Basso tightens grip as Piepoli wins weather-shortened stage
- By Andrew Hood
- Published May. 24, 2006
Riis: Sometimes the riders should just shut up and race
The Queen of stages at the Giro d’Italia proved to be something of a letdown Wednesday as rain, cold and even a bit of late-spring snow forced organizers to eliminate the goat path they had planned to herd the peloton up the 2273m summit at Plan de Corones.
Winter-like whiteout conditions high in the Italian Dolomites prompted race organizers to remove the difficult Passo dello Erbe at 97km and then lower the summit finish by about five kilometers, shorting the 133km stage by 18km.
Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval) won his second stage in five days while Team CSC’s Ivan Basso took more time on his rivals and all but sewed up the overall title with just four days left.
“We can never say the race is won, but only an illness or a crash can stop Ivan now,” said Team CSC Bjarne Riis. “I just told Ivan to stay at the front today. He’s shown he’s stronger than everyone else.”
If the Giro seemed to lose some of its steam on what should have been one of the most spectacular stages, so did the fight for the overall crown.
Overall challengers seem to be running out of gas with Basso looking almost untouchable. With the 28-year-old leading by more than five minutes, most all concede that the race is all but over for the GC.
“Basso is so strong that it’s discouraging for the others,” said Lampre team manager Giuseppe Saronni. “Basso is at another level and he’s made a perfect race. That makes it harder for the others to keep the motivation high to keep fighting.”
Such big names as Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas), Damiano Cunego (Lampre), Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery Channel) and Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) gave up the chase when Piepoli and Basso chugged away with Julio Perez Cuapio (Panaria), Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) and José Enrique Gutiérrez (Phonak) midway up the final climb.
There´s still some fight for the final places on the podium and that could liven up the action in the closing days. Simoni finished eighth at 48 seconds back, but gained enough time on Savoldelli, who came through 16th at 1:29 back, to slip into third overall.
“My Giro is just getting worse day to day,” defending champion Savoldelli told Italian TV. “The team is riding well, but I don’t have the legs to stay with the best and it’s frustrating to be in this position.”
The prospect of cold and wet weather on the upper reaches was the point of heated discussion before the start of the race. Several riders, including Olympic champion Paolo Bettini (Quick Step), demanded race organizers shorten the stage.
Giro officials eventually capitulated and made the call to eliminate the climb and lower the finish. The decision triggered something of a panic situation with the finish line banner being erected just 10 minutes before the riders came through.
Not everyone was happy the stage was shortened, however. Riis, for one, said riders should toughen up to ride through the poor weather.
“Sometimes the riders should just shut up and race. I have full confidence that the race directors and the UCI will make the safest decision for the riders,” Riis told Danish journalists. “They just have to wait for orders, because otherwise this will open up with different teams with different interests trying to manipulate the race. We have to trust the UCI and the race directors to make the right call, but if they make the wrong decision, then we will talk about it.”
With the Erbe gone and the race whittled down to 115km, it made for a straight ahead, Vuelta a España-esque stage. Two riders – Liquigas’s Dario Cioni and Benoit Poilvet (Crédit Agricole) – pulled away early, but they were reeled in under the force of the peloton on the lower reaches of the Corones climb.
While shortened, the climb was still quite steep – with some ramps the steepest the peloton´s face in this year´s race – and the suffering began in earnest. For many, given the all-but-finished Giro and the nasty weather, their hearts were simply not in the race and the peloton soon fractured.
Mexican climber Perez Cuapio looked motivated enough to try to win the stage, with second-place Gutiérrez, Piepoli and Basso hitching a ride. Pellizotti fought back, but the other bigger names were dropped. Tom Danielson (Discovery Channel) wasn´t able to follow and dipped to 17th overall.
Piepoli ramped it up with about 1km to go and Basso followed through, dropping Gutiérrez, who is obviously fighting to defend his hold on second place.
“I have no real responsibility except to try to follow the wheel of Basso,” Gutiérrez said. “I had a lot of fear about today´s stage, but I was able to hang in there. I have to take advantage of this opportunity I have here and fight for the podium. My whole career I´ve been at the service of other captains, so now I will try to keep the podium.”
