September 3, 2005 – Today’s eighth stage of the Tour of Spain was won by Alex Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) after a 189km jaunt from Tarragona to Lloret de Mar. Norwegian Hushovd (Credit Agricole) finished second, and Canada’s Michael Barry (Discovery) also mixed it up in the sprint, finishing 13th. Liberty’s Roberto Heras still leads.

Results:

1 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 4.19.14 (43.74 km/h)
2 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole
3 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step – Innergetic
4 Francisco Jos̩ Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval РProdir
5 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step – Innergetic
6 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner
7 Erik Zabel (Ger) T-Mobile Team
8 Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Cofidis, le credit par telephone
9 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) T-Mobile Team
10 Santos Gonzalez (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 0.03
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13 Michael Barry (Can) Discovery Channel

Overall:

1 Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 33.22.47
2 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0.12
3 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 1.07
4 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Saunier Duval – Prodir 1.09
5 David Blanco Rodiguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 1.11
6 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d’Epargne 1.26
7 Unai Yus Kerejeta (Spa) Bouygues Telecom 1.37
8 Carlos Garcia Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 1.39
9 Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) Quick Step – Innergetic
10 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 1.58
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45 Michael Barry (Can) Discovery Channel