July 13, 2008 (Vienna, Austria) – On the 128.7km final stage from Podersdorf/Neusiedler See to Vienna Michael Knopf (Arbö KTM Junkers) was able to break away shortly before Vienna but the peloton caught him and Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step, world road champion and double-winner of Paris-Roubaix won for the first time a stage of the Tour of Austria. Boonen beat Roberto Ferrari (LPR) in 2nd, René Weissinger (Team Volksbank) in 3rd, and Danilo Napolitano (Lampre) in 4th. Peter Wrolich was placed 13th place and was top Austrian rider of the stage. Boonen was satisfied, “I wanted to win this stage in Vienna, because I already won in several capitals like Paris, London, Brussels and Madrid.”

Rohregger went to Vienna wearing the yellow jersey
Thomas Rohregger (Aut) Elk Haus – Simplon is the 19th Austrian rider to win the Tour of Austria. “I can not even realize. I was focusing to this tour since the last tour and now I gained the overall victory. A dream comes true!” In the overall standings Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Astana finished second with a time difference of 39 seconds to Rohregger while Ruslan Podgornyy (Ukr) LPR Brakes was third at 1:05. After his second place two years ago he wanted to win the Tour this year, but “Thomas was stronger. But I am very satisfied with my performance here. It was a very nice week with a perfect organization,” Gusev was disappointed: “I wanted to win in Austria. Of course I am disappointed with second place.”

Greipel won the point classification
On the final stage, André Greipel (Ger) Team Columbia was able to gain the point classification right before René Haselbacher (Astana) who won this classification twice in this tour. Greipel won with 38 points ahead René Haselbacher (34) and Ruslan Pidgornyy (33). The best climber of the Tour was the Italian rider Giampaolo Caruso (Ceramica) ahead of Ruslan Pidgornyy and Thomas Rohregger. The best team of the Tour was Astan. Second best Austrian rider is team mate Gerhard Trampusch placed 12th, followed by Michael Pichler (Arbö Wels Gourmetfein) placed 14th.

Results

1. Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step 2:42:50
2. Roberto Ferrari (Ita) LPR Brakes
3. René Weissinger (Ger) Team Volksbank
4. Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre
5. Geert Steurs (Bel) Silence – Lotto
6. André Korff (Ger) Team Volksbank
7. Mauro Abel Richeze (Arg) CSF Group Navigare
8. Davide Viganò (Ita) Quick Step
9. André Greipel (Ger) Team Columbia
10. Tom Leezer (Ned) Rabobank

46. Michael Barry (Can) Team Columbia 0:03

Final GC

1. Thomas Rohregger (Aut) Elk Haus – Simplon 26:54:28
2. Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Astana 0:39
3. Ruslan Podgornyy (Ukr) LPR Brakes 1.05
4. Chris Anker Sørensen (Den) Team CSC – Saxo Bank 2.02
5. Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli 2.47
6. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 4.09
7. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana 4.23
8. Walter Fernando Pedraza (Col) Tinkoff Credit Systems 5.31
9. Jure Golcer (Slo) LPR Brakes 5.42
10. Thomas Frei (Swi) Astana 5.59

11. Michael Barry (Can) Team Columbia 6:05