver a home victory for his Dutch team.
- Philippe Gilbert (Française des Jeux) is ever aggressive and the finish suits his style.
- Kim Kirchen (High Road) was also seen as one of the riders with a chance to win today.
- Andreas Klier and Gerald Ciolek (r) were not considered to be there in the final, although Klier may figure in a break.
- The start in Maastricht was witnessed by a ton of fans.
- The weather cooperated and the riders' presentation was huge success with the locals.
- David Millar (Slipstream Chipotle - H30) before the start in his national champion outfit.
- Francis Mourey (Française des Jeux) takes a drink.
- Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) at the pre-race interview.
- Fränk Schleck with his CSC colleagues on the podium.
- Ronny Scholz (r) and Schumi before the start.
- Stefan Schumacher right after the start and trying to get in position to defend his title.
- The start in Maastricht where the riders could relax for the last time.
- Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) rides up to the start.
- A smiling Erik Zabel (Team Milram) answers questions on the sign-in podium.
- The peloton at the Bergseweg.
- Slipstream was attentive as the peloton was 51 kilometres into the race.
- The lead group with Timmer, Krivtsov and Vandewalle.
- Shake-hands between champs as 2006 winner Schleck congratulates 2008 Amstel Gold first place rider Damiano Cunego.
- Cunego was thrilled at the finish.
- The Italian had a good week in the Basque Country.
- But this win was even better with the podium ladies, the flowers and the Amstel beer later.
- Oscar Freire could not deliver the hoped win for Rabobank and finished 19th.
- Ivanov started the decisive attack but couldn't hang on for the win.
- Christian Pfannberger (Barloworld) did a superb ride but didn't have the legs to follow the top guns; the Barloworld rider got sixth.
- The podium with Schleck, Cunego and Valverde from left to right.
- The new ProTour leader. Cunego took over from André Greipel (High Road).
- Joaquim Rodriguez gave it all for Valverde in the end.
- Andy Schleck comes in and looks at the big screen to see how his brother did.
- Stefan Schumacher didn't have the legs today to repeat his win from last year.
- A lot of checking in the sprint as Cunego realises he will win, while Schleck understands he won't.
- Cunego celebrates a great win.
- The break of the day is led by Albert Timmer.
- Timmer won the PitRooyakkers trophy.
- Fabian Wegmann of Gerolsteiner comes in with his German champ outfit.
- Cunego crosses the line with arms raised and head high.
- Markus Zberg rode in support of the team, but Gerolsteiner couldn't win this time.
- A dejected Rebellin who could not repeat his 2004 performance.
- The Cauberg was awaiting the arrival of the riders for the final showdown.
- Thomas Dekker rolls in a bit frustrated. He did well, but fifth wasn't the win the team had hoped for
- A happy Cunego took over the ProTour lead.
- Karsten Kroon gave it all for his team leader, Fränk Schleck.
Images by DCP/Bert Geerts
- Paul Martens (Rabobank) drove the lead group before pulling out of the race.
- The scenery in Holland's spring was amazing, but the riders had little time to enjoy it.
- The peloton weaves its way through the course.
- The peloton rides three wide down some of the narrow sections of the route.
- A Saunier Duval-Scott rider in the middle of a strung-out peloton.
- An early escape rounds a corner on the Dutch race.
- Dutch rider Albert Timmer (Skil-Shimano) finished 126th.
- Belgian Bert Scheirlinckx (Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner) pushed hard, but finished down in 133rd spot.
- Floris Goesinnen (Skil-Shimano) came home in one of the later groups.
- Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank) wasn't on the pace today, but Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) was.
- Greg Van Avermaet (Silence - Lotto) finished nearly five and a half minutes back.
- Oscar Freire Gomez (Rabobank) is followed by Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner).
- Dutch rider Joost Posthuma (Rabobank) went on to finish outside of the top 100.
- Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank) rides along by himself.
- Karsten Kroon (Team CSC) took ninth place in his home event.
- Dutch rider Karsten Kroon (Team CSC) rides around the outside of another rider.
