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Photo ©: Schaaf

95th Tour de France - GT

France, July 5-27, 2008

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Stage 2 - Sunday, July 6: Auray - Saint Brieuc, 164.5km

Thor thunders to sixth tour stage win

Valverde holds onto maillot jaune, Voeckler fortifies mountains lead

By Shane Stokes and Brecht Decaluwé in Saint Brieuc, with additional reporting by Bjorn Haake

Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole)
Photo ©: AFP
(Click for larger image)

Tipped by some as the likely top contender for the maillot vert this year, Thor Hushovd showed he is certainly in the right kind of form with a powerful sprint victory into Saint Brieuc. The Crédit Agricole rider jumped hard and held off the other riders in the uphill rise to the line, nabbing his sixth career stage win in the race and driving the Norwegian supporters crazy.

"It was a really hard sprint, with the wind in the finale and in the climbs, but I knew it was a sprint that fits me well," he said after the podium presentation. "My team-mates did a good job again, and especially Mark Renshaw. He was awesome until with 200 metres to go and then it was just up to me to do a sprint. Today everything worked out 100 percent."

Hushovd timed his gallop to perfection even though new points leader Kim Kirchen (Team Columbia) was the quickest in the final 100 metres. He finished a close second and might well have taken the stage had the line been a little further away.

"I was held up by a crash and had to come from behind. I fell short, but it is okay," he stated. The Luxembourg rider took over at the top of the points classification from race leader Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne), who himself sprinted home in twelfth place and maintained his one second lead in the general classification.

Valverde still leads by a single second
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
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"Because of the course, the wind and the fact we had to chase behind the breakaway, today's stage was a very fast one, very hard and also a little bit dangerous," said the Spaniard afterwards. "I particularly want to highlight the fact that it was really beautiful to spend this second stage of the Tour with the yellow jersey upon my shoulders. I was really moved when I saw all those people along the road who encouraged me and shouted my name.

"I believe that today, all the riders of the bunch spent some energy. We will see if tomorrow's stage and its easier profile will be a quieter one in advance of the time trial on Tuesday."

Kirchen is now second and Oscar Freire (Rabobank) third, while Philippe Gilbert (Française des Jeux) – who had started the day second overall - crashed with just over a kilometre to go. He was later awarded the same time as the bunch but dropped to twelfth.

French fans were first tantalised and then frustrated by the day's events, with ongoing mountains leader Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) and today's most aggressive rider Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis) going clear early on and then later being joined by the Agritubel duo of Christophe Moreau and David Le Lay.

A delighted Hushovd
Photo ©: AFP
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This quartet resisted the peloton's chase until the final three kilometres, with a solo move by Chavanel taking him a little further before his own recapture. CSC-Saxo Bank's Fabian Cancellara tried to do what worked twice in the Tour de Suisse – namely a strong solo attack on the run in towards the line – but he was hauled back by Liquigas' Filippo Pozzato. The sprinters then opened up the jets, with Hushovd thundering home ahead of Kirchen and his Columbian team-mate Gerald Ciolek. Robert Hunter (Team Barloworld), Erik Zabel (Milram) and Yury Trofimov (Bouygues Telecom) completed the top six places.

"When Cancellara went away you know it's always dangerous," the Norwegian said. "I told Renshaw not to panic. With 450 metres to go we went. It was a perfect lead-out for me."

The brisk winds, twisting roads and undulating course combined to make the stage another testing one for the rider's concentration. Both Franck Schleck (Team CSC) and Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) spoke of this challenge after the stage, the riders crediting team-mates with helping to keep them safe.

The peloton rolls in
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)

"Everything was really, really nervous in the final," Schleck said. "I have to give a big, big thanks to Fabian [Cancellara], he was just amazing today for me. I was on his wheel for the last 50 kilometres in order to keep out of danger."

Devolder also spoke of the gusts. "It was dangerous with the wind, but I have a very good team to ride in front of the peloton and I had no problems. They then rode for [Gert] Steegmans in the finale, but it was very difficult to win a stage like that with the wind. And, with that climb, the finale was tough."

With the Tour de France being the biggest race of the season, everyone is at the limit trying to help a team leader or to win themselves. Team Columbia's Mark Cavendish articulated this after the finish, saying that even the flatter stages of the Tour are tougher than the other events on the calendar.

