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Giro finale
Photo ©: Bettini

61st Vuelta a España - GT

Spain, August 26-September 17, 2006

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Stage 16 - September 12: Almería - Astronomical Observatory of Calar Alto, 145 km

First big win for Anton

Valverde bolsters lead as Kashechkin cracks

By Shane Stokes in Calar Alto with additional reporting from Hernan Alvarez

Igor Anton (Euskaltel)
Photo ©: Sirotti
(Click for larger image)

Today's tough mountain stage to top of the Alto de Calar Alto was seen as a big showdown between the race favourites but it was Euskaltel rider Igor Anton who finally triumphed, taking advantage of the chess game being played out between race leader Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne), Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) and Carlos Sastre (CSC) on the final slopes.

The 26 year old Spaniard surged several times, being overhauled by a tussling Vinokourov and Valverde before trying again with 3.5 kilometres remaining and succeeding in getting a gap. Digging in deep on the tough gradient up to the observatory at the summit, he soloed to the line 23 seconds clear of Valverde, Vinokourov and his own teammate Samuel Sánchez, with Sastre conceding another five seconds.

Andrey Kashechkin (Astana), who started the day second overall, cracked early on on the final climb and finished 1'19 back, dropping to fourth.

Today's victory was the first significant win of Anton's career, and he was very pleased to achieve an important goal. "I have always dreamed about a victory like this, winning a stage in a Grand Tour in the mountains," he said. "Now I can be more tranquil. It is true that one of my objectives as a rider has been achieved.

"I didn't really imagine taking the victory, I was happy to be there with the favourites. Valverde, Vinokourov and the others were marking each other and I attacked simply to try. It was the first time I was in a situation like that and when I got a gap, I just went as hard as I could until the line, and was able to win the stage that way. To get the first big win is the most difficult and I am delighted to do so now, having being trying for a while."

The stage was marked by a big break which went clear early on, and on the final slopes Daniel Becke (Team Milram) and José Antonio Redondo (Astana Team) surged ahead in search of the win. Pressing on through a heavy rain shower, Redondo dropped his rival but was himself overhauled once the favourites started to attack each other, causing the pace to soar.

"When I went, I thought especially about my friend Roberto Laiseka, who also won a stage in the final week of this race," said Anton. "That is what I thought about when I attacked. I was also happy that Samuel Sanchez was in the group behind, putting the brakes on to disrupt a chase. That helped me a lot.

Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne)
Photo ©: Sirotti
(Click for larger image)

"I started cycling at a very young age and was always strong in the mountains. I have made a lot of progress and it was my climbing ability which enabled me to take this win today. I will try to take more wins now but without putting myself under too much pressure."

Anton moved up from 20th to 16th overall as a result of his success, but said that he is satisfied enough with what he has achieved thus far rather than chasing a high GC result. "I don't really think about the general classification," he stated. "It is possible now that I am in the top twenty but I am not really worried about that objective now. It is something I will think about in the future."

He was asked if he could see himself heading the Euskaltel squad, particularly as riders such as Iban Mayo have an uncertain future. "It is a bit early to become the leader of the team. I think that there are other riders ahead of me [in that regard]. It is true that I want to become a better rider and we will see what happens then."

Valverde took second on the stage and nabbed another time bonus to bolster his lead. He is now 1'42 ahead of second placed Vinokourov and Sastre, and is looking ever more likely to win the race.

"Vinokourov did what he had promised by attacking me, and he did it more than once, but I felt very good. This enabled me to answer without difficulty the attacks of the Kazakh rider, even though they were very violent ones.

Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana)
Photo ©: Sirotti
(Click for larger image)

"Today, like each day, I had the chance to can rely on the phenomenal work carried out by my teammates and I wish to congratulate them once more. I did not suffer at all from the drop in temperature nor from the rain, nor the possible consequences of a rest day. My performance today is a very important step ahead for me, psychologically, as this was the mountain stage I most feared of the three which remained.

"Taking into account how I spent today's stage, it goes without saying that I will approach the remaining ones with a little more confidence. As for my rivals, each day which passes gives them a little less time to try to outdistance me. But I do not doubt that they will continue to attack."