- Norway's Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Team CSC) finished way back in the pack.
- Maarten Den Bakker (Skil-Shimano) was nearly 10 minutes behind the leaders.
- Magnus Backstedt (Slipstream Chipotle Presented By H30) failed to make the finish.
- Nico Sijmens (Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner) fixed his bike but didn't see the end of the race.
Images by Erik Van Breugel/www.cyclingmoments.com
- The early escape of three riders on the Vrakelberg.
- Kristof Vandewalle (Topsport Vlaanderen) rides in the early escape.
- Belgian Tom Stubbe (Française des Jeux) didn't make the finish.
- Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone) leads a group at the top of the Gulpenberg.
- Thomas Dekker (Rabobank) riding in the peloton at the top of Gulpenberg.
- Robert Gesink (Rabobank) jumped just after the break was caught.
- Australian National Champion Matthew Lloyd (Silence-Lotto) finished in 25th spot.
- Belgian Jelle Vanendert (Française des Jeux) rode in to 38th spot.
- The lead group after the Keutenberg climb.
- Damiano Cunego (Lampre) and Frank Schleck (Team CSC) looking very relaxed on their way to fight for victory.
Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net
- Spectators watched from wherever they could find a spot.
- The last five men to contest for victory on the Cauberg. Schleck and his tongue tried hard to shake Cunego.
- But Cunego prevailed and crossed the Amstel Bier marking ahead of the others.
- Rebellin (r) grits his teeth as Valverde doesn't want to look up and Dekker hangs on.
- Amstel has lots of curves but the nice weather made it less dangerous.
- The peloton strung out single-file through the Dutch country side.
- Cunego was all smiles and it probably hadn't completely sunk in yet, right after the finish.
- The amount of people on the roadside was unbelievable.
- The peloton was as tight as the spectators in the early part of the race.
- Cunego separates himself from Schleck with his brilliant sprint.
- Davide Rebellin tried to attack before the Cauberg, but the others wouldn't let him get away.
- The decisive moment as Kroon had pulled off (far left, background) and Schleck took over – with Cunego being attentive.
- The move that started it when Astana's Ivanov (l) went and Barloworld's Pfannberger caught up; but the others are already closing in.
Results
1 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre 6.35.29 (39.051 km/h) 2 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 3 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0.02 4 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 5 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 0.06 6 Christian Pfannberger (Aut) Barloworld 0.14 7 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Astana 0.18 8 Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0.23 9 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team CSC 0.27 10 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 0.45 11 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner 12 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Crédit Agricole 13 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2r - La Mondiale 14 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française des Jeux 0.51 15 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner 16 Kjell Carlström (Fin) Liquigas 17 Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Silence - Lotto 0.56 18 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2r - La Mondiale 19 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank 20 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team High Road 1.00 21 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 1.19 22 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux 1.27 23 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 24 Jesús Del Nero (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott 25 Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Silence - Lotto 26 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole 1.36 27 Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank 1.47 28 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 1.55 29 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française des Jeux 30 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 31 Aitor Galdos Alonso (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 32 Nicki Sørensen (Den) Team CSC 33 Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Liquigas 34 Mario Aerts (Bel) Silence - Lotto 35 Christophe Brandt (Bel) Silence - Lotto 36 Steve Morabito (Swi) Astana 37 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Team CSC 38 Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Française des Jeux 39 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team High Road 40 Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz) Astana 41 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 2.06 42 Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Astana 43 Hugo Sabido (Por) Barloworld 44 Eros Capecchi (Ita) Saunier Duval - Scott 2.11 45 Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) Team CSC 2.14 46 Christian Knees (Ger) Team Milram 2.18 47 Bert De Waele (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner 2.20 48 Igor Astarloa Ascasibar (Spa) Team Milram 2.36 49 Ruben Lobato Elvira (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott 50 Andrea Tonti (Ita) Quick Step 51 