The 89th Giro continues Thursday with the 210km rollercoaster from Sillian to Gemona del Fruili, an ideal stage for the escape artists to give it a run.
There are still two horrific days in the mountains before Milan, but just about everyone now agrees that it´s only Basso who can beat himself. And from the look of his smiles from the winner´s podium in the maglia rosa, it´s apparent he likes the view.
Results – Stage 17
1. Leonardo Piepoli (I), Saunier Duval, 3:21:06
2. Ivan Basso (I), CSC, at 0:00
3. José E. Gutierrez Cataluna (Sp), Phonak, at 0:15
4. Franco Pellizotti (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 0:19
5. Julio Alberto Perez Cuapio (MEX), Ceramica Panaria – Navigare, at 0:28
6. John Gadret (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, at 0:37
7. Damiano Cunego (I), Lampre, at 0:41
8. Gilberto Simoni (I), Saunier Duval, at 0:48
9. Sergio Ghisalberti (I), Milram, at 0:58
10. Giampaolo Caruso (I), Liberty Seguros, at 0:58
Overall, after 17 Stages
1. Ivan Basso (I) CSC), 67:56:31
2. José E. Gutierrez Cataluna (Sp) Phonak, at 5:43
3. Gilberto Simoni (I) Saunier Duval), at 10:34
4. Paolo Savoldelli (I) Discovery, at 10:58
5. Franco Pellizotti (I) Liquigas-Bianchi, at 12:30
6. Wladimir Belli (I) Colombia-Selle Italia, at 13:00
7. Sandy Casar (F) Francaise des Jeux, at 14:06
8. Damiano Cunego (I) Lampre, at 14:48
9. Victor Hugo Pena Grisales (Col) Phonak, at 16:40
10. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Sp) Discovery, at 17:48
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Results
Results – Stage 17
1. Leonardo Piepoli (I), Saunier Duval, 3:21:06
2. Ivan Basso (I), CSC, at 0:00
3. José E. Gutierrez Cataluna (Sp), Phonak, at 0:15
4. Franco Pellizotti (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 0:19
5. Julio Alberto Perez Cuapio (MEX), Ceramica Panaria – Navigare, at 0:28
6. John Gadret (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, at 0:37
7. Damiano Cunego (I), Lampre, at 0:41
8. Gilberto Simoni (I), Saunier Duval, at 0:48
9. Sergio Ghisalberti (I), Milram, at 0:58
10. Giampaolo Caruso (I), Liberty Seguros, at 0:58
11. Sandy Casar (F), Francaise des Jeux, at 1:14
12. Manuel Juan Manuel (Sp), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 1:14
13. Charles Wegelius (GB), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 1:29
14. Andrea Noe' (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 1:29
15. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Sp), Discovery Channel, at 1:29
16. Paolo Savoldelli (I), Discovery Channel, at 1:29
17. Pena Grisales Victor Hugo (Col), Phonak, at 1:29
18. Francisco Perez Sanchez (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., at 1:29
19. Maxime Monfort (B), Cofidis, at 1:33
20. Johann Tschopp (Swi), Phonak, at 1:35
21. Carlos Sastre Candil (Sp), CSC, at 1:35
22. Jose Serpa (Col), Colombia – Selle Italia, at 1:41
23. Wladimir Belli (I), Colombia – Selle Italia, at 1:41
24. Wim Van Huffel (B), Davitamon-Lotto, at 1:50
25. Francisco J Vila Errandonea. (Sp), Lampre, at 1:50
26. David Lopez Garcia (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1:53
27. Theo Eltink (Nl), Rabobank, at 2:07
28. José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., at 2:09
29. Paolo Tiralongo (I), Lampre, at 2:13
30. Unai Osa Eizaguirre (Sp), Liberty Seguros, at 2:15
31. Emanuele Sella (I), Ceramica Panaria – Navigare, at 2:15
32. Patrice Halgand (F), Credit Agricole, at 2:15
33. Raffaele Illiano (I), Colombia – Selle Italia, at 2:22