Team manager Eusebio Unzue was also very pleased with the day's result "The team continues to be very strong in backing Alejandro and today everything went perfectly once again," he said. "The bad weather conditions hampered more than one rider, due to the cold rain which fell for much of the stage. I believe that Kashechkin, a very thin young man, suffered as a result.

"Despite that, Vinokourov carried out his promise to attack. However Alejandro perfectly controlled the situation. Now let's hope that things will continue the same way, day by day, with the stages tomorrow and the next being very demanding ones."

Tom Danielson (Discovery)
Photo ©: Sirotti
(Click for larger image)

Valverde gave a further reaction to Spain's Onda Cero radio. "I'm adding on some bonus seconds [to my race lead] and that is important. Vinokourov is the strongest of the others but I am getting there, little by little."

Another rider who is also making progress towards his goal is Discovery's Tom Danielson. The American came to the race hoping to fight it out with the GC contenders for a top result, but lost time early on. However he made several good digs today and will hope to step up another notch either tomorrow or on Thursday, with the hope of landing a stage win.

Meanwhile his team-mate Stijn Devolder finished tenth and dropped a place to eleventh. Like many of the riders, he was frozen and saturated at the finish. "It was very tough," he said, shivering. "The cold means it is difficult for the muscles to work properly."

How it unfolded

Pietro Caucchioli (Credit Agricole)
Photo ©: Sirotti
(Click for larger image)

This is the second time that the Vuelta has finished in Calar Alto. The first was in 2004 when Roberto Heras won a very interesting stage followed by Santiago Perez and Francisco Mancebo. The route that day was exactly the same as today’s.

Two notable riders didn't take the start in Almeria: Fabian Cancellara (CSC) and Alessandro Petacchi (Milram). Cancellara had pulled out in order to concentrate on the world championship time trial, while Petacchi had broken his hand after punching the Lampre team bus in frustration on Sunday. Another six good riders didn't sign on today: Michael Boogerd (Rabobank), Luca Paolini (Liquigas), Xavier Florencio (Bouygues Telecom), Cyril Dessel (AG2R), Bernhard Eisel (Française des Jeux) and Rene Haselbacher (Gerolsteiner). Therefore, there were 148 riders who started the third and decisive week of the Vuelta.

After many previous attacks before km 40, 14 riders created the breakaway of the day: Egoi Martinez (Discovery), Mauricio Ardila (Rabobank), Kurt-Asle Arvesen (CSC), Iñigo Chaurreau (AG2R), Pietro Caucchioli and Dmitriy Fofonov (Credit Agricole), Oscar Pereiro (Illes Balears), Sebastien Minard (Cofidis), Iñigo Landaluze (Euskaltel), Jeremy Roy and Sebastien Joly (Française des Jeux), Alessandro Spezialetti (Liquigas), Daniel Becke (Team Milram) and Jose Antonio Redondo (Astana). They had 3’52 on the bunch at km 50, but dropped Jeremy Roy there. At the summit of the first climb of the day in Velefique (km 56.3), Martinez was first followed by Caucchioli and Arvesen, meaning that Martinez started to close in on Caucchioli's mountains jersey.

Jose Redondo (Astana)
Photo ©: Sirotti
(Click for larger image)

The leaders reached the summit of the second climb (Calar Alto – km 88) 5’21 ahead of the peloton. Martinez got the most bonus points with Caucchioli and Pereiro behind him. On the descent of Calar Alto (km 110), ten riders led by more than five minutes: Egoi Martinez, Chaurreau, Pietro Caucchioli, Becke, Minard, Fofonov, Pereiro, Landaluze, Arvesen and Redondo.

The final climb started and Redondo and Becke attacked the break at km 126 (with 19 km to go). They were able to get a gap while Jose Redondo changed the tempo and left Daniel Becke behind with 13 km to go. It was not warm and it started to rain hard, and that was another rival for Redondo. The Astana rider led by 2’16 over the peloton with 8 km to go.

Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne)
Photo ©: AFP
(Click for larger image)

After Caisse d'Epargne had done much of the tempo making up until this point, Team CSC started to drive it in order to help Sastre on the last climb. Carlos Sastre made the first attack with 7 km to go. Further ahead, Alexandre Vinokourov counter-attacked but none of the two could leave Valverde behind. The attacks were constant while Redondo was slowing his pace. Landaluze and Igor Anton (Euskaltel) chased and caught Redondo with 5 km to go, capitalising on the hesitation within the bunch.