"These sprints are very fast. Obviously the human body is restricted as to how fast it actually can go, so the last couple of hundred metres of every sprint is more or less the same speed. But it is the 50 kilometres before it which are between five and ten kilometres per hour faster than any other race. And that's with it being five to ten kilometres per hour faster than anything else for the rest of the stage.

Kim Kirchen (Columbia)
Photo ©: AFP
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"You also have got all the GC riders trying to stay up there as well, which makes it a bit more hectic."

Cavendish was dropped on the run-in to the finish but managed to get back on to the peloton, finishing 27th. He – along with many of the other gallopers – are relishing the thought of tomorrow's flatter parcours, and hopes that this will make a difference for his chances.

One who will also be happy to see the finish in Nantes – albeit for different reasons - is Barloworld's Juan Mauricio Soler. The Colombian started the race as a possible general classification contender but suffered after his crash yesterday, finishing seven minutes 18 seconds down in last place. He's also last on GC after two stages, the damage being done due to his crash yesterday and possible fractured wrist.

"He is tired because of the problem with his hand," said directeur sportif Alberto Volpi. "But he finished the stage, it showed a bit of character. I think that tomorrow after the race we will have another examination if we can get a scanner {x-ray] and the decision about him continuing or not will be taken then. If there is no fracture, fine. If there is one, we will see..."

How it unfolded

It was a rainy day today
Photo ©: AFP
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179 riders lined up in Auray after Hervé Duclos-Lassalle was forced to abandon following his feed zone crash on stage one. He broke his arm in a crash which happened when a musette from another rider got stuck in his front wheel. The temperatures were nice (18 degrees), but slight rain dampened the spirits a bit. At 12:59, the riders took the départ fictif, led by the distinctive jerseys of Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) in yellow, Philippe Gilbert (FdJ) in green, Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) in the polka dot and Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) in white.

After rolling along for a good ten minutes, Christian Prudhomme waved the flag at 13:11 and the pace immediately hastened. After less than one kilometre Garmin-Chipotle's Danny Pate was the first to attack. He took several riders with him, but after a few kilometres, only Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner), Murilo Fischer (Liquigas) and Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis) remained on the front.

Thomas Voeckler on the right and Sylvain Chavanel
Photo ©: AFP
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After 22 kilometres, when the riders headed up the first climb of the day, the break was caught. Protecting Voeckler's jersey, the Bouygues Telecom team kept the race together ahead of the Côte de Bieuzy-Lanvaux. Sylvain Chavanel attacked on the climb, and took the maximum points, while behind him second placed in the mountains classification Björn Schröder (Team Milram) led out the sprint, but Voeckler easily passed the German before the line.

Chavanel and Voeckler kept going while Schröder dropped back into the bunch, and the pair extended their lead to over half a minute. Chavanel passed the sprint in Camors at kilometre 28.5 in first, with Voeckler behind. Robert Hunter stormed out of the peloton to get third and the last remaining sprint points.

As the duo continued to extend their advantage, Caisse d'Epargne was doing the work behind, leaving everyone to wonder if Alejandro Valverde wants to defend the jersey all the way to Paris.

A gentleman's agreement in the break saw Voeckler take the mountain points on the Côte de Kergroix, giving Voeckler an even bigger lead over Schröder in the mountains classification, while Chavanel mopped up all the intermediate sprint points along the way.

Chavanel did an equal amount of work
Photo ©: AFP
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Behind the leaders, two sprinters suffered from mechanical incidents: McEwen had to change bikes and return to the bunch by himself as Silence Lotto dedicates all its resources to Cadel Evans this year. In contrast, Mark Cavendish, who flatted after the descent of the Côte de Kergroix, had a team helper almost immediately.

The leaders gained a maximum advantage of six and a half minutes with 100km to go, but then the gap began to shrink steadily. Philippe Gilbert, who wore the green jersey as second placed in that competition behind Valverde, secured third place in Pontivy before the peloton gingerly entered the feed zone, taking caution to avoid a crash like that which took out Duclos-Lassalle.

But it was to no avail, as Nicolas Jalabert (Agritubel) touched wheels with Fränk Schleck (CSC-Saxo Bank). Jalabert went down, but could continue without problems. Whereas in the early part of the stage, rain and sun were taking turns over the riders, the rain became more steady as the break went up the Côte de Mûr-de-Bretagne, the first category three climb of the Tour.

The peloton
Photo ©: AFP
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Voeckler was able to add more points again as the leaders went up through an enthusiastic crowd. But after a brief discussion, Chavanel crossed the line ahead of Voeckler. The peloton followed almost three minutes later, led over the summit by Christophe Moreau (Agritubel).