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank 52 Mauro Facci (Ita) Quick Step 2.43 53 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 54 Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 55 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre 2.57 56 Andrea Moletta (Ita) Gerolsteiner 57 Nicolas Roche (Irl) Crédit Agricole 3.13 58 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 3.23 59 Matej Mugerli (Slo) Liquigas 3.42 60 Alberto Fernandez De La Puebla Ramos (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott 61 Markus Zberg (Swi) Gerolsteiner 3.57 62 David De La Fuente Rasilla (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott 5.06 63 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 64 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Quick Step 65 Maxim Iglinsky (Kaz) Astana 66 Dario Cataldo (Ita) Liquigas 5.08 67 René Mandri (Est) AG2r - La Mondiale 5.21 68 Serge Pauwels (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 69 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 5.25 70 Michael Albasini (Swi) Liquigas 71 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC 72 Sven Renders (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 73 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 74 David Millar (GBr) Slipstream Chipotle Presented By H30 75 Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Slipstream Chipotle Presented By H30 76 Adam Hansen (Aus) Team High Road 77 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team High Road 78 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 79 Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Team CSC 80 Josep Jufre Pou (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott 81 Vincent Jérôme (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 82 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Slipstream Chipotle Presented By H30 83 Frederik Willems (Bel) Liquigas 84 Moises Duenas Nevado (Spa) Barloworld 85 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Silence - Lotto 86 Anthony Roux (Fra) Française des Jeux 87 Jonathan Patrick Mc Carty (USA) Slipstream Chipotle Presented By H30 88 Hubert Schwab (Swi) Quick Step 89 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Crédit Agricole 90 Ignas Konovalovas (Ltu) Crédit Agricole 91 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Astana 92 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 93 Alberto Losada Alguacil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 5.37 94 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Rabobank 5.45 95 Thomas Frei (Swi) Astana 6.04 96 David Lopez Garcia (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 7.33 97 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 7.42 98 Jorge Azanza Soto (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 99 Iñaki Isasi Flores (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 100 Juan José Oroz Ugalde (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 101 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Team High Road 102 Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Lampre 103 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 104 Aurélien Passeron (Fra) Saunier Duval - Scott 105 Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 106 Xavier Florencio Cabre (Spa) Bouygues Telecom 8.07 107 Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 108 Roy Curvers (Ned) Skil-Shimano 9.32 109 José Luis Arrieta Lujambio (Spa) AG2r - La Mondiale 110 Yukihiro Doi (Jpn) Skil-Shimano 111 Volodymyr Bileka (Ukr) Silence - Lotto 112 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) AG2r - La Mondiale 113 Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Skil-Shimano 114 Niki Terpstra (Ned) Team Milram 115 Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank 116 Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Quick Step 117 Leonardo Scarselli (Ita) Quick Step 118 Amaël Moinard (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 119 Martin Velits (Svk) Team Milram 120 Addy Engels (Ned) Quick Step 121 Ronny Scholz (Ger) Gerolsteiner 122 Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Crédit Agricole 123 Kristof Vandewalle (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 124 Giampaolo Cheula (Ita) Barloworld 125 Valerio Agnoli (Ita) Liquigas 126 Albert Timmer (Ned) Skil-Shimano 127 Floris Goesinnen (Ned) Skil-Shimano 128 Simon Spilak (Slo) Lampre 129 Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre 130 Carlo Scognamiglio (Ita) Barloworld 131 Francis Mourey (Fra) Française des Jeux 132 Steve Zampieri (Swi) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 9.52 133 Bert Scheirlinckx (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner 14.22 134 Renaud Dion (Fra) AG2r - La Mondiale 135 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 16.55 136 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Lampre 137 Marco Corti (Ita) Barloworld 19.12 138 Tom Veelers (Ned) Skil-Shimano 139 Christopher Froome (Ken) Barloworld 140 Johan Coenen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 141 Andry Grivko (Ukr) Team Milram 142 Björn Schröder (Ger) Team Milram 143 Sébastien Delfosse (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner 144 Benjamin Gourgue (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner 145 Laurent Lefèvre (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 146 Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 