Anton followed a fast tempo and eventually got away on his own just after 4 km to go. Behind him were Redondo, Vino, Valverde, Sastre and Danielson. Igor Anton maintained a good pace and didn't look back, opening up a 39 second lead at one point. The Basque rider was very strong while behind him, no-one could get away of the rest. Anton celebrated with plenty to spare at the finish line and won the stage, while Valverde got second place and Vinokourov third. Valverde consolidated his overall lead, with Vino moving up to second overall ahead of Sastre, the two sharing the same time.

Stage 17 – September 13: Adra-Granada, 159.2 km

Wednesday’s stage will be the second of three important mountain stages. There are three climbs and a finale in the city of Granada. The mountains are: Alto de Albondon (Cat. 1 – 1,300 m. above sea level – km 37), Alto de Lanjaron (Cat. 3 – 660 m. – km 79) and Alto de Monachil (Cat. 1 – 1,510 m. – km 139.4). There is a final 20-kilometre descent to Granada. Monachil and the downhill seem to be the crucial parts of the stage.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

Images by AFP Photo

Results

1 Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                  4.29.42 (32.26 km/h)
2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                0.23
3 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Team                                     
4 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                     
5 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC                                           0.28
6 Thomas Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team              0.30
7 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                0.42
8 Luis Pérez (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                      1.10
9 José Antonio Redondo (Spa) Astana Team                                 1.13
10 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team               1.15
11 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                    
12 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas                                         1.19
13 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre-Fondital                                     
14 Iñigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                   
15 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Team                                   1.28
16 Daniel Moreno (Spa) Relax-Gam                                         2.11
17 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Credit Agricole                                   
18 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC                                          
19 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                     
20 Xabier Zandio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                        
21 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir                               
22 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                    
23 José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                     
24 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Credit Agricole                                 3.09
25 Nicki Sorensen (Den) Team CSC                                         3.24
26 Christopher Horner (USA) Davitamon-Lotto                              3.38
27 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                    4.30
28 Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) Team CSC                                               
29 David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                     4.53
30 Daniel Becke (Ger) Team Milram                                        5.31
31 Sergio Paulinho (Por) Astana Team                                     5.44
32 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team            5.56
33 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                  
34 Frédéric Bessy (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                     
35 Stéphane Goubert (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                                    
36 Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Team CSC                                          
37 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                             
38 Theo Eltink (Ned) Rabobank                                                
39 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                   
40 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Liquigas                                          
41 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) Lampre-Fondital                                       
42 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team CSC                                            
43 Raúl García De Mateo (Spa) Relax-Gam                                  6.33
44 Iñigo Chaurreau (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                                 6.34
45 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic                             7.17
46 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                                   7.57
47 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Phonak Hearing Systems                           8.07
48 José Miguel Elias (Spa) Relax-Gam                                     9.18
49 Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone               9.47
50 Torsten Hiekmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                  10.25
51 Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz) Astana Team                                   10.39
52 Francisco José Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                    11.05
53 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                                     
54 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team              11.40
55 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Team CSC                                           
56 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone             12.16
57 Florian Stalder (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                         12.20
58 Joan Horrach (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                    14.23
59 Pablo Lastras (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                        
60 Benoît Poilvet (Fra) Credit Agricole                                      
61 Eric Leblacher (Fra) Française des Jeux                                   
62 David George (RSA) Relax-Gam                                              
63 Benoît Joachim (Lux) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                   
64 Rubén Pérez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                       
65 Bingen Fernández (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                   
66 José Antonio Garrido (Spa) Quick Step-Innergetic                          
67 Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone             14.41
68 Björn Leukemans (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                                15.05
69 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram                                              
70 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic                                
71 David Cañada (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                                   
72 Jorge García (Spa) Relax-Gam                                              
73 Scott Davis (Aus) T-Mobile Team                                           
74 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                                           
75 Markel Irizar (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                     
76 Alberto Benítez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                                
77 Bart Dockx (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                                          
78 Daniele Nardello (Ita) T-Mobile Team                                      
79 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC                                             
80 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic                                
81 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                    
82 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                             16.31
83 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                16.51
84 David Navas (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                                    19.06
85 Michael Barry (Can) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                    
86 Thierry Marichal (Bel) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                   
87 Mads Kaggestad (Nor) Credit Agricole                                      
88 William Walker (Aus) Rabobank                                             
89 José Luis Arrieta (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                                   
90 Aketza Peña (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                       
91 Aaron Kemps (Aus) Astana Team                                             
92 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                         
93 David Loosli (Swi) Lampre-Fondital                                        
94 Ian Mcleod (RSA) Française des Jeux                                       
95 Carlos Barredo (Spa) Astana Team                                          
96 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic                                
97 Luis Fernández Oliveira (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems                      
98 Mauricio Ardila (Col) Rabobank                                            
99 Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Liquigas                                     
100 Davide Vigano (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic                                
101 José Vicent Garcia Acosta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears           
102 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval-Prodir                             20.21
103 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                                20.34
104 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                                     
105 Pierre Drancourt (Bel) Bouygues Telecom                                  
106 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank                                         
107 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Team Milram                                      21.00
108 Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                                     
109 Fabien Patanchon (Fra) Française des Jeux                                
110 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Credit Agricole                                     
111 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole                                       
112 Stephan Schreck (Ger) T-Mobile Team                                      
113 Pedro Horrillo (Spa) Rabobank                                            
114 Pieter Mertens (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                                     
115 Francesco Failli (Ita) Liquigas                                          
116 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas                                          
117 Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic                           
118 Claudio Corioni (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                                    
119 Bastiaan Giling (Ned) T-Mobile Team                                      
120 Steve Morabito (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                              
121 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                              
122 Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Team                                          
123 Dario Andriotto (Ita) Liquigas                                           
124 Franck Renier (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                     
125 Sébastien Joly (Fra) Française des Jeux                                  
126 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux                                      
127 Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Credit Agricole                                      
128 Uros Murn (Slo) Phonak Hearing Systems                                   
129 Enrico Poitschke (Ger) Team Milram                                       
130 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank                                            
131 Ángel Vallejo (Spa) Relax-Gam                                            
132 Marco Velo (Ita) Team Milram                                             
133 Kjell Carlström (Fin) Liquigas                                           
134 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Team Milram                                       
135 Sebastian Siedler (Ger) Team Milram                                      
136 Alexandre Usov (Blr) AG2R Prevoyance                                     
137 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Davitamon-Lotto                                     
138 Addy Engels (Ned) Quick Step-Innergetic                                  
139 Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic                               
140 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                23.37
141 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                        
142 Mario De Sarraga (Spa) Relax-Gam                                    25.27
 