The final climb of the day, the Côte de Saint-Mayeux, followed almost immediately. Moreau and team-mate David Le Lay (Agritubel) kept going and Moreau also took third place on the final climb. There, Voeckler led Chavanel over the line, giving the Bouygues Telecom rider a comfortable lead in the mountains classification. Le Lay and Moreau quickly got to within a minute and a half of the leaders.

Voeckler flatted just before the final sprint of the day, in Corlay. But a quick bike change brought him back up to Chavanel. The two decided to sit up and wait for the fast charging Agritubel duo. Le Lay was allowed to cross the sprint line ahead of his captain. With about 56 kilometres left to race, the two groups joined forces, giving Chavanel, Voeckler, Le Lay and Moreau quadruple power.

Gilbert sprinted ahead of the peloton
Photo ©: AFP
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Française des Jeux took over the work at the front now, as Gilbert's stunt at the intermediate sprint indicated that he was feeling well today. Under the French team's pressure the gap was reduced to 2'40 with 52 kilometres remaining.

The rain let up as the Caisse/Française des Jeux led peloton inched closer to the leaders. With 40 kilometres remaining, the gap was just above the two-minute mark. Five kilometre later it was 1'35.

Rubens Bertogliati (Saunier Duval-Scott) had a crash with less than 30 kilometres to go. It was bad timing, as Quick Step began pouring its power into reeling in the break. The high speed chase brought the gap down to about 1'20 when the leaders hit Mississipi -a town that should made all the US riders feel at home. Mauricio Soler (Barloworld), who lost three minutes due to a crash yesterday, also got spit out the back.

Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval - Scott)
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)

There was a heavy cross wind and Quick Step took full advantage of their Belgian experience to build up an impressive echelon at the front. Without Tom Boonen, they were looking to Gert Steegmans, while the black and white flags of the Bretagne were snapped to attention in the wind.

The peloton passed the 20-kilometre marker about a minute behind. Despite giving it some stick now, the peloton couldn't make up ground and with 14 kilometres to go the gap was still 59 seconds. Bertogliati and Soler were fighting behind, trying not to lose too much time.

With 11 kilometres to go it was also Crédit Agricole who helped out at the front. Moreau was doing a tremendous amount of work at the front of the break, but now the gap came down. 10 kilometres from the finish it was 42 seconds.

Jimmy Engoulvent was doing most of the pulling for Crédit Agricole in the peloton. The break hit the five-kilometre marker just 30 seconds ahead – it was touch and go. The final part was uphill, so the break eventually didn't succeed, and Chavanel was the last rider caught.

Fabian Cancellara tried his trademark last-minute attack, but was not successful this time. Thor Hushovd launched the sprint perfectly and won in St. Brieuc.

Stage 3 - Monday, July 7: Saint-Malo - Nantes, 208km

This should be a stage for the sprinters, especially as there are no classified climbs on today's route. After a rolling start over the small roads of Brittany, the course joins the fast, wider roads as it heads south to the finish in Nantes. The port town of Saint-Malo is the most-visited place in the region of Brittany. From here it is possible to catch a ferry to and from various ports in the UK and the Channel Islands.

This will be the Tour's eighth visit to Saint-Malo, the last time was 1980 when Dutchman Bert Oosterbosch took victory. This will be the 31st visit of the Tour to Nantes, situated as it is on the river Loire close to where it enters the Atlantic Ocean. The city was one of the original stage towns visited in 1903, where victory – and the race lead – was taken by eventual winner Maurice Garin.

The last time was 100 years later when Britain's David Millar (then Cofidis, now Slipstream-Chipotle) won a rain-soaked time trial as Lance Armstrong (US Postal) and a crashing Jan Ullrich (Bianchi) shadowed each other for the overall.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by AFP Photo

Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

Images by Xavier Lecointe

Results

1 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole                                3.45.13 (43.84 km/h)
2 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia
3 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Columbia
4 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld
5 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram
6 Iouri Trofimov (Rus) Bouygues Telecom
7 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank
8 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Agritubel
9 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale
10 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
11 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale
12 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
13 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott
14 Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
15 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
16 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
17 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Silence - Lotto
18 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale
19 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
20 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Crédit Agricole
21 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto
22 John-Lee Augustyn (RSA) Barloworld
23 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia
24 Christian Knees (Ger) Team Milram
25 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas
26 David Millar (GBr) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
27 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia
28 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole
29 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
30 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
31 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
32 Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Quick Step
33 Markus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner
34 Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval - Scott
35 Baden Cooke (Aus) Barloworld
36 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas
37 Marco Velo (Ita) Team Milram
38 Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Liquigas
39 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
40 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
41 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Silence - Lotto
42 Iñaki Isasi Flores (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
43 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner
44 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
45 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas
46 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
47 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française des Jeux
48 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
49 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
50 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner
51 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step
52 Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank
53 Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) Barloworld
54 Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
55 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas
56 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
57 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Crédit Agricole
58 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
59 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner
60 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Agritubel
61 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank
62 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre
63 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Silence - Lotto
64 Frederik Willems (Bel) Liquigas
65 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
66 Juan José Oroz Ugalde (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
67 Nicki Sørensen (Den) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
68 José Iván Gutierrez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
69 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner
70 Stéphane Goubert (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
71 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
72 Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Agritubel
73 Trent Lowe (Aus) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
74 Eduardo Gonzalo Ramirez (Spa) Agritubel
75 Christophe Le Mével (Fra) Crédit Agricole
76 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Rabobank
77 Moises Dueñas Nevado (Spa) Barloworld
78 Jesús Del Nero (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott
79 Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
80 Gorka Verdugo Markotegi (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
81 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Crédit Agricole
82 Rémy Di Grégorio (Fra) Française des Jeux
83 Angel Gomez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott
84 José Luis Arrieta Lujambio (Spa) AG2R La Mondiale
85 Florent Brard (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
86 Christophe Brandt (Bel) Silence - Lotto
87 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
88 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
89 Josep Jufre Pou (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott
90 Murilo Fischer (Bra) Liquigas
91 Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
92 David Le Lay (Fra) Agritubel
93 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank
94 Peter Velits (Svk) Team Milram
95 William Frischkorn (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
96 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Rabobank
97 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Française des Jeux
98 Amaël Moinard (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
99 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Quick Step
100 David Moncoutié (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
101 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux
102 Mario Aerts (Bel) Silence - Lotto
103 Freddy Bichot (Fra) Agritubel
104 Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel
105 Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) Agritubel
106 Martin Müller (Ger) Team Milram
107 Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Agritubel
108 Aurélien Passeron (Fra) Saunier Duval - Scott
109 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
110 Lilian Jégou (Fra) Française des Jeux
111 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française des Jeux
112 Félix Rafael Cárdenas (Col) Barloworld
113 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Quick Step
114 Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank
115 Brett Lancaster (Aus) Team Milram
116 Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
117 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre
118 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) Team Columbia
119 Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Team Milram
120 Adam Hansen (Aus) Team Columbia
121 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step
122 Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quick Step                                1.25
123 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Quick Step                                    1.40
124 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre
125 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Team Columbia
126 Ronny Scholz (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                    1.59
127 Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner
128 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner
129 Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre                                           2.10
130 Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre
131 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre
132 Johann Tschopp (Swi) Bouygues Telecom
133 Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Lampre
134 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
135 Leif Hoste (Bel) Silence - Lotto                                   2.16
136 Stef Clement (Ned) Bouygues Telecom                                2.30
137 Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Quick Step
138 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval - Scott
139 David De La Fuente Rasilla (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott
140 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
141 Rémi Pauriol (Fra) Crédit Agricole
142 Niki Terpstra (Ned) Team Milram
143 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas
144 Christopher Froome (Ken) Barloworld
145 Mauro Facci (Ita) Quick Step
146 Aleksandr Kuchynski (Blr) Liquigas
147 Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre
148 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
149 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
150 Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
151 Stéphane Augé (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
152 Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Silence - Lotto
153 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
154 Yoann Le Boulanger (Fra) Française des Jeux
155 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux
156 Gianpaolo Cheula (Ita) Barloworld
157 Laurent Lefèvre (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
158 Pierrick Fédrigo (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
159 Danny Pate (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
160 Xavier Florencio Cabre (Spa) Bouygues Telecom
161 José Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
162 Nicolas Portal (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne
163 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
164 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Columbia
165 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia                                0.00
166 Arnaud Gérard (Fra) Française des Jeux                             3.22
167 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Crédit Agricole                             3.25
168 Björn Schröder (Ger) Team Milram                                   3.27
169 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Lampre                                       3.35
170 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank                                      4.05
171 Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Silence - Lotto
172 Julian Dean (NZl) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30                     0.00
173 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner                               0.00
174 William Bonnet (Fra) Crédit Agricole                               0.00
175 David López García (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                          4.52
176 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
177 Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne
178 Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Saunier Duval - Scott                     7.18
179 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld
 
