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70th Gent-Wevelgem - ProT

Belgium, April 9, 2008

Main Page    Results    Live report

Oscar 'The Cat' Freire takes revenge

Three-time World Champ the first Spaniard to win Gent-Wevelgem

By Bjorn Haake and Brecht Decaluwé in Wevelgem, with additional reporting by Gregor Brown

Oscar Freire (Rabobank), 32, becomes the first Spaniard to win Gent-Wevelgem as he wins the sprint up the road's right side.
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)

Oscar Freire won the 70th Gent-Wevelgem from a bunch sprint, forced by his strong Rabobank team, which reeled in the last breakaway attempts with two kilometres remaining. The 32 year-old Spaniard was perfectly led-out and started the sprint early, with more than 250m to go, on the right hand side of the road. Neither Aurélien Clerc (Bouygues Telecom) nor Wouter Weylandt (Quick Step) could come around and finished in second and third, respectively.

An exhausted Freire said that "I had good legs, but the race was difficult to control. There was a head wind in the end."

He was aware of the historic implication of his victory. "It's great, I am the first Spaniard who has won here." But he was convinced that sooner or later it had to come that way. Juan Antonio "Flecha could have won it, if there wouldn't have been any motorbikes; seems it was the organiser's fault [in 2005 - ed.] And I was close last year." And he was happy that unlike last year, when he had to surrender to Team T-Mobile in the decisive break, "this year, I could celebrate a beautiful victory."

Aurélien Clerc (Bouygues Telecom) challenges
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)

Swiss Clerc was not too unhappy by finishing behind the favorito numero uno. "Well, although I had good legs, Freire did create a big gap on us, so I'm not too disappointed. Of course, a win in a race like this would've been fantastic," Clerc daydreamed about things that didn't happen. He had the best possible position to start sprinting. "I sat on Freire's wheel, and that wheel delivered me a great result," Clerc smiled.

The second assent of the Kemmelberg lit up the action with 39 kilometres to go, but could not prevent a bunch sprint in the end. The danger break of Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas), Matti Breschel (Team CSC) and Philippe Gilbert (Française des Jeux), which developed the second time up the cobbled 'Kemmel,' was interrupted when Breschel flatted. The peloton did break in half after the Kemmelberg, reducing the number of potential contenders quite a bit.

CSC's attempt to let first Kurt-Asle Arvesen – with Martin Elmiger (Ag2r-La Mondiale) – and then Stuart O'Grady – with Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas) and Frédéric Guesdon (Française des Jeux) – slip off the front seemed to be working when the two groups merged, with ten kilometres to go. However, with the first peloton never more than a good half-dozen seconds behind, the bunch sprint materialised, when the last attempts by O'Grady and Quinziato were stopped cold at 1800 metres to go.

The high speeds through the streets of Wevelgem prevented any last-minute attacks, where Team Liquigas tried to control things before Rabobank re-emerged ahead of the peloton on the finishing straight to deliver its star rider for a long, final push to the line.

One rider was extremely irritated after the race. Mark Cavendish couldn't deliver the win for High Road, since he didn't even sprint. "Too dangerous, too dangerous," the British rider shouted. "There was no wind and people sprinted who can't even sprint. Okay, it's their right, as it's a one-day race." Cavendish continued fuming. "I nearly crashed five times in the last two kilometres. Five times!" Did he have the legs to win? "Yes, but I didn't even sprint."

Freire confirmed that the sprints are dangerous, but it was nothing new for him. "Dangerous? Yes, between us cyclists. But in the end it was a great race." He admitted there are "some dangerous sprinters out there," but would not give names. Freire just stated that "it's modern cycling. Positioning is very important."

Australian sprinter Robbie McEwen (Silence-Lotto) rode a strong race and featured in the first group that made it over the Kemmelberg, which is often a key moment in the Belgian race. "On the Kemmelberg I went full gas and afterwards I noticed that I didn't have any team-mates around," McEwen explained. When asked whether a team-mate could've helped him into a better position, McEwen agreed. "Of course, it would be of some help. It doesn't matter who would've done it, as long as there would be someone. I tried to find my own way in the sprint, but I received a couple of nudges during the build-up. I was in a good position, but I ended up riding in the wind during the final kilometre."