147 Tony Martin (Ger) Team High Road DNF Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner DNF Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner DNF Julien Loubet (Fra) AG2r - La Mondiale DNF Alexandr Pliuschin (Mda) AG2r - La Mondiale DNF Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Astana DNF Erki Pütsep (Est) Bouygues Telecom DNF José Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne DNF Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone DNF Christophe Kern (Fra) Crédit Agricole DNF Maxime Méderel (Fra) Crédit Agricole DNF Francisco Javier Aramendia (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi DNF Christophe Mengin (Fra) Française des Jeux DNF Tom Stubbe (Bel) Française des Jeux DNF Maarten Wynants (Bel) Quick Step DNF Paul Martens (Ger) Rabobank DNF Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Silence - Lotto DNF Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Silence - Lotto DNF Michael Barry (Can) Team High Road DNF Andreas Klier (Ger) Team High Road DNF Paolo Bossoni (Ita) Lampre DNF Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre DNF Enrico Poitschke (Ger) Team Milram DNF John-Lee Augustyn (RSA) Barloworld DNF Paul Manning (GBr) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner DNF Steven Kleynen (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner DNF Jan Kuyckx (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner DNF Nico Sijmens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner DNF Robert Wagner (Ger) Skil-Shimano DNF Piet Rooijakkers (Ned) Skil-Shimano DNF Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Slipstream Chipotle Presented By H30 DNF Jason Donald (USA) Slipstream Chipotle Presented By H30 DNF Huub Duyn (Ned) Slipstream Chipotle Presented By H30 DNF Kilian Patour (Fra) Slipstream Chipotle Presented By H30 DNF Koen Barbé (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen DNF Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen DNF Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen DNS Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval - Scott
ProTour standings
1 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre 73 pts 2 André Greipel (Ger) Team High Road 62 3 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 58 4 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 52 5 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step 50 6 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 45 7 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto 42 8 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank 40 9 Nick Nuyens (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 40 10 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Rabobank 35 11 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 32 12 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Bouygues Telecom 30 13 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre 30 14 Mickael Delage (Fra) Française des Jeux 30 15 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 25 16 Wouter Weylandt (Bel) Quick Step 25 17 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 25 18 George Hincapie (USA) Team High Road 25 19 Mickaël Buffaz (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 25 20 Alberto Benitez Roman (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott 21 21 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team High Road 21 22 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 20 23 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 20 24 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 20 25 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas 20 26 Kjell Carlström (Fin) Liquigas 15 27 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC 15 28 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 12 29 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux 10 30 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Silence - Lotto 10 31 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Astana 7 32 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC 7 33 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Crédit Agricole 7 34 Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 5 35 Simon Spilak (Slo) Lampre 5 36 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank 4 37 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team CSC 3 38 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner 3 39 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step 3 40 Allan Johansen (Den) Team CSC 2 41 Morris Possoni (Ita) Team High Road 2 42 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner 2 43 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 1 44 Roger Hammond (GBr) Team High Road 1 45 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank 1 Teams 1 Team CSC 72 pts 2 Caisse d'Epargne 70 3 Astana 70 4 Rabobank 67 5 Silence-Lotto 67 6 Team High Road 61 7 Gerolsteiner 57 8 Française Des Jeux 53 9 Saunier Duval-Scott 52 10 Liquigas 50 11 Quick Step 46 12 Team Milram 46 13 Euskaltel - Euskadi 44 14 Cofidis, le Credit Par Telephone 44 15 Ag2r-La Mondiale 39 16 Credit Agricole 37 17 Bouygues Telecom 35 18 Lampre 31 Nations 1 Spain 203 pts 2 Belgium 150 3 Italy 146 4 Germany 87 5 France 66 6 Australia 61 7 Netherlands 55 8 Luxembourg 53 9 Switzerland 30 10 United States Of America 25 11 Finland 15 12 Norway 15 13 Russian Federation 7 14 Slovenia 5 15 Denmark 2 16 Great Britain 1
