Seeing how no one else has done this yet, I will do daily updates on the Tour de France here.

Why should we care? Well, there are 6 Americans in the race this year: Levi Leipheimer, Freddy Rodriguez, Chris Horner, Dave Zabriskie, Christain Vande Velde, and George Hincapie!

So, yesterday was the prologue:

Stage Top 10/General Classification

1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 8.50 (53.7 km/h)
2 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0.13
3 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.23
4 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
5 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.25
6 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne 0.26
7 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 0.30
8 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 0.31
9 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas 0.32
10 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française des Jeux

Points Jersey
Fabian Cancellera

Young Rider
Vladimir Gusev

Best Team
Astana

Today was Stage 1

There was a crash at 20 KM to the end that took down stage favorite Robbie McEwan, injuring his wrist. Nonetheless...

Stage Top 10

1 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 4.39.01 (43.65 km/h)
2 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole
3 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic
4 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Française des Jeux
5 Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel
6 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner
7 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank
8 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) T-Mobile Team
9 Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir
10 Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team

GC
1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 4.47.51
2 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0.13
3 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir 0.21
4 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.23
5 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
6 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.25
7 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne 0.26
8 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole 0.29
9 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 0.30
10 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 0.31


Points Jersey
Robbie McEwan 35 points
Thor Hushovd 30 points

KOM Jersey
David Millar

Young Rider
Vladamir Gusev

Team
Astana

Exciting finish today! Huge crash inside the last 3 KM brought down most of the peleton, but, of course, since it was inside the last 3, they all get the same time.

Stage 2 Results

1 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 3.48.22 (44.2 km/h)
2 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic
3 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas
4 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld
5 Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel
6 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Predictor - Lotto
7 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram
8 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner
9 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank
10 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Française des Jeux

GC after Stage 2

1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 8.36.13
2 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0.13
3 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir 0.21
4 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.23
5 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
6 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.25
7 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 0.26
8 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne
9 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole 0.29
10 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 0.30

Green Jersey
Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 56 pts
Robbie McEwen (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 55

KOM
David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir 5 pts
Stéphane Augé (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 5


Best Young Rider
Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 8.36.38Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 0.06

Best Team
Astana
CSC (2 seconds back)

Stage 3

Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 6.36.15 (35.81km/h)
2 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram
3 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre - Fondital
4 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic
5 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld
6 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner
7 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Predictor - Lotto
8 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) T-Mobile Team
9 Mark Cavendish (GBr) T-Mobile Team
10 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner

GC
1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 15.12.08
2 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0.33
3 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir 0.41
4 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.43
5 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
6 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.45
7 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 0.46
8 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne
9 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole 0.49
10 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi

Green Jersey
Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 80 pts
Robbie McEwen (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 74

KOM
Stéphane Augé (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 8 pts
David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir 5

Young Rider
1 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 15.12.53
2 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 0.06

Team classification
1 Astana 21.38.42
2 Team CSC 0.02

Today was one of the last of the flat, sprint stages for awhile....tomorrow has a lot more hills, so the GC should get its first shake-up!


Stage:

1 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole 4.37.47 (41.69 km/h)
2 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld
3 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank
4 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram
5 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre - Fondital
6 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic
7 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner
8 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic
9 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Française des Jeux
10 Mark Cavendish (GBr) T-Mobile Team

Overall

1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 19.49.55
2 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole 0.29
3 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0.33
4 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir 0.41
5 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel 0.43
6 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
7 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 0.44
8 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.45
9 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 0.46
10 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne


Points Classification

1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 98 pts
2 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 86
3 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 84

Mountains Classification

1 Stéphane Augé (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 9 pts
2 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 7
3 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir 7

Young Rider Classification

1 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel 19.50.40
2 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 0.06
3 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française des Jeux 0.07

Teams Classification

1 Astana 11.32.03
2 Team Csc 0.02
3 Discovery Channel Team 0.05

I'm going to be out of town tomorrow, so it may be later in nthe day tomorrow before I can post!