The 35 year-old is still without a win in the 2008 season, although illness and some crashes bothered his build-up this season (see feature). "I haven't been able to think about winning up until now. I hoped on today, but it didn't happen. Actually I'm okay with the current situation. It's the press that makes a big deal out of it." Two weeks ago, McEwen pointed out that he is keen on winning one of the 'semi-classics' this season -- namely Dwars door Vlaanderen, Gent-Wevelgem and the Scheldeprijs -- the first two events have been claimed by Sylvian Chavanel and Oscar Freire, so next week is the last chance for him to add to his rich palmarès during the Spring Classics season.

Flecha gained 40 points in the ProTour competition, tying him with Nick Nuyens for fourth. Despite being sick and not able to start the race, German André Greipel (High Road) kept his lead, with 62 points. Ronde van Vlaanderen winner, Stijn Devolder (Quick Step), holds second with 50 points, and José Joaquín Rojas (Caisse d'Epargne) is in third with 45 points.

How it unfolded

The day's escape artist: Ermanno Capelli (Saunier Duval-Scott) – the Italian took a gap of over ten minutes in an escape that lasted 75 kilometres
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)

The riders of the 70th Gent-Wevelgem rolled out of the start town, Deinze, around 11:45 under partly-cloudy skies. Non-starters were Tomas Vaitkus (Astana) and ProTour leader André Greipel (High Road).

Immediately attacks marked the race as it travelled westward towards De Panne. Active in a group of 18 riders were Servais Knaven (High Road), Artur Gajek (Team Milram) and Alessandro Donati (Acqua Sapone-Caffè Mokambo). Three kilometres later, with 195 kilometres remaining, the group was pulled back by the fast-charging peloton, led for some time by Het Volk winner Philippe Gilbert (Française des Jeux).

Italian Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas)
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)

Olivier Kaisen (Silence-Lotto) surged at 187 kilometres remaining, but the move by the Belgian came to nothing. It was not until kilometre 107 (with 102km to go) that any rider was allowed space, and that privilege was granted to one rider, Italian Ermanno Capelli (Saunier Duval-Scott). The 22 year-old quickly gained an advantage, and by kilometre 125 (with 84km to go) he had nine minutes.

The gap shot up to over 10 minutes with 85 kilometre remaining with teams High Road and Silence-Lotto leading the charge. However, the gap was down by one minute on the first approach to the town of Kemmel.

Alexandre Blain (Cofidis) and Roy Curvers (Skil-Shimano) were involved in a little incident at kilometre 136. Both riders were able to continue racing, trying to re-join the Liquigas-led peloton. Capelli maintained 8'03" at this point.

Capelli started the Monteberg, kilometre 140, with 6'40" in hand. At the foot of the Kemmelberg, with 61 kilometers remaining, Capelli had 6'10" over the peloton. The Italian climbed with grace, managing his strength for the race finale. Matti Breschel (Team CSC) led Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas) over the top of Kemmelberg with a gap on the main pack and 4'46" behind the leader.

Gilbert launched an attack with 53 kilometres remaining to bridge the gap crated by Pozzato and Breschel, who were now some 40 seconds off the main group. Five kilometres later, the Belgian joined the Italian and Dane; the trio were 3'13" behind Capelli and 1'20" ahead of the peloton.

Matti Breschel (Team CSC) flatted at kilometre 171 and was forced to return to the peloton. The duo pressed on. Capelli hit the base of the Kemmelberg with 1'57" on Pozzato and Gilbert, and 2'55" on the peloton. Ballan was up front and active withinin the peloton.

Stijn Devolder (Quick Step)
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)

The race started to really take shape over the top of the second passage of the Kemmelberg, where Capelli had 45" over Pozzato and Gilbert. A group formed with Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) and Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank), they got a small gap over the main group, which was being led by Rabobank for Freire.

Frédéric Guesdon (Française des Jeux) leads the escape
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)

At 30 kilometres to go, Capelli had 25" on Pozzato and Gilbert and 38" on the main chase. Gilbert led Pozzato when they tagged Capelli at 27 kilometres from Wevelgem. Capelli held on the back, as the trio had 20 seconds over the Rabobank charge. In addition to the Dutch team, there was Team High Road gathering at the front for Mark Cavendish.

