July 9, 2008 (Châteauroux, France) – Team Columbia’s Mark Cavendish (Gbr) blasted to a first stage win in the Tour de France on Wednesday’s stage from Cholet to Chateauroux. The 23-year-old Briton finished over a bike length ahead of three-time World Champion Oscar Freire (Rabobank) of Spain, with German Erik Zabel in third.

It was Cavendish eighth road-race win of 2008 and 19th road-race victory of his career. In a remarkable year so far for Team Columbia, Cavendish win is the 46th of 2008 for the men’s team. “This is far and away the biggest win of my career,” Cavendish said afterwards.

“Everyone knows what the Tour is, when you’re a kid you watch it on tv, you dream of being there. I’ve always known how important the Tour is.” Strongly supported by all eight Columbia team-mates in the frantic finale, Cavendish said their hard work “shows just how self-sacrificing they are.”

“They did everything they could do to help me there, and I had to do my best to pay them back and win. They’ve worked with total commitment all week. Today we had to top the podium. I couldn’t really come away without the victory.”

Although Olympic ambitions are high on Cavendish’s list of priorities this year, he is adamant that he has no plans to abandon.”I want to go all the way to Paris. To plan to do otherwise would be disrespectful to the organisers, my team, the other riders and the race.”

Discussing the team’s role in the finale, Cavendish said that German team-mate Gerald Ciolek “led me out from 600 metres. That’s a long way to go in the headwind, but you saw how fast he went past the other guys.”

“Then when [rival rider Mark] Renshaw went with [sprinter Thor Hushovd] with 250 metres to that was a bit early in the sprint for me to accelerate.”

“But after Renshaw had given Hushovd a good lead-out then my own final acceleration would have been less efficent if I had waited for my usual distance.”

“So I had to go for it when they did. Fortunately my strength was enough to take me all the way to the line. I was able to hold it all the way there and it all paid off.” For more information on Team Columbia please visit www.highroadsports.com