Sprints
 
Camors - 28.5 km
1 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone                6 pts
2 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                  4
3 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld                                          2
 
Pontivy - 74.0 km
1 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone                6 pts
2 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                  4
3 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française des Jeux                               2
 
Corlay - 103.0 km
1 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone                6 pts
2 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                  4
3 David Le Lay (Fra) Agritubel                                            2
 
Saint-Brieuc - 164.5 km
1 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole                                     35 pts
2 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia                                        30
3 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Columbia                                      26
4 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld                                         24
5 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram                                           22
6 Iouri Trofimov (Rus) Bouygues Telecom                                  20
7 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank                                      19
8 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Agritubel                                           18
9 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale                                  17
10 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone                16
11 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale                               15
12 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                    14
13 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott                      13
14 Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30                   12
15 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                   11
16 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                     10
17 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Silence - Lotto                                    9
18 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale                                  8
19 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                                7
20 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Crédit Agricole                                  6
21 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto                                      5
22 John-Lee Augustyn (RSA) Barloworld                                     4
23 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia                                    3
24 Christian Knees (Ger) Team Milram                                      2
25 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas                                         1
 
Mountains
 
Côte de Bieuzy-Lanvaux - 23.5 km
1 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone                3 pts
2 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                  2
3 Björn Schröder (Ger) Team Milram                                        1
 
Côte de Kergroix - 43.0 km
1 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                  3 pts
2 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone                2
3 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                               1
 
Côte de Mûr-de-Bretagne - 92.0 km
1 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone                4 pts
2 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                  3
3 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Agritubel                                       2
4 David Le Lay (Fra) Agritubel                                            1
 
Côte de Saint-Mayeux - 96.0 km
1 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                  3 pts
2 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone                2
3 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Agritubel                                       1
 
Young rider
 
1 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Columbia                                 3.45.13
2 Iouri Trofimov (Rus) Bouygues Telecom
3 Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
4 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
5 John-Lee Augustyn (RSA) Barloworld
6 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas
7 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia
8 Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval - Scott
9 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
10 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas
11 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
12 Trent Lowe (Aus) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
13 Eduardo Gonzalo Ramirez (Spa) Agritubel
14 Rémy Di Grégorio (Fra) Française des Jeux
15 Peter Velits (Svk) Team Milram
16 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Rabobank
17 Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel
18 Aurélien Passeron (Fra) Saunier Duval - Scott
19 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) Team Columbia
20 Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                      1.59
21 Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre                                            2.10
22 Niki Terpstra (Ned) Team Milram                                     2.30
23 Christopher Froome (Ken) Barloworld
24 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux
25 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia
26 Arnaud Gérard (Fra) Française des Jeux                              3.22
27 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner
28 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld                                     7.18
 
Most aggressive rider
 
1 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
 
Teams
 
1 Team Columbia                                                    11.15.39
2 AG2R-La Mondiale
3 Credit Agricole
4 Barloworld
5 Team Milram
6 Garmin Chipotle
7 Euskaltel - Euskadi
8 Silence - Lotto
9 Rabobank
10 Liquigas
11 Team CSC Saxo Bank
12 Caisse d'Epargne
13 Saunier Duval - Scott
14 Gerolsteiner
15 Agritubel
16 Cofidis Credit Par Telephone
17 Bouygues Telecom
18 Quick Step
19 Francaise des Jeux
20 Lampre                                                              1.40
 