Two kilometres later it was gruppo compatto. The next move came with 18 kilometres remaining, when E3 Prijs winner, Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Team CSC), launched free and then was joined by Martin Elmiger (AG2R La Mondiale). The Norwegian/Swiss duo gained 15 seconds.

Frédéric Guesdon (Française des Jeux) and Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas) worked off the front, being marked by Stuart O'Grady (Team CSC). The trio were five seconds off the front duo and 10 seconds ahead of the main chase at 12 kilometres remaining. Two kilometres later, the three joined the duo, to form a move of five, which had two CSC riders: O'Grady and Arvesen.

Their fight was good, but the gap was slim and their capture came with 1,800 metres to go.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

Images by Bjorn Haake/Cyclingnews.com

Images by Brecht Decaluwé/Cyclingnews.com

Results

1 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank                              4.53.06 (42.784 km/h)
2 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Bouygues Telecom                                 
3 Wouter Weylandt (Bel) Quick Step                                      
4 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram                                          
5 Kenny De Haes (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen                               
6 Luca Paolini (Ita) Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo                       
7 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                         
8 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC                                         
9 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                  
10 Roger Hammond (GBr) Team High Road                                   
11 Hervé Duclos-Lassalle (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone        
12 Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner                                     
13 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas                                       
14 Rony Martias (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                  
15 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole                                   
16 Guennadi Mikhailov (Rus) Mitsubishi-Jartazi                          
17 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team High Road                                  
18 Sven Renders (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen                               
19 Tom Veelers (Ned) Skil-Shimano                                       
20 Matti Breschel (Den) Team CSC                                        
21 Koldo Fernandez De Larrea (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                  
22 Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Astana                                        
23 Baden Cooke (Aus) Barloworld                                         
24 Michael Schär (Swi) Astana                                           
25 Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne                                  
26 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Team Milram                                     
27 Borut Bozic (Slo) Cycle Collstrop                                    
28 Renaud Dion (Fra) AG2r - La Mondiale                                 
29 Alexandre Usov (Blr) AG2r - La Mondiale                              
30 Aaron Kemps (Aus) Astana                                             
31 Aurélien Passeron (Fra) Saunier Duval - Scott                        
32 Gabriele Balducci (Ita) Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo                 
33 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Silence - Lotto                                  
34 Luis Pasamontes Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                     
35 Allan Johansen (Den) Team CSC                                        
36 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Quick Step                                     
37 Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                              
38 Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) AG2r - La Mondiale                           
39 Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Skil-Shimano                                    
40 Imanol Erviti Ollo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                            
41 Jesus DEL NERO MONTES                                                
42 Marco Marcato (Ita) Cycle Collstrop                                  
43 Koen De Kort (Ned) Astana                                            
44 Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Crédit Agricole                                    
45 Markel Irizar Aranburu (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                     
46 Juan José Oroz Ugalde (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                      
47 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2r - La Mondiale                              
48 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) AG2r - La Mondiale                              
49 Martin Müller (Ger) Team Milram                                      
50 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Crédit Agricole                              
51 Christophe Mengin (Fra) Française des Jeux                           
52 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre                                       
53 George Hincapie (USA) Team High Road                                 
54 Gabriel Rasch (Nor) Crédit Agricole                                  
55 Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Lampre                                       
56 Luca Barla (Ita) Team Milram                                         
57 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                    
58 Mauro Da Dalto (Ita) Liquigas                                        
59 Fabio Baldato (Ita) Lampre                                           
60 Steffen Wesemann (Swi) Cycle Collstrop                               
61 Andreas Klier (Ger) Team High Road                                   
62 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française des Jeux                            
63 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step                                      
64 Frederik Willems (Bel) Liquigas                                      
65 Pedro Horrillo Munoz (Spa) Rabobank                                  
66 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC                                     
67 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC                                     
68 Tom Leezer (Ned) Rabobank                                            
69 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Rabobank                          
70 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre                                       
71 Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Crédit Agricole                             
72 Vincent Jérôme (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                
73 Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank                                          
74 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quick Step                                      
75 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas                                      
76 Murilo Fischer (Bra) Liquigas                                        
77 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step                                      
78 José Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                    
79 Ermanno Capelli (Ita) Saunier Duval - Scott                      0.13
80 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank                                     0.15
81 Frédéric Guesdon (Fra) Française des Jeux                        0.19
82 Carlo Scognamiglio (Ita) Barloworld                              0.46
83 Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) Barloworld                            0.51
84 Kasper Klostergaard Larsen (Den) Team CSC                            
85 Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen                       
