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63rd Vuelta a España - GT
Spain, August 30 - September 21, 2008
Main Page Results Overall standings Stage Details Live report Previous Stage Next Stage
Stage 7 - September 6: Barbastro - Andorra, 223.2km
Ballan takes dramatic season first win
Stage win and overall to Italian Classics man
By Gregor Brown, with addition reporting from Bjorn Haake in Andorra
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Better known for his status in the Spring Classics, Alessandro Ballan claimed victory and the overall race lead the first high-mountain stage of the Vuelta a España – 223.2 kilometres from Barbastro to Andorra. The 28 year-old Italian formed part of the day's escape group 18 kilometres into the day that was marked with four categorised climbs, including the mountain top arrival on La Rabassa.
"I started the day thinking to go tranquilo and to prepare for the Worlds. But then, I was in the break. With 30 kilometres to go I still didn't know if I could win. I am satisfied with the victory," said Ballan.
Ballan – 2'30" down at the start of the day – ensured the day's winnings with a solo bid at kilometre 209. He left behind Marc De Maar (Rabobank), part of an early escape that also included Gianni Meersman (Française des Jeux), Iñigo Landaluze (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Xabier Zandio (Caisse d'Epargne).
The overall favourites were hot on Ballan's heels. Giro d'Italia winner Alberto Contador of Team Astana was the first to play his cards in the final two kilometres. Ezequiel Mosquera of Team Xacobeo Galicia closed down his fellow Spaniard for second on the stage, but Contador gained a precious five seconds on competitors like Spain's Carlos Sastre of Team CSC-Saxo Bank.
Ballan now controls the overall lead by one minute over America's Levi Leipheimer of Team Astana and Frenchman and 1'21" former race leader, Sylvain Chavanel of Team Cofidis.
"I was a bit afraid that the favourites would go all out at the last climb, but it wasn't too hard and didn't require that much strength," continued Ballan, whose last race win was in the Tour de Pologne. "I am dedicating this victory to my daughter, who was born in August, and to my family."
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Mosquera was proud of his day, which included hard racing conditions. "It was tough today with the rain. I didn't have a great start to the Vuelta. The time trial was bad [29th at 2'09" down - ed.]. I didn't think it was going to be my Vuelta, but my form has changed. Now I am feeling good," he said.
The day started unlike the others with a cold air – down to 15°C from the usually 30°C. Riders, after the first rest day, rolled out at an early start of 11:28 to face the four categorised climbs – cumulating with the second accent of the La Rabassa – and intermittent rain.
The escape of the day moved free near kilometre 18. It contained Ballan, Netherlands' De Maar, Spain's Zandio and Landaluze, Belgium's Meersman and France's David Moncoutié (Cofidis). Chavanel's team-mate Moncoutié did not stay and play, but the remaining five carried on.
The move had a solid six-plus minutes in hand by kilometre 38 – 6'25". The gap continued to grow and Ballan – 2'30" down at the start of the day – was in the virtual maillot oro for most of the day. At the base of the first climb, Puerto de Montllobar, the gap was 8'50". It grew to 10'35" over the Cofidis-led peloton by the start of the third category Collado de Faidella.
The first pass of the Alto de la Rabassa sorted out the escape. The leaders dropped Xabier Zandio at kilometre 181, 12.4 kilometres to the top. Compatriot Landaluze was next, but he maintained contact and passed the summit – kilometre 193.4 – only 18 back of the front trio. A chase trio – Patrice Halgand (Crédit Agricole), Egoi Martínez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Carlos Castaño (Xacobeo Galicia) – formed in pursuit of the leaders. It gained some ground on the peloton, but was reeled back by Rabassa's summit. The peloton, near 45 riders and led by Sergio Paulinho (Astana), passed 6'27" behind the leaders.
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World Champion Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) and David Garcia (Xacobeo Galicia) broke free on the decent. They formed a new trio with Zandio for the start of the day's final climb. They held one minute on the peloton around three kilometres into the climb – kilometre 209.