General classification after stage 2
 
1 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                8.21.20
2 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia                                      0.01
3 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank
4 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott
5 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto
6 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
7 David Millar (GBr) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
8 Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval - Scott
9 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
10 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas
11 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
12 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française des Jeux
13 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Quick Step
14 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole                                  0.07
15 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram
16 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
17 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
18 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale
19 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
20 Iouri Trofimov (Rus) Bouygues Telecom
21 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
22 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale
23 Christian Knees (Ger) Team Milram
24 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia
25 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
26 Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Quick Step
27 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
28 Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Liquigas
29 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner
30 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole
31 Baden Cooke (Aus) Barloworld
32 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
33 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
34 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step
35 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
36 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française des Jeux
37 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas
38 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre
39 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
40 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
41 Trent Lowe (Aus) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
42 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
43 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre
44 Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
45 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia
46 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone              0.18
47 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale
48 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas
49 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Silence - Lotto
50 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner
51 José Iván Gutierrez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
52 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner
53 Gorka Verdugo Markotegi (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
54 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Crédit Agricole
55 Eduardo Gonzalo Ramirez (Spa) Agritubel
56 Markus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner
57 Freddy Bichot (Fra) Agritubel
58 Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel
59 Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank                                         0.26
60 Aurélien Passeron (Fra) Saunier Duval - Scott
61 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank                                      0.31
62 Moises Dueñas Nevado (Spa) Barloworld
63 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
64 Marco Velo (Ita) Team Milram                                        0.37
65 Murilo Fischer (Bra) Liquigas
66 William Bonnet (Fra) Crédit Agricole
67 John-Lee Augustyn (RSA) Barloworld                                  0.39
68 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Crédit Agricole
69 Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
70 Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) Barloworld
71 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Agritubel
72 Nicki Sørensen (Den) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
73 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Rabobank
74 Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
75 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Columbia                                   0.42
76 Josep Jufre Pou (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott                         0.49
77 Julian Dean (NZl) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30                      0.52
78 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Silence - Lotto                                 0.57
79 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Quick Step
80 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld                                      0.59
81 Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30                 1.01
82 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
83 Florent Brard (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
84 Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Agritubel
85 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas                                     1.12
86 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner
87 Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Agritubel
88 Christophe Brandt (Bel) Silence - Lotto
89 Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
90 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Rabobank
91 Martin Müller (Ger) Team Milram
92 Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Team Milram
93 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step
94 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Agritubel                                        1.37
95 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Team Columbia                             1.47
96 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Crédit Agricole                                  1.52
97 Stéphane Goubert (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
98 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner
99 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre                                      1.58
100 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia                                 2.00
101 Iñaki Isasi Flores (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
102 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Silence - Lotto
103 Frederik Willems (Bel) Liquigas
104 David Le Lay (Fra) Agritubel
105 Jesús Del Nero (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott
106 Juan José Oroz Ugalde (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
107 Christophe Le Mével (Fra) Crédit Agricole
108 David Moncoutié (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
109 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
110 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux
111 Amaël Moinard (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
112 José Luis Arrieta Lujambio (Spa) AG2R La Mondiale
113 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
114 Brett Lancaster (Aus) Team Milram
115 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) Team Columbia
116 Rémy Di Grégorio (Fra) Française des Jeux
117 Mario Aerts (Bel) Silence - Lotto
118 Angel Gomez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott
119 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank
120 Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) Agritubel
121 Peter Velits (Svk) Team Milram
122 William Frischkorn (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
123 Adam Hansen (Aus) Team Columbia
124 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Française des Jeux
125 Lilian Jégou (Fra) Française des Jeux
126 Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank
127 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner                                   2.06
128 Félix Rafael Cárdenas (Col) Barloworld                             2.08
129 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Quick Step                                    2.37
130 Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quick Step
131 Mauro Facci (Ita) Quick Step                                       2.48
132 Niki Terpstra (Ned) Team Milram                                    3.09
133 Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre                                           3.11
134 Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner
135 Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre                                         3.22
136 Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Quick Step                               3.42
137 Rémi Pauriol (Fra) Crédit Agricole
138 Danny Pate (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
139 Ronny Scholz (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                    3.59
140 Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Lampre                                     4.10
141 Johann Tschopp (Swi) Bouygues Telecom
142 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre
143 Leif Hoste (Bel) Silence - Lotto                                   4.16
144 Stef Clement (Ned) Bouygues Telecom                                4.22
145 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
146 David De La Fuente Rasilla (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott             4.30
147 Laurent Lefèvre (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
148 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval - Scott
149 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
150 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
151 Pierrick Fédrigo (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
152 Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Silence - Lotto
153 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Columbia
154 Yoann Le Boulanger (Fra) Française des Jeux
155 Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre
156 José Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
157 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
158 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
159 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux
160 Xavier Florencio Cabre (Spa) Bouygues Telecom
161 Nicolas Portal (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne
162 Arnaud Gérard (Fra) Française des Jeux                             4.34
163 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank                                      4.36
164 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Lampre
165 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Crédit Agricole                             5.17
166 Björn Schröder (Ger) Team Milram                                   5.27
167 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas                                   5.51
168 Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
169 Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne                                5.53
170 Christopher Froome (Ken) Barloworld                                6.34
171 Gianpaolo Cheula (Ita) Barloworld
172 David López García (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                          6.52
173 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
174 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30                7.06
175 Aleksandr Kuchynski (Blr) Liquigas                                 7.26
176 Stéphane Augé (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
177 Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Saunier Duval - Scott                     8.07
178 Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Silence - Lotto                              9.01
179 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld                                   10.22
 