Outside time limit
 
TC Frédéric Finot (Fra) Française des Jeux                                   
 
DNF Anthony Geslin (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                    
DNF Mark Renshaw (Aus) Credit Agricole                                       
DNF Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                                  
DNF Nacor Burgos (Spa) Relax-Gam                                             
DNF Jesús Hernández (Spa) Relax-Gam                                          
DNS Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                                           
DNS Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC                                         
DNS Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                                       
DNS Xavier Florencio (Spa) Bouygues Telecom                                  
DNS Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Française des Jeux                                  
DNS René Haselbacher (Aut) Gerolsteiner                                      
DNS Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas                                              
DNS Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Team Milram                                    
 
Points
 
1 Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                       25 pts
2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                  20
3 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Team                                   16
4 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                   14
5 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC                                             12
6 Thomas Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                10
7 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                   9
8 Luis Pérez (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                         8
9 José Antonio Redondo (Spa) Astana Team                                    7
10 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                  6
11 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                   5
12 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas                                            4
13 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre-Fondital                                    3
14 Iñigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                  2
15 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Team                                      1
16 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank                                           -5
17 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Davitamon-Lotto                                    -5
18 Christopher Horner (USA) Davitamon-Lotto                                -5
19 Eric Leblacher (Fra) Française des Jeux                                 -5
20 Luis Fernández Oliveira (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems                    -5
 