Ballan takes control
After a brief surge ahead by Landaluze, Ballan took control of the stage. He held 1'28" on De Maar 3'40" on Meersman at kilometre 213 – just over ten kilometres to race. The peloton was at 5'35" back and the new Spanish duo – Mauricio Ardila Cano (Rabobank) and David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) – were in the middle.
The heat was on in the group of classification favourites despite the chilly mountain temperatures. In the following seven kilometres, the chase halved the gap and Ballan's chances for the overall lead.
Contador moved to distance his rivals and only Mosquera was there to mark from the chasing group of six. Contador finished third and Joaquím Rodríguez (Caisse d'Epargne) came in five seconds back with Leipheimer, Igor Antón (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Sastre. Race favourite and winner of stage two, Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne), lost 50 seconds to the favourites.
Stage 8 - September 7: Andorra - Pla de Beret, 151km
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The peloton won't enjoy the downhill out of Andorra for long during stage eight. After only 23 kilometres the grind of the day starts, with the category one Cantó the first obstacle of the day along the 151-kilometre long route. It is quickly followed by the Alto de Enviny.
Then the tough Puerto de La Bonaigua stands in the way of the riders. It is a stair-step like climb that forces the cyclists to constantly change their rhythm. The summit is at 2070 metres, the highest point of the 2008 Vuelta a España.
The final will be the hors-category finish climb to the Pla de Beret. It is only 1880 metres high and not quite as steep, but it is the finishing climb after all and deserves its higher ranking.
The Pla de Beret was used as a stage finish three times so far. It was scheduled one more time, but in 209.51 the stage was cancelled due to snow in the Puerto de la Bonaigua. With the move from the spring to late summer, this should not happen this time.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by AFP
- Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) celebrates his win.
- Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) was not deterred by the weather.
- Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) got the yellow jersey, too!
- Kisses for the man in yellow Alessandro Ballan (Lampre).
- The peltoon on the first day in the Pyrenees
- Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone) wore yellow going into the day.
Images by Bjorn Haake/Cyclingnews.com
- Alessandro Ballan soloed to victory on a rainy day.
- Marc De Maar (Rabobank) was chasing hard eight kilometres from the finish.
- Mauricio Ardila Cano (Rabobank) leads David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) on the easier part of the climb.
- Arroyo looked a tad tense.
- Levi Leipheimer (Astana) is out of the saddle while Contador didn't want to look.
- Carlos Sastre (CSC-Saxo Bank) was in the group as was Valverde (partially hidden, in black on the right) and Chavanel (behind Sastre in yellow).
- Patrice Halgand (Crédit Agricole) struggled up the climb.
- Imanol Erviti (Caisse d'Epargne) preferred his rain jacket on the way up.
Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti
- Italian Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) heads to the line.
- Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) keeps the wheels turning.
- Ezequiel Mosquera (Xacobeo Galicia) gets a gap.
- Ezequiel Mosquera (Xacobeo Galicia)
- Alberto Contador (Astana) leads Carlos Sastre (CSC-Saxo Bank), l, and Joaquím Rodríguez (Caisse d'Epargne).
- Alberto Contador (Astana) is about to attack.
- Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner)
- Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis) closes to the line behind Mauricio Ardila Cano (Rabobank).
- Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis) riding in, but about to lose the maillot oro.
- Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) comes in with some time loss.
- Damiano Cunego (Lampre)
- Matthew Lloyd (Silence-Lotto)
- Carlos Sastre (CSC-Saxo Bank)
- Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis)
- Andreas Klöden (Astana)
- World Champion Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) looks to another day.
- Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) comes though the mist to claim the stage and the race overall.
- Italy's Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) gets some warmth after a hard stage.
- Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) presented on the podium
- Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) takes the overall lead in the 63rd Vuelta a España.
- Italy's Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) salutes the crowd.