Results

1. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia 5.27.52 (42.45 km/h)
2. Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank
3. Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram
4. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole
5. Baden Cooke (Aus) Barloworld
6. Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld
7. Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis РLe Cr̩dit par T̩l̩phone
8. Robbie McEwen (Aus) Silence – Lotto
9. Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas
10. Julian Dean (NZl) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
11. Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner
12. Gert Steegmans (Bel) Quick Step
13. Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel
14. Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Française des Jeux
15. Jimmy Casper (Fra) Agritubel
16. I̱aki Isasi Flores (Spa) Euskaltel РEuskadi
17. Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
18. Xavier Florencio Cabre (Spa) Bouygues Telecom
19. Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
20. Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner
21. Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) Agritubel
22. Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
23. Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Rabobank
24. Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas
25. Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale
26. Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner
27. Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Silence – Lotto
28. Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence – Lotto
29. Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre
30. Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Crédit Agricole
31. Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Rabobank
32. Mark Renshaw (Aus) Crédit Agricole
33. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre
34. Maxime Monfort (Bel) Cofidis РLe Cr̩dit par T̩l̩phone
35. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Agritubel
36. Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) Barloworld
37. Markus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner
38. William Bonnet (Fra) Crédit Agricole
39. Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Columbia
40. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia
41. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Silence – Lotto
42. Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner
43. George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia
44. Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne
45. Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia
46. Matteo Carrara (Ita) Quick Step
47. Iouri Trofimov (Rus) Bouygues Telecom
48. Christian Knees (Ger) Team Milram
49. Jes̼s Del Nero (Spa) Saunier Duval РScott
50. David Millar (GBr) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
51. Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale
52. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Columbia
53. Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Liquigas
54. Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre
55. Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
56. Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Agritubel
57. Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step
58. Marco Velo (Ita) Team Milram
59. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
60. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis РLe Cr̩dit par T̩l̩phone
61. José Iván Gutierrez (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne
62. Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Caisse d’Epargne
63. Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner
64. Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre
65. Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
66. Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Lampre
67. Josep Jufre Pou (Spa) Saunier Duval – Scott
68. Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank
69. Murilo Fischer (Bra) Liquigas
70. Mauro Facci (Ita) Quick Step
71. Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Quick Step
72. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas
73. Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française des Jeux
74. Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank
75. Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
76. Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre
77. Steven De Jongh (Ned) Quick Step
78. John-Lee Augustyn (RSA) Barloworld
79. Stuart O’Grady (Aus) Team CSC – Saxo Bank
80. Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step
81. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC – Saxo Bank
82. Dario David Cioni (Ita) Silence – Lotto
83. Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC – Saxo Bank
84. Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Saunier Duval – Scott
85. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas
86. Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner
87. Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quick Step
88. Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
89. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française des Jeux
90. Simon Gerrans (Aus) Crédit Agricole
91. Mario Aerts (Bel) Silence – Lotto
92. Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
93. Peter Velits (Svk) Team Milram
94. Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
95. Juan Jos̩ Oroz Ugalde (Spa) Euskaltel РEuskadi
96. Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas
97. Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux
98. Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne
99. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Team Columbia
100. Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Lampre
101. Christophe Brandt (Bel) Silence – Lotto
102. Nicolas Portal (Fra) Caisse d’Epargne
103. Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne
104. Pierrick Fédrigo (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
105. Trent Lowe (Aus) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
106. Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale
107. Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Crédit Agricole
108. Martin Müller (Ger) Team Milram
109. William Frischkorn (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
110. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Agritubel
111. Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Team Milram
112. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC – Saxo Bank
113. Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre
114. David De La Fuente Rasilla (Spa) Saunier Duval – Scott
115. Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC – Saxo Bank
116. Eduardo Gonzalo Ramirez (Spa) Agritubel
117. Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
118. Stéphane Goubert (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
119. Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Saunier Duval – Scott
120. Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval – Scott
121. Moises Dueñas Nevado (Spa) Barloworld
122. Rémy Di Grégorio (Fra) Française des Jeux
123. Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
124. Frederik Willems (Bel) Liquigas
125. Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank
126. Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
127. Freddy Bichot (Fra) Agritubel
128. Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole
129. Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank
130. Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux
131. Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC – Saxo Bank
132. Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Team CSC – Saxo Bank
133. Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
134. Christopher Froome (Ken) Barloworld
135. Niki Terpstra (Ned) Team Milram
136. José Luis Arrieta Lujambio (Spa) AG2R La Mondiale
137. Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre
138. Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Quick Step
139. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
140. Gianpaolo Cheula (Ita) Barloworld
141. Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC – Saxo Bank
142. Christophe Le Mével (Fra) Crédit Agricole
143. Aleksandr Kuchynski (Blr) Liquigas
144. Amaël Moinard (Fra) Cofidis – Le Crédit par Téléphone
145. Arnaud Gérard (Fra) Française des Jeux
146. Félix Rafael Cárdenas (Col) Barloworld
147. Gorka Verdugo Markotegi (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
148. David Moncouti̩ (Fra) Cofidis РLe Cr̩dit par T̩l̩phone
149. St̩phane Aug̩ (Fra) Cofidis РLe Cr̩dit par T̩l̩phone
150. Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank
151. Lilian Jégou (Fra) Française des Jeux
152. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
153. Stef Clement (Ned) Bouygues Telecom
154. Laurent Lefèvre (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
155. David Le Lay (Fra) Agritubel
156. Danny Pate (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
157. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis РLe Cr̩dit par T̩l̩phone
158. Rémi Pauriol (Fra) Crédit Agricole
159. Ronny Scholz (Ger) Gerolsteiner
160. John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
161. David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne
162. Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
163. Florent Brard (Fra) Cofidis РLe Cr̩dit par T̩l̩phone
164. David López García (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne
165. Nicki Sørensen (Den) Team CSC – Saxo Bank
166. Johann Tschopp (Swi) Bouygues Telecom
167. Yoann Le Boulanger (Fra) Française des Jeux
168. Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval – Scott
169. José Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne
170. Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Silence – Lotto
171. Björn Schröder (Ger) Team Milram
172. Leif Hoste (Bel) Silence – Lotto
173. Brett Lancaster (Aus) Team Milram 0.33
174. Marcus Burghardt (Ger) Team Columbia 0.57
175. Adam Hansen (Aus) Team Columbia 1.41
176. Aur̩lien Passeron (Fra) Saunier Duval РScott 4.55
177. Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner 6.30
DNF Mauricio Soler (Col) Barloworld