That was one crazy stage! Most of the GC guys crashed, including Kloden who fractured a vertebrea but still finished strong somehow! Oh. And check out the new standings in best team!!!!!!!!!! Anyways:

Stage 5
1 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas 4.39.01 (39.67 km/h)
2 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank
3 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre - Fondital
4 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile Team
5 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram
6 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel
7 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
8 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner
9 Bram Tankink (Ned) Quickstep - Innergetic
10 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom

GC

1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 28.56
2 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0.33
3 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas 0.35
4 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir 0.41
5 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.43
6 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.45
7 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne 0.46
8 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0.49
9 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 0.51
10 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française des Jeux 0.52

Points classification

1 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 102 pts
2 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 98

Mountains classification

1 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 37 pts
2 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française des Jeux 23

Young rider classification

1 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
2 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 0.06

Team classification

1 Team CSC 73.29.08
2 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.03
(both of their crashes caused Astana to drop down to 15th, 1.23 off the lead)

Today was the last of the sprint stages...we head to the mountains tomorrow where the gc will get a huge shake up!

Vino and Klodi both are still racing, but both are VERY badly banged up.
Bradley Wiggins made a valiant effort today with an incredibly long solo break, but it got caputred right at the end, resulting in a "chaotic" bunch sprint.

Stage 6
1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 5.20.59 (37.29 km/h)
2 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank
3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram
4 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Française des Jeux
5 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole
6 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre - Fondital
7 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner
8 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld
9 Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel
10 Murilo Fischer (Bra) Liquigas

GC
Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 29.49.55
2 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0.33
3 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas 0.35
4 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir 0.41
5 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank 0.43
6 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel Team
7 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro 0.45
8 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne 0.46
9 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 0.48
10 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0.49

Points classification

1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 141 pts
2 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 130
3 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank 114

Mountains classification

1 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 37 pts
2 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française des Jeux 23
3 William Bonnet (Fra) Crédit Agricole 15

Young rider classification

1 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 25.50.40
2 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 0.06
3 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française des Jeux 0.07

Team classification

1 Team CSC 89.32.05
2 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.03
3 Caisse d'Epargne 0.16

As predicted, huge shake-up today with it being the first day in the Alps. EVERYTHING changed! It'll change tomorrow, too.

Stage 7
1 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) T-Mobile Team 4.53.13 (40.41 km/h)
2 Inigo Landaluze Intxaurraga (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0.40
3 David De La Fuente Rasilla (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 1.39
4 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 2.14
5 Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 2.21
6 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner 3.32
7 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Quickstep - Innergetic 3.38
8 Xavier Florencio Cabre (Spa) Bouygues Telecom
9 Christophe Moreau (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance
10 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne

GC

1 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) T-Mobile Team 34.43.40
2 Inigo Landaluze Intxaurraga (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 1.24
3 David De La Fuente Rasilla (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 2.45
4 Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 2.55
5 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 3.05
6 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 3.39
7 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 3.51
8 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne 3.52
9 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 3.55
10 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 3.57

Points Clssification

1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 147 pts
2 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 134
3 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld 103

Mountains Classification

1 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 42 pts
2 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) T-Mobile Team 30
3 David De La Fuente Rasilla (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 30

Young Rider Classification

1 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) T-Mobile Team 34.43.40
2 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 3.05
3 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 3.51

Teams classification

1 T-Mobile Team 104.19.04
2 Euskaltel-Euskadi 0.52
3 Saunier Duval-Prodir 2.04

Now this was a stage! So very, very much drama, including a dramatic crash by Stuey O'Grady resulting in 5 broken ribs, a broken wrist, and a broken collarbone!

Front-runner Michael Rogers also crashed, possibly breaking his wrist or collarbone, preventing him from finishing.

And, the last in the trio of Australian devastations, sprinting master Robbie McEwan finished outside of the time limit, probably being DQ'ed tomorrow.