Results
1 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre 6.15.51 2 Ezequiel Mosquera Miguez (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia 2.42 3 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 2.45 4 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 2.50 5 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 6 Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 7 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 8 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 3.03 9 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre 3.11 10 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 11 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 12 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 3.15 13 Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Gerolsteiner 14 Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Rabobank 3.21 15 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 16 Javier Moreno Bazan (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 3.39 17 Iñigo Cuesta Lopez De Castro (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 18 Alberto Losada Alguacil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 3.40 19 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 20 Dominique Cornu (Bel) Silence - Lotto 3.46 21 Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 3.48 22 Gustavo Cesar Veloso (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia 3.58 23 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 4.13 24 Marc De Maar (Ned) Rabobank 4.18 25 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 4.20 26 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre 27 Matti Breschel (Den) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 5.33 28 Martin Velits (Svk) Team Milram 6.37 29 Ivan Rovny (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems 7.33 30 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Quick Step 7.40 31 Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre 7.41 32 Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Silence - Lotto 33 José Antonio Carrasco Ramirez (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 34 Dmitry Kozontchuk (Rus) Rabobank 7.44 35 Luis Pasamontes Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 36 Nicolas Roche (Irl) Crédit Agricole 37 José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Astana 8.29 38 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 9.02 39 David Garcia Dapena (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia 9.25 40 Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 9.37 41 Vasili Kiryienka (Blr) Tinkoff Credit Systems 9.40 42 Roy Sentjens (Bel) Silence - Lotto 9.57 43 Gianni Meersman (Bel) Française des Jeux 9.59 44 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux 45 Carlos Panadero Castano (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia 46 Iñigo Landaluze Intxaurraga (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 47 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step 10.30 48 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Lampre 10.45 49 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 50 Xavier Florencio Cabre (Spa) Bouygues Telecom 10.46 51 David Moncoutié (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 52 Sergio Miguel Paulinho Moreira (Por) Astana 11.25 53 Iban Mayoz (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia 11.52 54 Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Crédit Agricole 12.07 55 José Luis Carrasco Gamiz (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 12.36 56 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 57 Theo Eltink (Ned) Rabobank 58 Evgeny Petrov (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems 14.15 59 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Silence - Lotto 16.07 60 Andry Grivko (Ukr) Team Milram 61 Nikita Eskov (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems 62 Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Liquigas 63 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 64 Patrice Halgand (Fra) Crédit Agricole 16.15 65 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 17.12 66 Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 67 Ivan Velasco Murillo (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 68 Sébastien Joly (Fra) Française des Jeux 69 Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Xacobeo Galicia 18.35 70 Benjamin Noval Gonzalez (Spa) Astana 71 David Herrero Llorente (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia 72 Jesus Rosendo Prado (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 73 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank 74 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 75 Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 76 Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Silence - Lotto 77 Gustavo Dominguez Lemos (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia 78 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Crédit Agricole 79 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank 18.38 80 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 81 Andrea Tonti (Ita) Quick Step 82 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner 83 Gabriel Rasch (Nor) Crédit Agricole 84 Olivier Bonnaire (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 85 Vincent Jérôme (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 19.22 86 Francisco Jose Martinez Perez (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 19.44 87 Xabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 20.42 88 José Luis Arrieta Lujambio (Spa) AG2R La Mondiale 22.48 89 Pieter Jacobs (Bel) Silence - Lotto 22.56 90 Tom Stamsnijder (Ned) Gerolsteiner 91 Jose Ruiz Sanchez (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 24.28 92 Manuel Ortega Ocana (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 24.48 93 Julien Loubet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 24.49 94 Mathias Frank (Swi) Gerolsteiner 29.40 95 Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Silence - Lotto 29.55 96 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner 97 Wouter Weylandt (Bel) Quick Step 98 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas 99 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step 100 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 101 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner 102 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas 103 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Team Milram 104 Serafin Martinez (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia 105 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Liquigas 106 Alan Perez Lezaun (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 107 Cycril Lemoine (Fra) Crédit Agricole 108 Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Lampre 109 Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Lampre 110 Stephan Schreck (Ger) Gerolsteiner 111 Mathieu Ladagnous (Fra) Française des Jeux 112 Emanuele Bindi (Ita) Lampre 113 Mickael Delage (Fra) Française des Jeux 114 Juan Javier Estrada Ruiz (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 115 Walter Fernando Pedraza Morales (Col) Tinkoff Credit Systems 116 Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 117 Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 118 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Rabobank 119 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française des Jeux 120 Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems 121 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 122 Koldo Fernandez De Larrea (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 123 Arnaud Labbe (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 124 Renaud Dion (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 125 Pedro Horrillo Munoz (Spa) Rabobank 126 Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Astana 127 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 128 Christian Kux (Ger) Team Milram 129 Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 130 Imanol Erviti Ollo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 131 Valerio Agnoli (Ita) Liquigas 132 Bingen Fernandez Bustinza (Spa) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 133 Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 134 Matej Jurco (Svk) Team Milram 135 Davide Viganò (Ita) Quick Step 136 Ivan Santaromita (Ita) Liquigas 137 Gorazd Stangelj (Slo) Liquigas 138 Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Française des Jeux 139 Dimitri Champion (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 140 Oscar Gatto (Ita) Gerolsteiner 141 Rémy Di Grégorio (Fra) Française des Jeux 142 José Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 143 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas 144 Claudio Corioni (Ita) Liquigas 145 Pavel Brutt (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems 146 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step 147 José Antonio Lopez Gil (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 148 Sebastian Schwager (Ger) Team Milram 149 Artur Gajek (Ger) Team Milram 150 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 151 Nick Nuyens (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 152 Francis Mourey (Fra) Française des Jeux 153 Bart Dockx (Bel) Silence - Lotto 154 Christophe Kern (Fra) Crédit Agricole 155 Stéphane Poulhies (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 156 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Silence - Lotto 157 Alexandre Usov (Blr) AG2R La Mondiale 158 Jean-Marc Marino (Fra) Crédit Agricole 159 Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Crédit Agricole 30.07 160 Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Quick Step 30.08 161 Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Astana 162 Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana 30.10 163 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre 30.49 DNS Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Quick Step DNS Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems DNF Stef Clement (Ned) Bouygues Telecom DNF Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Team CSC - Saxo Bank Sprints Sprint 1 - Benabarre, 32.5km 1 Xabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 4 pts 2 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre 2 3 Marc De Maar (Ned) Rabobank 1 Sprint 2 - Sant Julia de Loria, 180km 1 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre 4 pts 2 Xabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 2 3 Iñigo Landaluze Intxaurraga (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 1 Final sprint - Andorra (Naturlandia - La Rabassa), 223.2km 1 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre 25 pts 2 Ezequiel Mosquera Miguez (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia 20 3 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 16 4 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 14 5 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 12 6 Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 10 7 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 9 8 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 8 9 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre 7 10 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 6 11 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 5 12 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 4 13 Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Gerolsteiner 3 14 Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Rabobank 2 15 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 1 16 Iñigo Landaluze Intxaurraga (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi -5 17 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française des Jeux -5 18 Sébastien Joly (Fra) Française des Jeux -5 19 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step -5 20 Arnaud Labbe (Fra) Bouygues Telecom -5 21 Theo Eltink (Ned) Rabobank -5 22 Artur Gajek (Ger) Team Milram -5 Mountains Mountain 1 -Port de Montllobar (Cat. 2) 64km 1 Iñigo Landaluze Intxaurraga (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 10 pts 2 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre 7 3 Marc De Maar (Ned) Rabobank 5 4 Gianni Meersman (Bel) Française des Jeux 3 5 Xabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 2 6 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 1 Mountain 2 - Collado de Faidella ( Cat. 3, 111km) 1 Marc De Maar (Ned) Rabobank 6 pts 2 Iñigo Landaluze Intxaurraga (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 4 3 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre 2 4 Xabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 1 Mountain 3 - Alto de La Rabassa (Cat 1, 193km) 1 Marc De Maar (Ned) Rabobank 16 pts 2 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre 12 3 Gianni Meersman (Bel) Française des Jeux 10 4 Iñigo Landaluze Intxaurraga (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 8 5 Xabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 6 6 Sergio Miguel Paulinho Moreira (Por) Astana 4 7 