34. Ivan Ramiro Parra Pinto (Col), Cofidis, at 2:28
35. Sven Krauss (G), Gerolsteiner, at 2:49
36. Iker Flores Galarza (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 2:49
37. Sylvester Szmyd (Pol), Lampre, at 2:55
38. Alessandro Vanotti (I), Milram, at 2:57
39. Paolo Bettini (I), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 2:57
40. Danilo Di Luca (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 2:57
41. Vladimir Efimkin (Rus), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., at 3:10
42. Stefan Schumacher (G), Gerolsteiner, at 3:28
43. Sylvain Calzati (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, at 3:28
44. Jens Voigt (G), CSC, at 3:28
45. Benoit Joachim (Lux), Discovery Channel, at 3:28
46. Scott Davis (Aus), T-Mobile, at 3:28
47. Jurgen Van De Walle (B), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 3:32
48. Laverde Jimenez Luis Felipe (Col), Ceramica Panaria – Navigare, at 3:39
49. Luca Mazzanti (I), Ceramica Panaria – Navigare, at 3:39
50. Fortunato Baliani (I), Ceramica Panaria – Navigare, at 3:39
51. Tadej Valjavec (SLO), Lampre, at 3:47
52. Marco Pinotti (I), Saunier Duval, at 3:58
53. Francesco Bellotti (I), Credit Agricole, at 3:58
54. Guido Trentin (I), Saunier Duval, at 4:02
55. Jussi Veikkanen (FIN), Francaise des Jeux, at 4:07
56. Joan Horrach Rippoll (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., at 4:07
57. Daniel Navarro Garcia (Sp), Liberty Seguros, at 4:07
58. Anton Luengo Celaya (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 4:09
59. Nicolas Vogondy (F), Credit Agricole, at 4:09
60. Fabio Sacchi (I), Milram, at 4:12
61. Inigo Cuesta Lopez De Castro (Sp), CSC, at 4:14
62. Marco Fertonani (I), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., at 4:14
63. Torsten Hiekmann (G), Gerolsteiner, at 4:14
64. Yannick Talabardon (F), Credit Agricole, at 4:14
65. Erik Gustav Erik (Swe), Francaise des Jeux, at 4:14
66. Markel Irizar Aranburu (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 4:21
67. Alexandre Botcharov (Rus), Credit Agricole, at 4:26
68. Inigo Chaurreau Bernardez (Sp), Ag2r Prevoyance, at 4:26
69. Pavel Padrnos (Cz), Discovery Channel, at 4:33
70. Martin Elmiger (Swi), Phonak, at 4:58
71. Rubiano Chavez Miguel A. (Col), Ceramica Panaria – Navigare, at 5:13
72. Yoann Le Boulanger (F), Bouygues Telecom, at 5:16
73. Laurent Lefevre (F), Bouygues Telecom, at 5:16
74. Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus), Rabobank, at 5:16
75. Tom Danielson (USA), Discovery Channel, at 5:16
76. Mikel Pradera Rodriguez (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., at 5:28
77. Carrasco Gamiz Jose Luis (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., at 5:28
78. Imanol Erviti (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., at 5:28
79. Ardila Cano Mauricio Alberto (Col), Rabobank, at 5:28
80. Grischa Niermann (G), Rabobank, at 5:28
81. Volodymir Gustov (Ukr), CSC, at 5:28
82. Matthias Kessler (G), T-Mobile, at 5:28
83. Joerg Ludewig (G), T-Mobile, at 5:28
84. Julia Cegarra Jose Cayetano (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., at 5:28
85. Josep Jufre Pou (Sp), Davitamon-Lotto, at 5:28
86. Christian Knees (G), Milram, at 5:28
87. Alessandro Cortinovis (I), Milram, at 5:28
88. Gorazd Stangelj (SLO), Lampre, at 5:28
89. Bobby Julich (USA), CSC, at 5:52
90. Andrea Moletta (I), Gerolsteiner, at 5:52
91. Maximiliano Axel Maximiliano (ARG), Ceramica Panaria – Navigare, at 5:52
92. Marzio Bruseghin (I), Lampre, at 5:52
