July 17, 2005 – Discovery’s George Hincapie has taken a great win today, beating Phonak’s Oscar Pereiro Sio and Credit Agricole’s Pietro Caucchioli. Hincapie’s teammate, Lance Armstrong, put more time into T-Mobile’s Jan Ullrich and stays in Yellow.

Hincapie was part of an early move that had up to 17 minutes advantage at one point. From there, the group splintered with most of the riders managing to stave off CSC’s Ivan Basso et al who charged up from behind.

This is Hincapie’s first stage win in the Tour, and although Armstrong still has a commanding lead, he does not have a win of his own yet. However, after the race the Texan was all smiles for his loyal teammate – could Hincapie be going for his own overall win next year when Armstrong retires?

Results:

1. George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel 6.06.38
2. Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 0.06
3. Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Credit Agricole 0.38
4. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 0.57
5. Laurent Brochard (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 2.19
6. Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC 5.04
7. Lance Armstrong (USA) Discovery Channel
8. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) T-Mobile Team 6.28
9. Jan Ullrich (Ger) T-Mobile Team
10. Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 6.32

GC

1. Lance Armstrong (USA) Discovery Channel 62.09.59
2. Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC 2.46
3. Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 3.09
4. Jan Ullrich (Ger) T-Mobile Team 5.58
5. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d’Epargne 6.31
6. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Gerolsteiner 7.35
7. Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak Hearing Systems 9.33
8. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) T-Mobile Team 9.38
9. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Credit Agricole 11.47
10. Andreas Klöden (Ger) T-Mobile Team 12.01