José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Astana 3 8 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 2 9 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 1 Mountain 4 - Andorra (Naturlandia - La Rabassa, 223km) 1 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre 30 pts 2 Ezequiel Mosquera Miguez (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia 25 3 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 20 4 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 16 5 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 12 6 Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 10 7 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 8 8 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 6 9 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre 4 10 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 3 11 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 2 12 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 1 Teams 1 Lampre 18.55.04 2 Caisse D'Epargne 2.02 3 Team CSC - Saxo Bank 2.13 4 Astana 2.17 5 Rabobank 3.19 6 Xacobeo - Galicia 8.34 7 Euskaltel - Euskadi 8.44 8 Silence - Lotto 13.53 9 Andalucia - Cajasur 16.25 10 Gerolsteiner 17.33 11 Tinkoff Credit Systems 23.57 12 AG2R - La Mondiale 24.52 13 Credit Agricole 28.35 14 Quick Step 29.17 15 Française Des Jeux 29.39 16 Cofidis, le credit par telephone 36.31 17 Bouygues Telecom 41.15 18 Team Milram 45.08 19 Liquigas 1.08.26 General classification after stage 7 1 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre 23.53.26 2 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 1.00 3 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 1.21 4 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 1.34 5 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 2.06 6 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 2.27 7 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 2.59 8 Ezequiel Mosquera Miguez (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia 9 Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 3.17 10 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 3.23 11 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre 3.51 12 Dominique Cornu (Bel) Silence - Lotto 3.52 13 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 3.54 14 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 4.11 15 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 5.03 16 Gustavo Cesar Veloso (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia 5.04 17 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 5.24 18 Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 5.25 19 Iñigo Cuesta Lopez De Castro (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 5.40 20 Alberto Losada Alguacil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 6.35 21 Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Rabobank 6.41 22 Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Gerolsteiner 7.11 23 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 7.40 24 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre 8.24 25 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Quick Step 9.01 26 Nicolas Roche (Irl) Crédit Agricole 9.10 27 Javier Moreno Bazan (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 9.28 28 Luis Pasamontes Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 9.39 29 Dmitry Kozontchuk (Rus) Rabobank 10.02 30 José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Astana 10.21 31 Vasili Kiryienka (Blr) Tinkoff Credit Systems 10.23 32 David Garcia Dapena (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia 10.42 33 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux 11.05 34 Ivan Rovny (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems 11.35 35 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 11.46 36 Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Silence - Lotto 11.52 37 David Moncoutié (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 12.48 38 Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre 12.50 39 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step 13.19 40 Xavier Florencio Cabre (Spa) Bouygues Telecom 13.41 41 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 13.53 42 Marc De Maar (Ned) Rabobank 14.42 43 Evgeny Petrov (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems 15.08 44 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Lampre 16.06 45 Carlos Panadero Castano (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia 16.20 46 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 16.35 47 Andry Grivko (Ukr) Team Milram 16.44 48 Roy Sentjens (Bel) Silence - Lotto 16.54 49 Nikita Eskov (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems 17.05 50 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Silence - Lotto 17.11 51 Sergio Miguel Paulinho Moreira (Por) Astana 17.31 52 Iñigo Landaluze Intxaurraga (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 17.50 53 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 18.06 54 José Antonio Carrasco Ramirez (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 18.24 55 Matti Breschel (Den) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 18.27 56 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank 19.14 57 Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Crédit Agricole 19.21 58 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 59 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 19.37 60 Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 20.13 61 Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Silence - Lotto 20.56 62 Patrice Halgand (Fra) Crédit Agricole 21.15 63 David Herrero Llorente (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia 21.28 64 Gustavo Dominguez Lemos (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia 21.36 65 Benjamin Noval Gonzalez (Spa) Astana 21.42 66 Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Xacobeo Galicia 22.08 67 Iban Mayoz (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia 22.20 68 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank 22.32 69 Martin Velits (Svk) Team Milram 22.39 70 Vincent Jérôme (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 22.44 71 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 23.10 72 Ivan Velasco Murillo (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 23.57 73 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Crédit Agricole 24.59 74 Andrea Tonti (Ita) Quick Step 75 Xabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 25.09 76 Gabriel Rasch (Nor) Crédit Agricole 25.27 77 Sébastien Joly (Fra) Française des