Points classififcation
 
1 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia                                        54 pts
2 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                     49
3 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole                                     46
4 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank                                      36
5 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française des Jeux                              32
6 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott                       27
7 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                   26
8 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram                                           26
9 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Columbia                                      26
10 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld                                        26
11 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto                                     25
12 Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval - Scott                            22
13 Iouri Trofimov (Rus) Bouygues Telecom                                 20
14 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                              19
15 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone              18
16 Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Agritubel                                     18
17 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas                                        18
18 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Agritubel                                          18
19 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                     17
20 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale                                 17
21 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                              16
22 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                               16
23 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone                16
24 David Millar (GBr) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30                       15
25 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale                               15
26 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Quick Step                                       13
27 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                   13
28 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                       12
29 Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30                   12
30 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                12
31 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                          10
32 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Silence - Lotto                                    9
33 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30               8
34 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale                                  8
35 Lilian Jégou (Fra) Française des Jeux                                  8
36 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                   6
37 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Crédit Agricole                                  6
38 Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                           6
39 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre                                            5
40 John-Lee Augustyn (RSA) Barloworld                                     4
41 Stéphane Augé (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone                  4
42 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia                                    3
43 Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Quick Step                             3
44 Christian Knees (Ger) Team Milram                                      2
45 David Le Lay (Fra) Agritubel                                           2
46 Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Liquigas                                 1
47 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas                                         1
 
Mountains classification
 
1 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                 19 pts
2 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone               11
3 Björn Schröder (Ger) Team Milram                                        9
4 David De La Fuente Rasilla (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott                  4
5 Lilian Jégou (Fra) Française des Jeux                                   3
6 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Agritubel                                       3
7 Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Agritubel                                       1
8 David Le Lay (Fra) Agritubel                                            1
9 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                               1
 
Young rider classification
 
1 Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval - Scott                        8.21.21
2 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                              0.06
3 Iouri Trofimov (Rus) Bouygues Telecom
4 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
5 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
6 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas
7 Trent Lowe (Aus) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
8 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia
9 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas                                       0.17
10 Eduardo Gonzalo Ramirez (Spa) Agritubel
11 Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel
12 Aurélien Passeron (Fra) Saunier Duval - Scott                       0.25
13 John-Lee Augustyn (RSA) Barloworld                                  0.38
14 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Columbia                                   0.41
15 Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30                 1.00
16 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Rabobank                                  1.11
17 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                1.51
18 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia                                  1.59
19 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) Team Columbia
20 Rémy Di Grégorio (Fra) Française des Jeux
21 Peter Velits (Svk) Team Milram
22 Niki Terpstra (Ned) Team Milram                                     3.08
23 Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre                                            3.10
24 Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner
25 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux                                 4.29
26 Arnaud Gérard (Fra) Française des Jeux                              4.33
27 Christopher Froome (Ken) Barloworld                                 6.33
28 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld                                    10.21
 
Teams classification
 
1 Caisse d'Epargne                                                 25.04.08
2 Team Columbia                                                        0.07
3 Team CSC Saxo Bank
4 Garmin Chipotle
5 Quick Step
6 Liquigas
7 Euskaltel - Euskadi                                                  0.13
8 Saunier Duval - Scott                                                0.20
9 AG2R-La Mondiale                                                     0.24
10 Credit Agricole
11 Gerolsteiner
12 Rabobank                                                            0.26
13 Team Milram                                                         0.43
14 Agritubel                                                           0.46
15 Cofidis Credit Par Telephone                                        0.48
16 Silence - Lotto                                                     1.08
17 Barloworld                                                          1.09
18 Francaise des Jeux                                                  1.12
19 Bouygues Telecom                                                    1.52
20 Lampre                                                              2.04           

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