Skip to main content

Categories

Cyclingnews
Road
Gravel
MTB
Track
Cyclo-cross
Womens

Open menu Close menu

Cyclingnews The World Centre of Cycling

Search

Search Cyclingnews

Sign in

View Profile
Sign out

News
Results
Teams
Features
Tech
Calendar
More
- Live Report
- Premium Content
- Archives
- Races
- Forums
- Reviews
- Travel
- Autobus
- Coupons
- About

Trending

Gravel Worlds
Road Worlds
Wind tunnel superbike test
Subscribe

Races
Road

Nostradamus or not? Freire predicts and wins in Caen

By Cycling News

published 20 July 2006

Today's finish in Caen has thrown a dark horse into the list of favourites for the maillot vert :...

Comments

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Race Home
Stages
Race history
Start list

Image 1 of 93

Oscar Freire (Rabobank)(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Tom Boonen (Quick.Step)(Image credit: Sirotti)

Oscar Freire (Rabobank)(Image credit: Sirotti)

The bunch was content(Image credit: Jon Devich)

Samuel Dumoulin (AG2R-Prevoyance)(Image credit: Jon Devich)

The speed(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

The run in to the finish(Image credit: Jon Devich)

One of the imposing cathedrals at today's start.(Image credit: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)

The bunch was content to take it easy getting going this morning.(Image credit: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)

Today's stage was full of rolling wheat fields.(Image credit: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)

The bunch makes its way through the countryside.(Image credit: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)

Samuel Dumoulin (AG2R-Prevoyance) leads the break.(Image credit: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)

Castle ruins provide a backdrop for the bunch on a rainy afternoon.(Image credit: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)

Tom Boonen (Quickstep) brings the group closer to the finish.(Image credit: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)

Egoi Martinez (Discovery) before his crash heading into Caen.(Image credit: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)

Björn Schröder (Milram) tries to keep the pace in the break high on a small descent.(Image credit: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)

The run in to the finish and it looks close.(Image credit: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)

Oscar Freire (Rabobank) throws his bike for the win.(Image credit: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)

Oscar Freire (Rabobank) celebrates the win.(Image credit: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)

Oscar Freire (Rabobank) happy with the win but looking tired.(Image credit: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)

Tom Boonen (Quick.Step) ready to roll(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

The pre-stage crush(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Jose Rujano (Quick.Step) has opted for rapid hair loss treatment™(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Fondital) stocks up(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Pippo Pozzato (Quick.Step)(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Simoni and Boonen(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) has a cunning plan(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

George Hincapie (Discovery) fronts up(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) waits for the start(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

The back of a winner(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Fondital) signs autographs(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) has been quiet up until now(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

The Caspers at the Tour(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

The start in Beauvais(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

The start in Beauvais(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Freire throws but he has plenty to spare(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Freire, Boonen, Isasi: the top 3(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Oscar Freire (Rabobank) celebrates his win(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Yeah! Freire does it(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) was fifth(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Erik Zabel (Milram) was top 10(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Erik Zabel (Milram) can smile(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Axel Merckx (Phonak) finishes(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) and the Saunier Duval lads(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Frank Schleck (CSC) lost time after a crash(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Oscar Freire (Rabobank) waves to the crowd(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Oscar Freire (Rabobank) stage winner(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Oscar Freire (Rabobank) balances his trophies(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Tom Boonen (Quick.Step) in the maillot jaune(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) in green by just one point(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Jose Rujano (Quick.Step) tests his prototype climbing machine(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Dumoulin and Schröder ride through the wheat fields(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Luca Paolini (Liquigas) rides in the bunch(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas) is having a good Tour so far(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Better than bird watching(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

The break passes through one of many villages today(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

The speed of Le Tour(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Saunier Duval riders at the back of the bunch(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Tom Boonen (Quick.Step) in the maillot jaune(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Tom Boonen (Quick.Step) still the race leader(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Freire (L) dives for the line ahead of Boonen(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Oscar Freire (Rabobank) the winner of stage 5(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Oscar Freire (Rabobank) celebrates his stage win over Tom Boonen(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Freire throws his arms up while Flecha celebrates behind(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

A sweaty Boonen post-stage(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Fondital) staying out of trouble(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Dumoulin helps to drive the eight man break that became two(Image credit: AFP Photo)

Björn Schröder leads Samuel Dumoulin in pursuit of a possible victory(Image credit: AFP Photo)

Egoi Martinez (Discovery) lies on the ground after a crash(Image credit: AFP Photo)

Tom Boonen (Quick.Step) pulls on his third maillot jaune(Image credit: AFP Photo)

Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank) appears to have his eyes focused on an escape in the coming days.(Image credit: Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com)

Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery Channel) is keeping a low profile in the opening week of Le Tour. And that's a good thing.(Image credit: Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com)

You won't win the Tour on this bike.(Image credit: Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com)

Maillot jaune Tom Boonen (Quick.Step-Innergetic) rarely denies an interview request.(Image credit: Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com)

The Beauvais locals came out in force to wish the Tour de France peloton farewell just before midday today.(Image credit: Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com)

Cyclingnews' Brecht Decaluwé gets in amongst the peloton at the Tour start in Beauvais.(Image credit: Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com)

A few minutes before the départ fictif.(Image credit: Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com)

Darling of the French, Thomas Voeckler (Bougyues Telecom), signs a autograph.(Image credit: Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com)

Sweden's Thomas Lövkvist (Française des Jeux) is quite a popular figure himself.(Image credit: Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com)

Prodigal Belgian Philippe Gilbert (Française des Jeux) was the last rider to hold onto Matthias Kessler's wheel up the Cauberg two days ago.(Image credit: Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com)

There were plenty of good vantage points at the start in Beauvais this morning - so long as you were from Beauvais!(Image credit: Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com)

Groovin' to the music.(Image credit: Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com)

A bike for giants.(Image credit: Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com)

Folklore at the start in Beauvais.(Image credit: maillot jaune)

Flecha will need to bring Freire in position today.(Image credit: maillot jaune)

Ekimov was focused.(Image credit: maillot jaune)

Horner is still suffering from his fall earlier on in the race.(Image credit: maillot jaune)

No Spanish champion this year, Garate was the champ last year.(Image credit: maillot jaune)

Gilbert riding to the start.(Image credit: maillot jaune)

Robbie coming up.(Image credit: maillot jaune)

Gerolsteiner lining up.(Image credit: maillot jaune)

Two big French names, Moreau and Brard; perhaps talking about the football game of last night?(Image credit: maillot jaune)