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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 :...

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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)