93. Alessandro Spezialetti (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 6:27
94. Koen De Kort (Nl), Liberty Seguros, at 6:37
95. David Dario David (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 6:47
96. Volker Ordowski (G), Gerolsteiner, at 7:00
97. Mickael Delage (F), Francaise des Jeux, at 7:05
98. Preben Van Hecke (B), Davitamon-Lotto, at 7:12
99. Arnaud Gerard (F), Francaise des Jeux, at 7:18
100. Benoit Poilvet (F), Credit Agricole, at 8:12
101. Sergiy Matveyev (Ukr), Ceramica Panaria – Navigare, at 8:48
102. Davide Bramati (I), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 11:11
103. Benat Albizuri Aransolo (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 11:11
104. Ruben Lobato Elvira (Sp), Saunier Duval, at 11:11
105. Michael Blaudzun (Dk), CSC, at 11:11
106. Nick Gates (Aus), Davitamon-Lotto, at 11:11
107. Dario Andriotto (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 11:11
108. Mirco Lorenzetto (I), Milram, at 11:11
109. Bert Roesems (B), Davitamon-Lotto, at 11:11
110. Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr), Ag2r Prevoyance, at 11:11
111. Paolo Fornaciari (I), Lampre, at 11:11
112. Nicki Sorensen (Dk), CSC, at 11:11
113. Manuel Beltran Martinez (Sp), Discovery Channel, at 11:11
114. Olaf Pollack (G), T-Mobile, at 11:11
115. Leonardo Scarselli (I), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 11:11
116. Patrick Calcagni (Swi), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 11:11
117. William Bonnet (F), Credit Agricole, at 11:11
118. Robert Forster (G), Gerolsteiner, at 11:11
119. Rast Grégory (Swi), Phonak, at 11:11
120. Jan Ullrich (G), T-Mobile, at 11:11
121. Giovanni Lombardi (I), CSC, at 11:11
122. Jan Kuyckx (B), Davitamon-Lotto, at 11:11
123. Gabriele Missaglia (I), Colombia – Selle Italia, at 11:11
124. Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus), Discovery Channel, at 11:11
125. Christophe Edaleine (F), Credit Agricole, at 11:11
126. Angel Gomez Gomez (Sp), Saunier Duval, at 11:11
127. Olivier Bonnaire (F), Bouygues Telecom, at 11:11
128. Renaud Dion (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, at 11:11
129. Javier Ramirez Abeja (Sp), Liberty Seguros, at 11:11
130. Evgeni Petrov (Rus), Lampre, at 11:11
131. Hubert Dupont (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, at 11:11
132. Mc Carty Jonathan Patrick (USA), Phonak, at 11:11
133. Amael Moinard (F), Cofidis, at 11:11
134. Leonardo Duque (Col), Cofidis, at 11:11
135. Arnaud Labbe (F), Bouygues Telecom, at 11:11
136. Stef Clement (Nl), Bouygues Telecom, at 11:11
137. Frantisek Rabon (Cz), T-Mobile, at 11:11
138. Garrido Lima José Antonio (Sp), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 11:11
139. Manuele Mori (I), Saunier Duval, at 11:11
140. Steve Zampieri (Swi), Phonak, at 11:11
141. Marc De Maar (Nl), Rabobank, at 11:11
142. Carl Naibo (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, at 11:11
143. Mathew Hayman (Aus), Rabobank, at 11:11
144. Ivan Mayoz (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 11:11
145. Addy Engels (Nl), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 11:11
146. Carlos Da Cruz (F), Francaise des Jeux, at 11:11
147. Henk Vogels (Aus), Davitamon-Lotto, at 11:11
148. Matthias Russ (G), Gerolsteiner, at 11:11
149. Jason Mccartney (USA), Discovery Channel, at 11:11
150. Cyrille Monnerais (F), Francaise des Jeux, at 11:11
151. Pauriol Rémi (F), Credit Agricole, at 11:11
152. Elia Rigotto (I), Milram, at 11:11
153. Peter Mazur (Pol), Saunier Duval, at 11:11