But, the Chicken fought bravely, ultimately winning all the spoils on the stage:

Stage 8
1 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 4.49.40 (34.18 km/h)
2 Iban Mayo Diez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 2.47
3 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 3.12
4 Christophe Moreau (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance 3.13
5 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC
6 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto
7 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana
8 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel 3.31
9 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 3.35
10 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC

GC
1 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 39.37.42
2 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) T-Mobile Team 0.43
3 Iban Mayo Diez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 2.39
4 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 2.51
5 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana 2.52
6 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 2.53
7 Christophe Moreau (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance 3.06
8 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel 3.10
9 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 3.14
10 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 3.19
11 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC 3.35
12 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 3.46
13 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel 3.53
14 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 3.54
15 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 4.00
16 Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Liquigas 4.19
17 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Quickstep - Innergetic 4.22
18 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 4.51
19 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile Team 5.02
20 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Lampre - Fondital 5.03
21 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 5.14
22 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 5.23

Points classification

1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 147 pts
2 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 134
3 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld 103

Mountains classification

1 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 82 pts
2 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 42
3 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) T-Mobile Team 30

Young rider classification

1 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) T-Mobile Team 39.38.25
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel 2.27
3 Kanstantin Siutsou (Blr) Barloworld 5.35

Teams classification

1 Rabobank 119.02.30
2 Caisse d'Epargne 1.18
3 Astana 2.37

Tomorrow is a much-needed rest stage. When the race continues on Tuesday, it looks like it could be down to 139 riders potentially (from the 189 who started last Saturday)....it'll ultimately depend on the time cuts.

Yet another amazing stage.

Today was the last day in the Alps, so tomorrow is an undulating stage.

Stage 9
1 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 4.14.24 (38.92 km/h)
2 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0.38
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto
4 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Team 0.40
5 Iban Mayo Diez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 0.42
6 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank
7 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Team
8 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile Team 0.46
9 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana
10 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC

GC
1 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 43.52.48
2 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 2.35
3 Iban Mayo Diez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 2.39
4 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 2.41
5 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Team 3.08
6 Christophe Moreau (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance 3.18
7 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC 3.39
8 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 3.50
9 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel 3.53
10 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile Team 5.06

Points Classification

1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 147 pts
2 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 134
3 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld 103

Mountains Classification

1 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 98 pts
2 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 79
3 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel Team 69

Young Rider Classification

1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel 43.55.56
2 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) T-Mobile Team 3.37
3 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 3.41

Teams Classification

1 Caisse D’Epargne 131.52.51
2 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.06
3 Astana 3.02

Despite the small "scandal" with Patrick Sinkewitz of T-Mobile testing positive for doping, the race continued with passion:

There was a massive break away that shattered up the last two climbs. The peloton finished with Chavanel.

Stage 10
1 Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Quickstep - Innergetic 5.20.24 (42.978 km/h)
2 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux
3 Michael Albasini (Swi) Liquigas
4 Patrice Halgand (Fra) Crédit Agricole
5 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC
6 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 0.36
7 Paolo Bossoni (Ita) Lampre - Fondital
8 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) T-Mobile Team 1.01
9 Aleksandr Kuchynski (Blr) Liquigas 2.34
10 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Rabobank
11 Andry Grivko (Ukr) Team Milram 3.42
12 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Française des Jeux 10.36

GC
1 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 49.23.48
2 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 2.35
3 Iban Mayo Diez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 2.39
4 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 2.41
5 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel 3.08
6 Christophe Moreau (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance 3.18
7 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC 3.39
8 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 3.50
9 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel 3.53
10 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile Team 5.06

Points classification

1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 160 pts
2 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 144
3 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld 114

Mountains classification

1 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 98 pts
2 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 79
3 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel Team 70

Young rider classification

1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel 49.26.56
2 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) T-Mobile Team 3.37
3 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 3.41

Teams classification

1 Team CSC 148.20.49
2 Caisse D'Epargne 5.02
3 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 5.08

Today should have been a boring flat stage with no developments...just an exciting sprint finish.

SHOULD HAVE...

Team Astana decided otherwise. Vino may be injured, but he's not out! He fought hard and managed to split the field. Some of the favorite sprinters were caught in the back. Those in the front got too antsy and found themselves in an accident in the last km.

American Dave Zabriskie finished outside the time limit and was disqualified.

