July 20, 2005 – Discovery’s Paolo Savodelli has made Discovery’s Tour even better, taking the win today from Pau to Revel, a 239.5 km stage. His teammate, Lance Armstrong, still leads.

The win comes just a few days after Discovery’s George Hincapie took a win, after staying away most of the stage. Savodelli is truly a super domestique, having won the Giro just a month ago. The Italian rider outkicked CSC’s Kurt Asle Arvesen, catching him back after a last minute attack.

A few interesting developments today, including the DNF of Andreas Kloden (T-Mobile) after an injured wrist in a crash. That severely affects T-Mobile’s chances of a high team G.C., although it does seem likely that his teammate Jan Ullrich should climb up the ladder to the podium with the final TT on Saturday.

Results:

1 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Discovery Channel 5.41.19
2 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC
3 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Ag2r-Prevoyance 0.08
4 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Credit Agricole 0.11
5 Andrei Grivko (Ukr) Domina Vacanze 0.24
6 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) T-Mobile Team 0.51
7 Bram Tankink (Ned) Quick.Step
8 Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre-Caffita 0.53
9 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Ag2r-Prevoyance 3.14
10 Allan Davis (Aus) Liberty Seguros-Würth

General classification after stage 17

1 Lance Armstrong (USA) Discovery Channel 72.55.50
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 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) T-Mobile Team 9.38
8 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 9.49
9 Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak Hearing Systems 9.53
10 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Credit Agricole 12.07