154. Alberto Ongarato (I), Milram, at 11:11
155. Santo Anza' (I), Colombia – Selle Italia, at 11:11
156. Aaron Olsen (USA), Saunier Duval, at 11:38
157. Fabrizio Guidi (I), Phonak, at 15:06
158. Matthew White (Aus), Discovery Channel, at 15:06
159. Yohann Gene (F), Bouygues Telecom, at 15:06
160. Sergio Barbero (I), Colombia – Selle Italia, at 15:06
161. Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz), Liberty Seguros, at 15:06
Overall, after 17 Stages
1. Ivan Basso (I), CSC, 67:56:31
2. José E. Gutierrez Cataluna (Sp), Phonak, at 5:43
3. Gilberto Simoni (I), Saunier Duval, at 10:34
4. Paolo Savoldelli (I), Discovery Channel, at 10:58
5. Franco Pellizotti (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 12:30
6. Wladimir Belli (I), Colombia – Selle Italia, at 13:00
7. Sandy Casar (F), Francaise des Jeux, at 14:06
8. Damiano Cunego (I), Lampre, at 14:48
9. Victor Hugo Pena Grisales (Col), Phonak, at 16:40
10. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Sp), Discovery Channel, at 17:48
11. Andrea Noe' (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 17:58
12. Leonardo Piepoli (I), Saunier Duval, at 18:19
13. Danilo Di Luca (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 18:27
14. Giampaolo Caruso (I), Liberty Seguros, at 18:49
15. Juan Manuel Garate(Sp), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 19:15
16. Vila Errandonea Francisco J. (Sp), Lampre, at 20:50
17. Tom Danielson (USA), Discovery Channel, at 21:23
18. Gutierrez Palacios José Ivan (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., at 21:44
19. Paolo Tiralongo (I), Lampre, at 23:02
20. Patrice Halgand (F), Credit Agricole, at 24:04
21. Sylvester Szmyd (Pol), Lampre, at 25:10
22. Francesco Bellotti (I), Credit Agricole, at 26:19
23. Wim Van Huffel (B), Davitamon-Lotto, at 29:56
24. Joan Horrach Rippoll (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., at 31:19
25. Luca Mazzanti (I), Ceramica Panaria – Navigare, at 31:48
26. Parra Pinto Ivan Ramiro (Col), Cofidis, at 32:17
27. John Gadret (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, at 32:20
28. David Lopez Garcia (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 32:36
29. Francisco Perez Sanchez (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., at 33:04
30. Manuel Beltran Martinez (Sp), Discovery Channel, at 33:54
31. Emanuele Sella (I), Ceramica Panaria – Navigare, at 34:01
32. Sergio Ghisalberti (I), Milram, at 34:42
33. Marzio Bruseghin (I), Lampre, at 34:44
34. Unai Osa Eizaguirre (Sp), Liberty Seguros, at 37:27
35. Guido Trentin (I), Saunier Duval, at 37:49
36. Josep Jufre Pou (Sp), Davitamon-Lotto, at 38:38
37. Vladimir Efimkin (Rus), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., at 38:59
38. Carlos Sastre Candil (Sp), CSC, at 39:37
39. Inigo Chaurreau Bernardez (Sp), Ag2r Prevoyance, at 40:04
40. Alexandre Botcharov (Rus), Credit Agricole, at 40:54
41. Tadej Valjavec (SLO), Lampre, at 41:56
42. Laurent Lefevre (F), Bouygues Telecom, at 44:44
43. Jan Ullrich (G), T-Mobile, at 45:31
44. Maxime Monfort (B), Cofidis, at 46:22
45. Paolo Bettini (I), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 49:22
46. Iker Flores Galarza (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 49:56
47. Leonardo Duque (Col), Cofidis, at 50:20
48. Jens Voigt (G), CSC, at 50:26
49. Fortunato Baliani (I), Ceramica Panaria – Navigare, at 53:18
50. Jose Serpa (Col), Colombia – Selle Italia, at 54:36
51. Hubert Dupont (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, at 54:59