Stage 11 Results:
Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld 3.47.50 (48.06 km/h)
2 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC
3 Murilo Fischer (Bra) Liquigas
4 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas
5 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre - Fondital
6 Paolo Bossoni (Ita) Lampre - Fondital
7 Claudio Corioni (Ita) Lampre - Fondital
8 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française des Jeux
9 William Bonnet (Fra) Crédit Agricole
10 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile Team

GC
General Classification After Stage 11

1 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 53.11.38
2 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 2.35
3 Iban Mayo Diez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 2.39
4 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 2.41
5 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Team 3.08
6 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC 3.39
7 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 3.50
8 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel 3.53
9 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile Team 5.06
10 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 5.20

Points Classification

1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 160 pts
2 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld 149
3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 144

Mountains Classification

1 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 98 pts
2 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 79
3 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel Team 70


Young Rider Classification

1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro 53.14.46
2 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) T-Mobile Team 3.37
3 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 3.41

Teams Classification

1 Team CSC 159.44.19
2 Caisse D’epargne 5.02
3 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 5.08

So today was what was supposed to happen...small break away, caught at the end (1 km left!), and bunch sprint. Tomorrow, everything will change with tomorrow's extremely important time trial!

Stage 12
1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 4.25.32 (40.33 km/h)
2 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram
3 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld
4 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre - Fondital
5 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole
6 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) T-Mobile Team
7 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Française des Jeux
8 Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Agritubel
9 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner
10 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana

General Classification After Stage 12

1 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 57.37.10
2 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 2.35
3 Iban Mayo Diez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 2.39
4 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 2.41
5 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel 3.08
6 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC 3.39
7 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 3.50
8 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel 3.53
9 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile Team 5.06
10 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 5.20

Points Classification

1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 195 pts
2 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld 175
3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 174

Mountains Classification

1 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 98 pts
2 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 89
3 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 86

Young Rider Classification

1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 57.40.18
2 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) T-Mobile Team 3.37
3 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 3.41

Teams Classification

1 Team CSC 173.00.55
2 Caisse D’Epargne 5.02
3 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 5.08

Today was the first long Time Trial. Everyone was expecting Rasmussen to lose a lot of time (probably drop away from number 1), but he battled strong!

Team Astana was friggin' amazing! VINO'S BACK!!

It rained for a considerable portion of the course, so there were probably at least 20 some odd crashes, but everyone managed to finish.

So, Stage 13:
1 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 1.06.34 (48.661 km/h)
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 1.14
3 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 1.39
4 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana 1.44
5 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Cofidis 2.14
6 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel Team 2.16
7 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Team 2.18
8 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis 2.38
9 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel 2.39
10 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel 2.42
11 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 2.55

GC
General classification after stage 13

1 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 58.46.39
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 1.00
3 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Team 2.31
4 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 2.34
5 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel 3.37
6 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana 4.23
7 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC 4.45
8 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel 5.07
9 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 5.10
10 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile Team 5.29
11 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 5.48
12 Iban Mayo Diez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir
13 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) T-Mobile Team 6.59
14 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 7.04
15 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel Team 7.37
16 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 7.45
17 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 7.49
18 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 8.18
19 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne 9.13
20 Kanstantin Siutsou (Blr) Barloworld 10.25
21 Chris Horner (USA) Predictor - Lotto 10.37
22 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 10.50
23 Christophe Moreau (Fra) AG2r 13.09
24 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Saunier Duval 13.23
25 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Lampre - Fondital 13.41

Points Classification

1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 195 pts
2 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld 175
3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 174

Mountains Classification

1 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 98 pts
2 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 89
3 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel Team 86

Young Rider Classification

1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel 58.49.10
2 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) T-Mobile Team 4.28
3 Kanstantin Siutsou (Blr) Barloworld 7.54

Teams Classification

1 Astana 176.32.04
2 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.54
3 Team CSC 2.19

Back to the mountains means back to the ever-changing GC. The first stage in the Pyrenees certainly brought lots of excitment!