86 Luciano André Pagliarini Mendonca (Bra) Saunier Duval - Scott    1.09
87 Alexandre Blain (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone              
88 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Astana                                          
89 Raul Alarcon Garcia (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott                      
90 Filip Meirhaeghe (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner            4.58
91 Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo                  
92 Kevin Neirynck (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner                  
93 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank                                          
94 James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Mitsubishi-Jartazi                         
95 Bastian Giling (Ned) Cycle Collstrop                                 
96 Stefan Van Dijk (Ned) Mitsubishi-Jartazi                             
97 Kurt Hovelynck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen                             
98 Kenny Robert Van Hummel (Ned) Skil-Shimano                           
99 Andrea Masciarelli (Ita) Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo                
100 Vicente Reynes Mimo (Spa) Team High Road                            
101 Vytautas Kaupas (Ltu) Mitsubishi-Jartazi                            
102 Kristof Goddaert (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen                          
103 Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2r - La Mondiale                              
104 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                               
105 Servais Knaven (Ned) Team High Road                                 
106 Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen                          
107 Steven Kleynen (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner                 
108 Alan Perez Lezaun (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                         
109 Laurent Mangel (Fra) AG2r - La Mondiale                             
110 Francisco Javier Aramendia (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                
111 Daryl Impey (RSA) Barloworld                                        
112 Erki Pütsep (Est) Bouygues Telecom                                  
113 Aleksandr Kuchynski (Blr) Liquigas                                                
114 Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Cycle Collstrop                                
115 Matthé Pronk (Ned) Cycle Collstrop                                  
116 Andrei Kunitski (Blr) Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo                  
117 Frank Hoj (Den) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone                   
118 Jürgen Roelandts (Bel) Silence - Lotto                              
119 Alessandro Donati (Ita) Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo                
120 Paolo Fornaciari (Ita) Lampre                                       
121 Christopher Froome (Ken) Barloworld                                 
122 Marco Bandiera (Ita) Lampre                                         
123 Oscar Gatto (Ita) Gerolsteiner                                      
124 Geert Omloop (Bel) Mitsubishi-Jartazi                               
125 Patrick Calcagni (Swi) Barloworld                                   
126 Michal Golas (Pol) Cycle Collstrop                                  
127 Yohann Gène (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                  
128 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Crédit Agricole                              
129 Sebastian Siedler (Ger) Skil-Shimano                                
130 Stephan Schreck (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                  
131 Mathieu Drujon (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne                               
132 Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Team CSC                                    
133 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas                                    
134 Enrico Poitschke (Ger) Team Milram                                  
135 Thomas Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                    
136 Markus Eichler (Ger) Team Milram                                    
137 Christian Knees (Ger) Team Milram                                   
138 Artur Gajek (Ger) Team Milram                                       
139 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Crédit Agricole                                
140 Fabien Patanchon (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne                             
141 Timothy Gudsell (NZl) Française des Jeux                            
142 Paolo Bossoni (Ita) Lampre                                          
143 Mickael Delage (Fra) Française des Jeux                             
144 José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                 
145 Bert Scheirlinckx (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner              
146 Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                      
147 Mathieu Ladagnous (Fra) Française des Jeux                          
148 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Française des Jeux                         
149 Nick Gates (Aus) Silence - Lotto                                    
150 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step                                         
151 Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Quick Step                                 
152 Pieter Jacobs (Bel) Silence - Lotto                                 
153 Gianni Meersman (Bel) Française des Jeux                            
154 Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Skil-Shimano                               
155 Floris Goesinnen (Ned) Skil-Shimano                                 
156 Josu Agirre Aseginolaza (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                   
157 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Quick Step                                     
158 Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen                        
159 Romain Villa (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone                
160 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team High Road                                 
161 Ian Stannard (GBr) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner                   
162 Mathieu Heijboer (Ned) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone            
163 Wim De Vocht (Bel) Silence - Lotto                                  
164 Beñat Albizuri Aransolo (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                   
165 René Haselbacher (Aut) Astana                                       
166 Grégory Rast (Swi) Astana                                           
167 Yann Huguet (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone                 
168 Stéphane Poulhies (Fra) AG2r - La Mondiale                          
169 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team CSC                                      
170 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Silence - Lotto                             
171 Marco Corti (Ita) Barloworld                                        
172 Bert Roesems (Bel) Silence - Lotto                                  
173 Raynold Smith (RSA) Cycle Collstrop                                 
174 Dirk Bellemakers (Ned) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner               
175 Lander Aperribay (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                     10.25
176 Niko Eeckhout (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen                             
177 Denis Flahaut (Fra) Saunier Duval - Scott                           
178 Tom Steels (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner                     
179 Simone Masciarelli (Ita) Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo               
180 Carlo Westphal (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                   
181 Michiel Elijzen (Ned) Rabobank                                      
182 Jens Mouris (Ned) Mitsubishi-Jartazi                                            
 
