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 Race Home Stages Prologue 7km | Strasbourg - Strasbourg, ITT Stage 1 183km | Strasbourg - Strasbourg Stage 2 223km | Obernai - Esch-sur-Alzette (Luxembourg) Stage 3 216km | Esch-sur-Alzette - Valkenburg (Netherlands) Stage 4 215km | Huy (Belgium) - Saint-Quentin Stage 5 219km | Beauvais - Caen Stage 6 184km | Lisieux - Vitré Stage 7 52km | Saint-Grégoire - Rennes ITT Stage 8 177km | Saint-Méen-le-Grand - Lorient Stage 9 170km | Bordeaux - Dax Stage 10 193km | Cambo-les-Bains - Pau Stage 11 208km | Tarbes - Val d'Aran/Pla-de-Beret (Spain) Stage 12 211km | Luchon - Carcassonne Stage 13 231km | Béziers - Montélimar Stage 14 181km | Montélimar - Gap Stage 15 187km | Gap - L'Alpe-d'Huez Stage 16 182km | Le Bourg-d'Oisans - La Toussuire Stage 17 199km | Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne - Morzine Stage 18 193km | Morzine - Mâcon Stage 19 56km | Le Creusot - Montceau-les-Mines ITT Stage 20 152km | Antony (Parc de Sceaux) - Paris Champs-Elysées View all Stages Race history Start list Image 1 of 93Oscar 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)