Stage 14
Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel 5.25.48 (36.28 km/h)
2 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank
3 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 0.37
4 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Pro 0.40
5 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC 0.53
6 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 1.52
7 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto
8 Antonio Colom Mas (Spa) Astana 2.23
9 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana
10 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel Team 3.06

GC
1 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 64.12.15
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Team 2.23
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 3.04
4 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Pro 4.29
5 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 4.38
6 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC 5.50
7 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana 6.58
8 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel 8.25
9 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 9.45
10 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel Team 10.55

Points Classification

1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 195 pts
2 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld 175
3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 174

Mountains Classification

1 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 142 pts
2 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 140
3 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel Team 104

Young Rider Classification

1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel 64.14.38
2 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 9.08
3 Kanstantin Siutsou (Blr) Barloworld 20.30

Teams Classification

1 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 192.54.08
2 Astana 1.58
3 Rabobank 7.58

And I spoke too soon...Vino lost around 25 minutes today and fell so far back in the GC that he is done for now.

I thought I posted stage 15 already, but I guess not! Sorry!

So, I spoke too soon again:

1 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 5.34.28 (35.160 km/h)
2 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile Team 0.51
3 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
4 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 0.58
5 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Quickstep - Innergetic 2.14
6 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 3.23
7 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner 4.25
8 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team CSC
9 Ludovic Turpin (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance 5.16
10 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling 5.31
11 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank
12 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling 5.47
13 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 6.27
14 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
15 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank
16 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling
17 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana
18 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse 'Epargne
19 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC
20 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana

GC After Stage 15

1 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 69.52.14
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Team 2.23
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 4.00
4 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel 5.25
5 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 5.34
6 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC 6.46
7 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 7.27
8 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana 7.54
9 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile Team 8.24
10 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 9.21
11 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 10.41
12 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling 12.29
13 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 14.30
14 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 15.00
15 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 17.11
16 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne 18.27
17 Chris Horner (USA) Predictor - Lotto 18.57
18 Iban Mayo Diez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 19.00
19 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 25.08
20 Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Liquigas 26.02

Points classification

1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 195 pts
2 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld 175
3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 174

Mountains classification

1 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 142 pts
2 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 140
3 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel Team 104

Young rider classification

1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel 69.54.37
2 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 12.37
3 Kanstantin Siutsou (Blr) Barloworld 30.35

Teams classification

1 Astana 209.52.24
2 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 2.53
3 Team CSC 15.01

Tuesday was a rest day

Ok. I'm done trying to say anything about Vino. So on the rest day yesterday, it came out that he transfused blood, which is illegal doping of course, so he was suspended by the team, and the entire team Astana was asked to leave the race.

In spite of this, the race continued, so here are today's results:

Stage 16

1 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank .23.21 (34.20 km/h)
2 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.26
3 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling 0.35
4 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 0.43
5 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 1.25
6 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 1.52
7 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 1.54
8 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC 2.12
9 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 2.27
10 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
11 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling 3.11
12 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 3.37
13 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 4.42
14 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 5.32
15 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile Team 6.02
16 Iban Mayo Diez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 6.06
17 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Quickstep - Innergetic 6.17
18 Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Liquigas 6.36
19 David De La Fuente Rasilla (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 7.05
20 Chris Horner (USA) Predictor - Lotto

GC after stage 16
1 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 76.15.15
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Team 3.10
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 5.03
4 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Team 5.59
5 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC 9.12
6 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 9.39
7 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 13.28
8 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile Team 14.46
9 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel 16.00
10 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 16.41
11 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 16.52
12 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 17.17
13 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 21.08
14 Iban Mayo Diez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 25.24
15 Chris Horner (USA) Predictor - Lotto 26.22
16 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne 27.37
17 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 31.00
18 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 31.48
19 Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Liquigas 32.58
20 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Lampre - Fondital 36.31

Points Classification

1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 195 pts
2 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld 175
3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 174

Mountains Classification

1 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 206 pts
2 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 196
3 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling 128

Young Rider Classification

1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel 76.18.25
2 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 13.31
3 Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 45.54

Teams Classification

1 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 229.09.32
2 Caisse D’Epargne 16.48
3 Team CSC 25.01

More drama.