Teams
 
1 Bouygues Telecom                                                  
2 Team CSC                                                          
3 Caisse d'Epargne                                                  
4 Astana                                                            
5 Gerolsteiner                                                      
6 Team Milram                                                       
7 Team High Road                                                    
8 Ag2r-La Mondiale                                                  
9 Quick Step                                                        
10 Topsport Vlaanderen                                              
11 Credit Agricole                                                  
12 Euskaltel - Euskadi                                              
13 Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo                                     
14 Cycle Collstrop                                                  
15 Rabobank                                                         
16 Liquigas                                                         
17 Saunier Duval-Scott                                              
18 Skil-Shimano                                                     
19 Lampre                                                           
20 Barloworld                                                       
21 Française Des Jeux                                               
22 Mitsubishi-Jartazi                                               
23 Cofidis, le Credit Par Telephone                                 
24 Landbouwkrediet - Tonissteiner                                   
25 Silence-Lotto                                                    
 
ProTour Rankings
 
Individual
 
1 André Greipel (Ger) Team High Road                              62 pts
2 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step                                 50
3 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                   45
4 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank                               40
5 Nick Nuyens (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone             40
6 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Rabobank                     35
7 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Bouygues Telecom                           30
8 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre                                  30
9 Mickael Delage (Fra) Française des Jeux                         30
10 Wouter Weylandt (Bel) Quick Step                               25
11 George Hincapie (USA) Team High Road                           25
12 Mickaël Buffaz (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone         25
13 Alberto Benitez Roman (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott              21
14 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram                                   20
15 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas                                 20
16 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC                               15
17 Kjell Carlström (Fin) Liquigas                                 15
18 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Silence - Lotto                        10
19 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                   10
20 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC                                   7
21 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Crédit Agricole                              7
22 Simon Spilak (Slo) Lampre                                       5
23 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank                                     4
24 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner                            3
25 Allan Johansen (Den) Team CSC                                   2
26 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner                               2
27 Roger Hammond (GBr) Team High Road                              1
28 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank                                    1
 
Teams
 
1 Team CSC                                                        46 pts
2 Team High Road                                                  43
3 Astana                                                          42
4 Caisse d'Epargne                                                40
5 Quick Step                                                      40
6 Française Des Jeux                                              33
7 Liquigas                                                        33
8 Silence-Lotto                                                   32
9 Rabobank                                                        29
10 Cofidis, le Credit Par Telephone                               29
11 Team Milram                                                    27
12 Saunier Duval-Scott                                            26
13 Euskaltel - Euskadi                                            25
14 Ag2r-La Mondiale                                               25
15 Bouygues Telecom                                               22
16 Gerolsteiner                                                   21
17 Lampre                                                         18
18 Credit Agricole                                                16
 
Nations
 
1 Spain                                                          151 pts
2 Belgium                                                        125
3 Germany                                                         87
4 France                                                          55
5 Italy                                                           50
6 Switzerland                                                     30
7 United States Of America                                        25
8 Australia                                                       19
9 Norway                                                          15
10 Finland                                                        15
11 Slovenia                                                        5
12 Denmark                                                         2
13 Great Britain                                                   1