52. Perez Cuapio Julio Alberto (MEX), Ceramica Panaria – Navigare, at 55:18
53. Johann Tschopp (Swi), Phonak, at 55:22
54. Theo Eltink (Nl), Rabobank, at 55:39
55. Grischa Niermann (G), Rabobank, at 55:51
56. Marco Pinotti (I), Saunier Duval, at 57:45
57. Laverde Jimenez Luis Felipe (Col), Ceramica Panaria – Navigare, at 59:56
58. Inigo Cuesta Lopez De Castro (Sp), CSC, at 1:01:40
59. Nicolas Vogondy (F), Credit Agricole, at 1:02:06
60. Steve Zampieri (Swi), Phonak, at 1:05:15
61. Charles Wegelius (GB), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 1:08:04
62. Evgeni Petrov (Rus), Lampre, at 1:08:15
63. Stefan Schumacher (G), Gerolsteiner, at 1:08:38
64. Carrasco Gamiz Jose Luis (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., at 1:08:47
65. Fabio Sacchi (I), Milram, at 1:09:56
66. Javier Ramirez Abeja (Sp), Liberty Seguros, at 1:10:46
67. Alessandro Vanotti (I), Milram, at 1:14:21
68. Pavel Padrnos (Cz), Discovery Channel, at 1:15:58
69. Manuele Mori (I), Saunier Duval, at 1:16:44
70. Joerg Ludewig (G), T-Mobile, at 1:17:15
71. Raffaele Illiano (I), Colombia – Selle Italia, at 1:17:55
72. Gorazd Stangelj (SLO), Lampre, at 1:18:08
73. Jussi Veikkanen (FIN), Francaise des Jeux, at 1:18:25
74. Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus), Rabobank, at 1:19:01
75. Scott Davis (Aus), T-Mobile, at 1:20:44
76. Torsten Hiekmann (G), Gerolsteiner, at 1:21:12
77. Jurgen Van De Walle (B), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 1:21:34
78. Volodymir Gustov (Ukr), CSC, at 1:21:39
79. David Dario David (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 1:24:05
80. Stef Clement (Nl), Bouygues Telecom, at 1:24:10
81. Matthias Kessler (G), T-Mobile, at 1:25:07
82. Sylvain Calzati (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, at 1:25:23
83. Sven Krauss (G), Gerolsteiner, at 1:27:38
84. Matthias Russ (G), Gerolsteiner, at 1:27:43
85. Andrea Moletta (I), Gerolsteiner, at 1:28:57
86. Erik Gustav Erik (Swe), Francaise des Jeux, at 1:29:07
87. Addy Engels (Nl), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 1:29:10
88. Mikel Pradera Rodriguez (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., at 1:30:44
89. Ardila Cano Mauricio Alberto (Col), Rabobank, at 1:31:01
90. Nicki Sorensen (Dk), CSC, at 1:32:50
91. Rast Grégory (Swi), Phonak, at 1:33:01
92. Christian Knees (G), Milram, at 1:34:05
93. Benoit Joachim (Lux), Discovery Channel, at 1:35:16
94. Imanol Erviti (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., at 1:36:21
95. Daniel Navarro Garcia (Sp), Liberty Seguros, at 1:38:32
96. Benoit Poilvet (F), Credit Agricole, at 1:38:50
97. Markel Irizar Aranburu (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1:39:04
98. Marco Fertonani (I), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., at 1:39:12
99. Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus), Discovery Channel, at 1:39:45
100. Martin Elmiger (Swi), Phonak, at 1:40:08
101. Volker Ordowski (G), Gerolsteiner, at 1:42:48
102. Rubiano Chavez Miguel A. (Col), Ceramica Panaria – Navigare, at 1:43:31
103. Alessandro Spezialetti (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 1:44:07
104. Renaud Dion (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, at 1:46:38
105. Ruben Lobato Elvira (Sp), Saunier Duval, at 1:47:14
106. Santo Anza' (I), Colombia – Selle Italia, at 1:48:49
107. Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz), Liberty Seguros, at 1:48:53
108. Yannick Talabardon (F), Credit Agricole, at 1:50:39