So it came out that Christophe Moreni of team Cofidis tested positive for testostorone, so he and his team were removed from the race.

Leader of the race Michael Rasmussen of team Rabobank was fired by his team and they removed him from the race because he allegidly lied to the team about his whereabouts in June which is strictly against team rules.

So, Stage 17 results:

1 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre - Fondital 4.14.04 (44.52 km/h)
2 Markus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner
3 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2r Prévoyance
4 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC
5 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir 2.41
6 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quickstep - Innergetic 2.43
7 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas 3.20
8 Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre - Fondital
9 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 9.37
10 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Française des Jeux

GC
1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Team 76.18.25
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 1.53
3 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Team 2.49
4 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC 6.02
5 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 6.29
6 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 10.18
7 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile Team 11.36
8 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel Team 12.50
9 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 13.31
10 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 13.42

Points Classification

1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 212 pts
2 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld 190
3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 187

Mountains Classification

1 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 206 pts
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Team 128
3 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery ChannelTeam 104

Young Rider Classification

1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel P 76.18.25
2 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 13.31
3 Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 45.54

Teams Classification

1 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 242.20.41
2 Team CSC 15.22
3 Caisse D’Epargne 16.48

Stage 18 was a normal rollling, break-away stage! Well, other than another guy in a break away smashed into another dog, crashing quite hard, then turned around and won the stage.

Oh, and two of the four guys in the break away have announced that they are retiring at the end of the season: Michael Boogerd, pro since 1994, and Axel Merckx (son of the great Eddy Merckx), pro since 1993. Two of the greats in the sport went out on top:

Stage 18
1 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux 5.13.31 (40.38 km/h)
2 Axel Merckx (Bel) T-Mobile Team 0.01
3 Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
4 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank
5 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 8.34
6 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld
7 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram
8 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Française des Jeux
9 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) T-Mobile Team
10 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole

GC
1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 86.04.16
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 1.50
3 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 2.49
4 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC 6.02
5 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 6.29
6 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 10.18
7 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile Team 11.36
8 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 12.47
9 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 13.31
10 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 13.42

Points Classification

1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 234 pts
2 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld 210
3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 206

Mountains Classification

1 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 206 pts
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 128
3 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 104

Young Rider Classification

1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 86.04.16
2 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 13.31
3 Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 45.54

Teams Classification

1 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 258.27.02
2 Team CSC 16.12
3 Caisse D’Epargne 16.51

Well, today was the penultimate stage! The most important Time Trial ever essentially. And, at the end, the podium is only separated by 31 seconds (which is a Tour record!)

TT results:
1 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 1.02.44 (53.068 km/h)
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 0.51
3 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne 1.56
4 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 2.01
5 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 2.18
6 José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 2.27
7 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 2.33
8 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 2.36
9 Leif Hoste (Bel) Predictor - Lotto 2.48
10 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 2.50
11 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 2.55
12 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC
13 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile Team 3.00
14 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) T-Mobile Team 3.17
15 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner
16 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC 3.24
17 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 3.37
18 Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 3.46
19 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team CSC 3.58
20 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 4.06

GC
1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 87.09.18
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 0.23
3 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.31
4 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC 7.08
5 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 8.17
6 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 11.37
7 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile Team 12.18
8 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 12.30
9 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 14.14
10 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 14.25
11 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 16.41
12 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 21.05
13 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 21.49
14 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne 24.05
15 Chris Horner (USA) Predictor - Lotto 25.09
16 Iban Mayo Diez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 26.59
17 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 31.38
18 Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Liquigas 34.04
19 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Lampre - Fondital 36.58
20 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 37.04
21 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Quickstep - Innergetic 38.06
22 José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 45.32
23 Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 49.24
24 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 54.50
25 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team CSC 55.50

Points classification

1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 234 pts
2 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld 210
3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 206
4 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Française des Jeux 161
5 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole 156
6 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre - Fondital 125
7 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner 123
8 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 109
9 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 93
10 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 88