Mountains
 
Alto de Velefique - Cat. 1, km 56
1 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                   16 pts
2 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Credit Agricole                                  12
3 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC                                         10
4 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Credit Agricole                                     8
5 José Antonio Redondo (Spa) Astana Team                                    6
6 Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                   4
7 Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Liquigas                                     3
8 Mauricio Ardila (Col) Rabobank                                            2
9 Iñigo Chaurreau (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                                     1
 
Alto de Calar Alto km - Cat. 1, km 88 
1 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                   16 pts
2 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Credit Agricole                                  12
3 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                       10
4 José Antonio Redondo (Spa) Astana Team                                    8
5 Iñigo Chaurreau (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                                     6
6 Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                   4
7 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Credit Agricole                                     3
8 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC                                          2
9 Daniel Becke (Ger) Team Milram                                            1
 
Observatorio de Calar Alto - Cat. E, km 145 
1 Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                       30 pts
2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                  25
3 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Team                                   20
4 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                   16
5 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC                                             12
6 Thomas Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                10
7 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                   8
8 Luis Pérez (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                         6
9 José Antonio Redondo (Spa) Astana Team                                    4
10 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                  3
11 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                   2
12 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas                                            1
 
Sprints
 
Tabernas, km 25,8                                                            
1 Frédéric Bessy (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                     4 pts
2 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                        2
3 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) Lampre-Fondital                                       1
 
Bacares, km 70,3                                                             
1 Daniel Becke (Ger) Team Milram                                            4 pts
2 Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Liquigas                                     2
3 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Credit Agricole                                     1
 
Teams
 
1 Euskaltel - Euskadi                                                13.30.48
2 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                                     0.45
3 Astana                                                                 1.22
4 Caisse D'Epargne - Illes Balears                                       3.03
5 Team CSC                                                               4.21
6 Saunier Duval - Prodir                                                 8.36
7 Cofidis, le Credit Par Telephone                                      15.11
8 Relax - GAM                                                           16.20
9 Credit Agricole                                                       18.01
10 Ag2r Prevoyance                                                      18.45
11 Lampre - Fondital                                                    24.39
12 Liquigas                                                                  
13 Davitamon - Lotto                                                    32.16
14 Quick Step - Innergetic                                              35.03
15 Phonak Hearing Systems                                               38.01
16 Rabobank                                                             38.25
17 Team Milram                                                          39.54
18 T- Mobile Team                                                       49.28
19 Française des Jeux                                                   52.57
20 Bouygues Telecom                                                     54.57
21 Gerolsteiner                                                         55.57
 