109. Mc Carty Jonathan Patrick (USA), Phonak, at 1:53:12
110. Anton Luengo Celaya (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1:54:12
111. Arnaud Labbe (F), Bouygues Telecom, at 1:54:29
112. Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr), Ag2r Prevoyance, at 1:55:32
113. Julia Cegarra Jose Cayetano (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., at 1:57:03
114. Michael Blaudzun (Dk), CSC, at 1:57:27
115. William Bonnet (F), Credit Agricole, at 1:57:53
116. Yoann Le Boulanger (F), Bouygues Telecom, at 1:58:16
117. Olivier Bonnaire (F), Bouygues Telecom, at 1:59:38
118. Alessandro Cortinovis (I), Milram, at 1:59:47
119. Bobby Julich (USA), CSC, at 2:00:43
120. Pauriol Rémi (F), Credit Agricole, at 2:01:31
121. Bert Roesems (B), Davitamon-Lotto, at 2:03:15
122. Angel Gomez Gomez (Sp), Saunier Duval, at 2:03:25
123. Matthew White (Aus), Discovery Channel, at 2:03:52
124. Carlos Da Cruz (F), Francaise des Jeux, at 2:04:00
125. Giovanni Lombardi (I), CSC, at 2:05:57
126. Marc De Maar (Nl), Rabobank, at 2:06:33
127. Leonardo Scarselli (I), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 2:07:42
128. Gabriele Missaglia (I), Colombia – Selle Italia, at 2:08:08
129. Mickael Delage (F), Francaise des Jeux, at 2:08:23
130. Olaf Pollack (G), T-Mobile, at 2:12:20
131. Ivan Mayoz (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 2:13:22
132. Mirco Lorenzetto (I), Milram, at 2:14:28
133. Jan Kuyckx (B), Davitamon-Lotto, at 2:15:07
134. Patrick Calcagni (Swi), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 2:17:16
135. Alberto Ongarato (I), Milram, at 2:18:06
136. Sergiy Matveyev (Ukr), Ceramica Panaria – Navigare, at 2:19:46
137. Koen De Kort (Nl), Liberty Seguros, at 2:20:22
138. Christophe Edaleine (F), Credit Agricole, at 2:22:15
139. Nick Gates (Aus), Davitamon-Lotto, at 2:23:23
140. Cyrille Monnerais (F), Francaise des Jeux, at 2:24:07
141. Mathew Hayman (Aus), Rabobank, at 2:26:04
142. Peter Mazur (Pol), Saunier Duval, at 2:26:20
143. Davide Bramati (I), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 2:26:40
144. Amael Moinard (F), Cofidis, at 2:27:29
145. Robert Forster (G), Gerolsteiner, at 2:28:28
146. Paolo Fornaciari (I), Lampre, at 2:29:51
147. Arnaud Gerard (F), Francaise des Jeux, at 2:29:53
148. Elia Rigotto (I), Milram, at 2:29:57
149. Axel Maximiliano Richete(ARG), Ceramica Panaria – Navigare, at 2:30:05
150. Henk Vogels (Aus), Davitamon-Lotto, at 2:31:37
151. Benat Albizuri Aransolo (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 2:32:06
152. Preben Van Hecke (B), Davitamon-Lotto, at 2:32:13
153. Dario Andriotto (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 2:33:15
154. Frantisek Rabon (Cz), T-Mobile, at 2:37:28
155. Sergio Barbero (I), Colombia – Selle Italia, at 2:38:16
156. Garrido Lima José Antonio (Sp), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 2:38:52
157. Fabrizio Guidi (I), Phonak, at 2:40:55
158. Aaron Olsen (USA), Saunier Duval, at 2:41:54
159. Jason Mccartney (USA), Discovery Channel, at 2:42:28
160. Yohann Gene (F), Bouygues Telecom, at 2:45:24
161. Carl Naibo (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, at 2:59:24
FILED UNDER: Race Report / Race Result / Road
Andrew Hood
Hood cut his journalistic teeth at Colorado dailies before the web boom opened the door to European cycling in the mid-1990s. Hood's covered every Tour since 1996 and has been VeloNews' European correspondent since 2002. He lives in Leon, Spain, when he's not chasing bike races.