Mountains classification

1 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 206 pts
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 128
3 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 104
4 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 92
5 Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 85
6 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Quickstep - Innergetic 77
7 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC 74
8 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 68
9 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 64
10 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 64

Young rider classification

1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 87.09.18
2 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 16.41
3 Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 49.24
4 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner 1.13.27
5 Kanstantin Siutsou (Blr) Barloworld 1.15.06
6 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 1.30.24
7 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) T-Mobile Team 1.30.37
8 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 1.33.50
9 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Française des Jeux 2.22.40
10 Andry Grivko (Ukr) Team Milram 2.41.41

Team classification

1 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 261.39.33
2 Caisse d'Epargne 19.31
3 Team CSC 22.10
4 Rabobank 36.14
5 Euskaltel-Euskadi 46.51

The Tour is over. What an emotional rush. Here are the final stage results and the GC.

Stage 20
1 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre - Fondital 3.51.03 (37.91 km/h)
2 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole
3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram
4 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld
5 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic
6 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Française des Jeux
7 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC
8 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir
9 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner
10 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas
11 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2r Prévoyance
12 Freddy Bichot (Fra) Agritubel
13 Bram Tankink (Ned) Quickstep - Innergetic
14 Inaki Isasi Flores (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
15 Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner
16 Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
17 Xavier Florencio Cabre (Spa) Bouygues Telecom
18 Bram De Groot (Ned) Rabobank
19 Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Quickstep - Innergetic
20 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) T-Mobile Team
21 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic
22 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
23 Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner
24 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner
25 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Quickstep - Innergetic
26 Julian Dean (NZl) Crédit Agricole
27 Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Agritubel
28 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team CSC 0.05
29 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner
30 Aleksandr Kuchynski (Blr) Liquigas

GC
1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 91.00.26
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 0.23
3 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.31
4 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC 7.08
5 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 8.17
6 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 11.37
7 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile Team 12.18
8 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 12.25
9 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 14.14
10 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 14.25
11 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 16.51
12 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 21.15
13 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 21.49
14 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne 24.15
15 Chris Horner (USA) Predictor - Lotto 25.19
16 Iban Mayo Diez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 27.09
17 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 31.48
18 Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Liquigas 34.14
19 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Lampre - Fondital 37.08
20 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 37.14
21 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Quickstep - Innergetic 38.16
22 José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 45.42
23 Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 49.34
24 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 54.50
25 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team CSC 55.50
26 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Crédit Agricole 56.23
27 Stéphane Goubert (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance 1.06.30
28 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC 1.08.22
29 Francisco Javier Vila Errandonea (Spa) Lampre - Fondital 1.09.37
30 Patrice Halgand (Fra) Crédit Agricole 1.12.45

Points Classification

1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic 256 pts
2 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld 234
3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 232
4 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole 186
5 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Française des Jeux 181
6 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre - Fondital 160
7 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner 140
8 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 112
9 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 109
10 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 88

Mountains Classification

1 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 206 pts
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 128
3 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 105
4 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 92
5 Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 85
6 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Quickstep - Innergetic 77
7 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC 74
8 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 68
9 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 64
10 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 64

Young Rider Classification

1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 91.00.26
2 Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld 16.51
3 Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 49.34
4 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner 1.13.27
5 Kanstantin Siutsou (Blr) Barloworld 1.15.16
6 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 1.30.34
7 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) T-Mobile Team 1.30.47
8 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 1.33.50
9 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Française des Jeux 2.22.50
10 Andry Grivko (Ukr) Team Milram 2.41.41

Most Aggressive Rider Classification

1 Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi

Teams Classification

1 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 273.12.52
2 Caisse D’Epargne 19.36
3 Team CSC 22.10
4 Rabobank 36.24
5 Euskaltel-Euskadi 46.46


So, following the biggest race of the year, of course the UCI updated their rankings, so:

Top Individuals
Danilo DiLuca 207 pts
Alberto Contador 191
Cadel Evans 174
Alejandro Valverde 165
Davide Rebellin 157

Top Team
Oh, that's right boys and girls:
CSC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 264 points
Discovery Channel 226
Liquigas 222
Caisse D'Epargne 220
Saunier Duval 217