General classification after stage 16
 
1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears            63.18.16
2 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Team                                 1.42
3 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC                                               
4 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Team                                    2.05
5 José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                  4.23
6 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                5.34
7 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas                                          5.56
8 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                  6.29
9 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                 7.53
10 Thomas Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team             8.05
11 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team               8.19
12 Luis Pérez (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                     8.55
13 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team              9.34
14 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team               10.34
15 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre-Fondital                                10.50
16 Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                   12.07
17 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir                          13.15
18 Sergio Paulinho (Por) Astana Team                                    13.54
19 David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                    14.52
20 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears               15.48
21 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Phonak Hearing Systems                          17.26
22 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) Lampre-Fondital                                  19.16
23 Christopher Horner (USA) Davitamon-Lotto                             21.00
24 Xabier Zandio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                   24.05
25 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team              25.19
26 Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz) Astana Team                                   26.13
27 Theo Eltink (Ned) Rabobank                                           29.58
28 Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) Team CSC                                          30.45
29 José Miguel Elias (Spa) Relax-Gam                                    31.35
30 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Credit Agricole                              33.11
31 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team CSC                                       33.18
32 Iñigo Chaurreau (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                                34.01
33 Daniel Moreno (Spa) Relax-Gam                                        34.17
34 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Liquigas                                     35.27
35 Nicki Sorensen (Den) Team CSC                                        35.41
36 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic                            35.53
37 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                    37.26
38 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team           38.05
39 Daniel Becke (Ger) Team Milram                                       40.59
40 Carlos Barredo (Spa) Astana Team                                     41.22
41 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                              43.32
42 Stéphane Goubert (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                               44.16
43 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Credit Agricole                                46.19
44 Eric Leblacher (Fra) Française des Jeux                              46.23
45 Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone              50.14
46 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                   53.49
47 Pablo Lastras (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                   54.08
48 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                                  55.03
49 Frédéric Bessy (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                56.17
50 Benoît Poilvet (Fra) Credit Agricole                                 57.04
51 Raúl García De Mateo (Spa) Relax-Gam                               1.00.25
52 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank                                      1.01.02
53 Thierry Marichal (Bel) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone            1.01.18
54 Daniele Nardello (Ita) T-Mobile Team                               1.03.19
55 Ángel Vallejo (Spa) Relax-Gam                                      1.04.09
56 José Luis Arrieta (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                            1.05.57
57 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval-Prodir                            1.06.03
58 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank                                   1.06.51
59 Mauricio Ardila (Col) Rabobank                                     1.06.59
60 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                      1.07.12
61 Sébastien Joly (Fra) Française des Jeux                            1.08.12
62 Iñigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                            1.10.11
63 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                                    1.10.49
64 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Team CSC                                    1.10.59
65 Torsten Hiekmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                1.11.29
66 Benoît Joachim (Lux) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team            1.12.07
67 David George (RSA) Relax-Gam                                       1.12.49
68 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                              1.14.17
69 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram                                       1.15.22
70 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC                                   1.15.26
71 Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Team CSC                                   1.15.34
72 José Antonio Redondo (Spa) Astana Team                             1.18.02
73 David Loosli (Swi) Lampre-Fondital                                 1.19.29
74 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                             1.19.38
75 Michael Barry (Can) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team             1.20.26
76 Florian Stalder (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                       1.23.55
77 David Cañada (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                            1.25.17
78 Francisco José Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                  1.25.24
79 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Credit Agricole                               1.26.00
80 Rubén Pérez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                1.26.03
81 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic                         1.26.47
82 Joan Horrach (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                  1.26.49
83 Luis Fernández Oliveira (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems               1.27.25
84 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole                                 1.28.35
85 Pieter Mertens (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                               1.28.53
86 Aketza Peña (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                1.29.11
87 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                               1.29.27
88 Steve Morabito (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                        1.30.13
89 José Antonio Garrido (Spa) Quick Step-Innergetic                   1.30.41
90 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC                                      1.31.20
91 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone           1.32.54
92 Alexandre Usov (Blr) AG2R Prevoyance                               1.33.47
93 Bart Dockx (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                                   1.34.41
94 Jorge García (Spa) Relax-Gam                                       1.34.56
95 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                               1.35.13
96 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone              1.35.43
97 Stephan Schreck (Ger) T-Mobile Team                                1.35.50
98 Bingen Fernández (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone            1.36.25
99 Björn Leukemans (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                              1.37.28
100 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic                        1.38.12
101 Scott Davis (Aus) T-Mobile Team                                   1.39.04
102 Markel Irizar (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                             1.39.54
103 Alberto Benítez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                        1.40.26
104 Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone          1.42.22
105 Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Team                                   1.43.51
106 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Team Milram                                    1.46.16
107 Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Liquigas                             1.46.50
108 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                          1.47.31
109 Ian Mcleod (RSA) Française des Jeux                               1.47.55
110 Claudio Corioni (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                             1.47.57
111 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic                        1.48.01
112 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner                              1.49.03
113 William Walker (Aus) Rabobank                                     1.50.03
114 Uros Murn (Slo) Phonak Hearing Systems                            1.51.03
115 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                       1.52.16
116 Pedro Horrillo (Spa) Rabobank                                     1.52.18
117 Dario Andriotto (Ita) Liquigas                                    1.52.22
118 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas                                   1.54.26
119 Davide Vigano (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic                         1.54.35
120 Mario De Sarraga (Spa) Relax-Gam                                  1.54.42
121 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Davitamon-Lotto                              1.54.45
122 Pierre Drancourt (Bel) Bouygues Telecom                           1.55.03
123 Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic                    1.56.13
124 Aaron Kemps (Aus) Astana Team                                     1.56.21
125 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux                               1.57.00
126 Kjell Carlström (Fin) Liquigas                                    1.57.33
127 Francesco Failli (Ita) Liquigas                                   1.57.45
128 Bastiaan Giling (Ned) T-Mobile Team                               1.59.21
129 José Vicent Garcia Acosta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears    2.00.31
130 Marco Velo (Ita) Team Milram                                      2.00.41
131 Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                              2.01.28
132 David Navas (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance                                 2.02.29
133 Franck Renier (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                              2.02.44
134 Fabien Patanchon (Fra) Française des Jeux                         2.08.07
135 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                 2.08.10
136 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Team Milram                                2.09.21
137 Addy Engels (Ned) Quick Step-Innergetic                           2.09.40
138 Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic                        2.10.16
139 Sebastian Siedler (Ger) Team Milram                               2.13.19
140 Mads Kaggestad (Nor) Credit Agricole                              2.20.49
141 Enrico Poitschke (Ger) Team Milram                                2.29.25
142 Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Credit Agricole                               2.30.55
 