GC after Stage 5

1. Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner 19.32.33
2. Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia 0.12
3. David Millar (GBr) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
4. Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence – Lotto 0.21
5. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC – Saxo Bank 0.33
6. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 0.37
7. George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia 0.41
8. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia 0.47
9. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas 0.58
10. José Iván Gutierrez (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 1.01
11. Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 1.12
12. Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC – Saxo Bank 1.13
13. Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step 1.18
14. Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 1.22
15. Maxime Monfort (Bel) Cofidis РLe Cr̩dit par T̩l̩phone 1.24
16. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre 1.26
17. Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 1.27
18. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC – Saxo Bank 1.29
19. Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 1.31
20. Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner 1.40
21. Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre 1.41
22. Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 1.42
23. Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC – Saxo Bank 1.43
24. Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner 1.47
25. Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas 1.48
26. Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Quick Step
27. Christian Knees (Ger) Team Milram 1.53
28. Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC – Saxo Bank 2.08
29. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis РLe Cr̩dit par T̩l̩phone 2.10
30. Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale 2.12
31. Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale 2.25
32. Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank 2.27
33. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 2.29
34. Matteo Carrara (Ita) Quick Step 2.30
35. Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 2.32
36. Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld 2.47
37. Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Liquigas 2.57
38. Simon Gerrans (Aus) Crédit Agricole 3.01
39. Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale 3.05
40. Iouri Trofimov (Rus) Bouygues Telecom 3.07
41. Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel
42. Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis РLe Cr̩dit par T̩l̩phone 3.09
43. Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) Barloworld 3.15
44. Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 3.19
45. Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 3.22
46. Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 3.30
47. Marco Velo (Ita) Team Milram 3.31
48. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Silence – Lotto 3.34
49. Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 3.35
50. Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre 3.36
51. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole
52. William Bonnet (Fra) Crédit Agricole 3.38
53. Murilo Fischer (Bra) Liquigas
54. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française des Jeux 3.44
55. Gorka Verdugo Markotegi (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 3.46
56. Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française des Jeux 3.48
57. William Frischkorn (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 3.51
58. Markus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner 3.55
59. Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval – Scott 4.08
60. Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner
61. Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank 4.15
62. Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas
63. Gert Steegmans (Bel) Quick Step 4.16
64. Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Saunier Duval – Scott 4.17
65. Martin Müller (Ger) Team Milram 4.19
66. Julian Dean (NZl) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
67. Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quick Step 4.34
68. Steven De Jongh (Ned) Quick Step 4.36
69. John-Lee Augustyn (RSA) Barloworld 4.38
70. Niki Terpstra (Ned) Team Milram 4.40
71. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 4.46
72. Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank 4.48
73. Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step
74. Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
75. Stuart O’Grady (Aus) Team CSC – Saxo Bank 4.51
76. Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank 4.56
77. Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole 5.07
78. Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 5.13
79. Leif Hoste (Bel) Silence – Lotto 5.17
80. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Agritubel 5.19
81. José Luis Arrieta Lujambio (Spa) AG2R La Mondiale 5.21
82. Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 5.22
83. Danny Pate (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 5.23
84. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Agritubel
85. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 5.26
86. Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank
87. Juan Jos̩ Oroz Ugalde (Spa) Euskaltel РEuskadi 5.29
88. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Columbia 5.32
89. I̱aki Isasi Flores (Spa) Euskaltel РEuskadi 5.38
90. Robbie McEwen (Aus) Silence – Lotto 5.40
91. Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Agritubel 5.41
92. Baden Cooke (Aus) Barloworld 5.42
93. Lilian Jégou (Fra) Française des Jeux 5.45
94. Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Rabobank 5.50
95. Josep Jufre Pou (Spa) Saunier Duval – Scott 5.55
96. Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner 5.58
97. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia
98. Mark Renshaw (Aus) Crédit Agricole 6.00
99. Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Crédit Agricole 6.02
100. Mario Aerts (Bel) Silence – Lotto 6.03
101. Christophe Brandt (Bel) Silence – Lotto 6.04
102. Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Rabobank 6.16
103. Moises Dueñas Nevado (Spa) Barloworld 6.21
104. Ronny Scholz (Ger) Gerolsteiner 6.23
105. Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Quick Step 6.24
106. Trent Lowe (Aus) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 6.26
107. Stef Clement (Ned) Bouygues Telecom 6.27
108. Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Française des Jeux 6.29
109. Frederik Willems (Bel) Liquigas 6.31
110. Mauro Facci (Ita) Quick Step 6.34
111. Jes̼s Del Nero (Spa) Saunier Duval РScott 6.43
112. Eduardo Gonzalo Ramirez (Spa) Agritubel 6.46
113. Jimmy Casper (Fra) Agritubel 6.50
114. Florent Brard (Fra) Cofidis РLe Cr̩dit par T̩l̩phone 6.56
115. David Moncouti̩ (Fra) Cofidis РLe Cr̩dit par T̩l̩phone 6.57
116. Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) Agritubel 7.02
117. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis РLe Cr̩dit par T̩l̩phone 7.04
118. Nicolas Portal (Fra) Caisse d’Epargne 7.13
119. Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 7.18
120. Félix Rafael Cárdenas (Col) Barloworld 7.29
121. Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux 7.31
122. Stéphane Goubert (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 7.33
123. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Team Columbia 7.35
124. Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre 7.36
125. Adam Hansen (Aus) Team Columbia 7.4
126. Amaël Moinard (Fra) Cofidis – Le Crédit par Téléphone 7.42
127. Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Team CSC – Saxo Bank 7.43
128. Peter Velits (Svk) Team Milram 7.49
129. Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Team Milram 7.51
130. Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre 7.59
131. Freddy Bichot (Fra) Agritubel
132. Arnaud Gérard (Fra) Française des Jeux 8.17
133. Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 8.23
134. Brett Lancaster (Aus) Team Milram 8.33
135. David Le Lay (Fra) Agritubel 8.34
136. Christophe Le Mével (Fra) Crédit Agricole 8.36
137. Rémy Di Grégorio (Fra) Française des Jeux 8.39
138. Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Columbia 8.40
139. Dario David Cioni (Ita) Silence – Lotto 8.46
140. Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC – Saxo Bank 8.47
141. Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Lampre 8.52
142. Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 8.53
143. José Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 8.56
144. Xavier Florencio Cabre (Spa) Bouygues Telecom 9.01
145. Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Crédit Agricole 9.21
146. Pierrick Fédrigo (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 9.23
147. Yoann Le Boulanger (Fra) Française des Jeux 9.33
148. Johann Tschopp (Swi) Bouygues Telecom 9.40
149. Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner 9.44
150. Rémi Pauriol (Fra) Crédit Agricole 9.49
151. Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 10.18
152. Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Silence – Lotto 10.22
153. Marcus Burghardt (Ger) Team Columbia
154. Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Caisse d’Epargne
155. Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre 10.37
156. Laurent Lefèvre (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 10.39
157. Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre 10.46
158. Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Lampre 10.59
159. Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas 11.00
160. Aur̩lien Passeron (Fra) Saunier Duval РScott
161. Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux 11.05
162. Christopher Froome (Ken) Barloworld 11.08
163. Björn Schröder (Ger) Team Milram 11.23
164. David De La Fuente Rasilla (Spa) Saunier Duval – Scott 11.25
165. Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank 11.26
166. Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner 11.32
167. John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 12.07
168. Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Saunier Duval – Scott 12.38
169. Aleksandr Kuchynski (Blr) Liquigas 12.54
170. Gianpaolo Cheula (Ita) Barloworld 12.58
171. David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 13.31
172. St̩phane Aug̩ (Fra) Cofidis РLe Cr̩dit par T̩l̩phone 13.41
173. Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval – Scott 13.59
174. David López García (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 14.09
175. Nicki Sørensen (Den) Team CSC – Saxo Bank 15.06
176. Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 17.55
177. Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Silence – Lotto 20.05