Jeux 25.42 78 Theo Eltink (Ned) Rabobank 25.45 79 José Luis Carrasco Gamiz (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 26.01 80 Olivier Bonnaire (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 26.06 81 Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 26.24 82 Gianni Meersman (Bel) Française des Jeux 26.27 83 Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Liquigas 27.21 84 Julien Loubet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 27.59 85 Tom Stamsnijder (Ned) Gerolsteiner 28.40 86 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner 29.01 87 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas 29.37 88 José Luis Arrieta Lujambio (Spa) AG2R La Mondiale 29.43 89 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Rabobank 29.56 90 Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 29.57 91 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 30.30 92 Jose Ruiz Sanchez (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 30.31 93 Pieter Jacobs (Bel) Silence - Lotto 31.02 94 Manuel Ortega Ocana (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 32.02 95 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Silence - Lotto 32.34 96 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step 32.48 97 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas 33.03 98 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner 33.55 99 Koldo Fernandez De Larrea (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 35.09 100 Alan Perez Lezaun (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 35.57 101 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française des Jeux 35.58 102 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step 36.47 103 Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 37.40 104 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 37.46 105 Serafin Martinez (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia 38.31 106 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 38.32 107 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 39.57 108 Matej Jurco (Svk) Team Milram 40.49 109 Bingen Fernandez Bustinza (Spa) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 41.03 110 Nick Nuyens (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 41.11 111 Renaud Dion (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 41.19 112 Imanol Erviti Ollo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 41.37 113 Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 42.26 114 Davide Viganò (Ita) Quick Step 42.29 115 Walter Fernando Pedraza Morales (Col) Tinkoff Credit Systems 42.44 116 Christian Kux (Ger) Team Milram 43.12 117 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas 43.21 118 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner 43.41 119 Francis Mourey (Fra) Française des Jeux 43.59 120 Mathieu Ladagnous (Fra) Française des Jeux 44.48 121 Claudio Corioni (Ita) Liquigas 45.01 122 Jesus Rosendo Prado (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 45.34 123 Rémy Di Grégorio (Fra) Française des Jeux 46.21 124 Valerio Agnoli (Ita) Liquigas 46.23 125 Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 46.25 126 Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Astana 47.00 127 Stephan Schreck (Ger) Gerolsteiner 47.23 128 Arnaud Labbe (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 47.39 129 Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Silence - Lotto 48.06 130 Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Crédit Agricole 48.31 131 Francisco Jose Martinez Perez (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 49.51 132 Mickael Delage (Fra) Française des Jeux 50.13 133 Dimitri Champion (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 50.32 134 Pedro Horrillo Munoz (Spa) Rabobank 50.36 135 José Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 50.41 136 Mathias Frank (Swi) Gerolsteiner 50.47 137 Bart Dockx (Bel) Silence - Lotto 51.05 138 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre 51.30 139 Alexandre Usov (Blr) AG2R La Mondiale 52.12 140 Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Française des Jeux 52.41 141 Sebastian Schwager (Ger) Team Milram 53.08 142 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Team Milram 54.25 143 Pavel Brutt (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems 54.27 144 Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Lampre 145 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Liquigas 54.41 146 Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Lampre 54.47 147 Stéphane Poulhies (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 55.09 148 Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana 55.29 149 Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 56.05 150 Jean-Marc Marino (Fra) Crédit Agricole 56.23 151 Juan Javier Estrada Ruiz (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 56.41 152 Christophe Kern (Fra) Crédit Agricole 57.05 153 Gorazd Stangelj (Slo) Liquigas 57.59 154 Wouter Weylandt (Bel) Quick Step 58.15 155 Emanuele Bindi (Ita) Lampre 58.46 156 Cycril Lemoine (Fra) Crédit Agricole 59.19 157 José Antonio Lopez Gil (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 59.21 158 Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Quick Step 59.38 159 Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems 1.00.55 160 Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Astana 1.01.19 161 Artur Gajek (Ger) Team Milram 1.02.55 162 Oscar Gatto (Ita) Gerolsteiner 1.04.09 163 Ivan Santaromita (Ita) Liquigas 1.05.09 Points classification 1 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas 63 pts 2 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre 56 3 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 54 4 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step 43 5 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Silence - Lotto 42 6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 37 7 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 37 8 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 36 9 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 35 10 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step 33 11 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 32 12 Koldo Fernandez De Larrea (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 30 13 Nicolas Roche (Irl) Crédit Agricole 24 14 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française des Jeux 22 15 Ezequiel Mosquera Miguez (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia 20 16 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Crédit