Points classification
 
1 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole                                      169 pts
2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                 109
3 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Team                                   98
4 Francisco José Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                        89
5 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC                                            82
6 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram                                             79
7 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic                                77
8 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC                                             66
9 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                   58
10 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Team                                     53
11 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                                51
12 José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                   45
13 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas                                           44
14 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                 37
15 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                37
16 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                  32
17 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                 30
18 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval-Prodir                                 29
19 Uros Murn (Slo) Phonak Hearing Systems                                  29
20 Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                      27
21 Sergio Paulinho (Por) Astana Team                                       26
22 Iñigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                 26
23 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                 26
24 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                       25
25 Thomas Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team               24
 
Mountains classification
 
1 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Credit Agricole                                 105 pts
2 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                  101
3 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                  75
4 José Miguel Elias (Spa) Relax-Gam                                        70
5 Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                       57
6 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC                                             56
7 David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                        53
8 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Team                                   47
9 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas                                            41
10 Ángel Vallejo (Spa) Relax-Gam                                           36
11 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                33
12 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Team                                     32
13 José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                   32
14 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Liquigas                                        28
15 Benoît Joachim (Lux) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                 26
16 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                 23
17 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                  23
18 Alexandre Usov (Blr) AG2R Prevoyance                                    23
19 Luis Pérez (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                       21
20 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                 19
21 Mario De Sarraga (Spa) Relax-Gam                                        18
22 José Antonio Redondo (Spa) Astana Team                                  18
23 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole                                      16
24 Sergio Paulinho (Por) Astana Team                                       16
25 Eric Leblacher (Fra) Française des Jeux                                 14
 
Combination classification
 
1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                   6 pts
2 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Team                                   13
3 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC                                             17
4 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Team                                      26
5 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas                                            29
6 José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                    30
7 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                   32
8 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                   35
9 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                  36
10 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                39
11 Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                      41
12 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                 56
13 David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                       58
14 Luis Pérez (Spa) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                       61
15 Thomas Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team               62
16 Sergio Paulinho (Por) Astana Team                                       63
17 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                 68
18 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                   79
19 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Liquigas                                        83
20 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic                               84
21 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir                            102
22 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole                                     108
23 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears                 109
24 Iñigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                                117
25 Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit par Telephone                119
 
Teams classification
 
1 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                                189.24.00
2 Caisse D'Epargne - Illes Balears                                      13.16
3 Astana                                                                17.36
4 Euskaltel - Euskadi                                                   22.59
5 Team CSC                                                              47.39
6 Lampre - Fondital                                                     58.37
7 Saunier Duval - Prodir                                              1.02.06
8 Relax - GAM                                                         1.25.15
9 Cofidis, le Credit Par Telephone                                    1.42.10
10 Ag2r Prevoyance                                                    1.42.48
11 Credit Agricole                                                    1.49.47
12 Rabobank                                                           1.51.12
13 Liquigas                                                           2.09.17
14 Davitamon - Lotto                                                  2.27.14
15 Phonak Hearing Systems                                             3.01.25
16 T- Mobile Team                                                     3.15.04
17 Gerolsteiner                                                       3.17.35
18 Française des Jeux                                                 3.18.17
19 Quick Step - Innergetic                                            3.24.01
20 Team Milram                                                        3.54.06
21 Bouygues Telecom                                                   3.59.20

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