Agricole 17 17 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas 17 18 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 16 19 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 14 20 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 14 21 Xavier Florencio Cabre (Spa) Bouygues Telecom 14 22 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank 14 23 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre 14 24 Matti Breschel (Den) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 11 25 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas 10 26 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 10 27 Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 10 28 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 10 29 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 10 30 Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 9 31 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner 9 32 Wouter Weylandt (Bel) Quick Step 9 33 Manuel Ortega Ocana (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 8 34 José Antonio Lopez Gil (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 8 35 Xabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 8 36 Martin Velits (Svk) Team Milram 8 37 Davide Viganò (Ita) Quick Step 8 38 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre 7 39 Dominique Cornu (Bel) Silence - Lotto 7 40 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 7 41 Tom Stamsnijder (Ned) Gerolsteiner 7 42 Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Rabobank 6 43 Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 6 44 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner 6 45 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 5 46 Renaud Dion (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 5 47 Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 4 48 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 4 49 Alexandre Usov (Blr) AG2R La Mondiale 4 50 Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Gerolsteiner 3 51 Gianni Meersman (Bel) Française des Jeux 3 52 David Garcia Dapena (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia 2 53 Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre 2 54 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Rabobank 2 55 Jesus Rosendo Prado (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 2 56 Marc De Maar (Ned) Rabobank 1 57 Nikita Eskov (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems 1 58 Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 1 59 Nick Nuyens (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 1 60 Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems 1 Mountains classification 1 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre 51 pts 2 Marc De Maar (Ned) Rabobank 27 3 Ezequiel Mosquera Miguez (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia 25 4 Iñigo Landaluze Intxaurraga (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 22 5 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 20 6 Jesus Rosendo Prado (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 17 7 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 16 8 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 13 9 Gianni Meersman (Bel) Française des Jeux 13 10 Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 10 11 Xabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 9 12 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 8 13 Manuel Ortega Ocana (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 7 14 Walter Fernando Pedraza Morales (Col) Tinkoff Credit Systems 7 15 Iban Mayoz (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia 6 16 José Antonio Lopez Gil (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 6 17 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 6 18 Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems 6 19 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre 4 20 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step 4 21 Sergio Miguel Paulinho Moreira (Por) Astana 4 22 Francisco Jose Martinez Perez (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 4 23 Cycril Lemoine (Fra) Crédit Agricole 4 24 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 3 25 José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Astana 3 26 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 2 27 Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 2 28 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 2 29 Serafin Martinez (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia 2 30 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 1 31 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 1 Best all-around classification 1 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre 4 pts 2 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 16 3 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 20 4 Ezequiel Mosquera Miguez (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia 26 5 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 42 6 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 44 7 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 45 8 Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 46 9 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 55 10 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 56 11 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre 68 12 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step 69 13 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 85 14 Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 92 15 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 99 16 Marc De Maar (Ned) Rabobank 100 17 Xabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 121 18 Manuel Ortega Ocana (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 140 19 Gianni Meersman (Bel) Française des Jeux 142 20 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 155 21 Jesus Rosendo Prado (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 183 22 José Antonio Lopez Gil (Spa) Andalucía - Cajasur 207 23 Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems 237 Team classification 1 Astana 71.29.56 2 Team CSC - Saxo Bank 0.38 3 Caisse D'Epargne 2.08 4 Lampre 3.39 5 Rabobank 5.10 6 Euskaltel - Euskadi 11.25 7 Xacobeo - Galicia 11.52 8 Silence - Lotto 15.01 9 Gerolsteiner 18.16 10 Tinkoff Credit Systems 25.35 11 Andalucia - Cajasur 28.45 12 AG2R - La Mondiale 28.50 13 Quick Step 30.40 14 Française Des Jeux 33.07 15 Credit Agricole 33.53 16 Cofidis, le credit par telephone 38.55 17 Bouygues Telecom 44.10 18 Team Milram 56.03 19 Liquigas 1.12.12
