Without Euskaltel, local fans had hoped Samuel Sanchez would race. Discovery did not pick him though and the only Basque rider in the tour of the Basque country appears to be Egoi Martinez, Paris-Nice stage winner, and also of Discovery.
The Jaizkibel would be the crucial climb, and Saunier Duval and Lampre made sure the break had been caught. The peleton were down to 41 as Nibali began procedings with an attack. He was countered by Sinkewitz and it soon seemed like everyone was attacking ... apart from Saunier Duval.
Sinkewitz and Nocentini lead over the top, chased by Leipheimer and Contador. Saunier Duval led the pack and did not allow the 4 to get much of a gap.
Nocentini and Sinkewitz survived, with Nocentini sprinting to win. Meanwhile, pathetic sprinting from Leipheimer and Contador allowed Gutierrez Palacios and De la Fuente to sprint past, with the Caisse rider taking 3rd.
1
Rinaldo Nocentini
LAMPRE - FONDITAL
3h27'58
2
Patrik Sinkewitz
BOUYGUES TELECOM
s.t.
3
José Ivan Gutiérrez Palacios
CAISSE D'EPARGNE
+ 41
4
David De la Fuente
SAUNIER DUVAL - PRODIR
s.t.
5
Alberto Contador
AG2R PRÉVOYANCE
s.t.
6
Levi Leipheimer
TEAM MILRAM
s.t.
7
Rubén Plaza
BOUYGUES TELECOM
s.t.
8
Cristian Moreni
COFIDIS, LE CRÉDIT PAR TÉLÉPHONE
s.t.
9
Constantino Zaballa
CAISSE D'EPARGNE
s.t.
10
José Luis Rubiera
DISCOVERY CHANNEL PRO CYCLING TEAM
s.t.
11
José Enrique Gutiérrez Cataluña
FRANÇAISE DES JEUX
s.t.
12
Pierrick Fédrigo
BOUYGUES TELECOM
s.t.
13
Jérôme Pineau
BOUYGUES TELECOM
s.t.
14
Cyril Dessel
QUICK STEP - INNERGETIC
s.t.
15
Igor Astarloa
TEAM MILRAM
s.t.
16
Ruben Elvira Lobato
SAUNIER DUVAL - PRODIR
s.t.
17
Luis Leon Sanchez Gil
CAISSE D'EPARGNE
s.t.
18
Dario Cataldo
LIQUIGAS
s.t.
19
Juan José Cobo
SAUNIER DUVAL - PRODIR
s.t.
20
Iker Camaño
SAUNIER DUVAL - PRODIR
s.t.
21
Konstantin Siutsou
DISCOVERY CHANNEL PRO CYCLING TEAM
s.t.
22
Felix Cardénas
CAISSE D'EPARGNE
s.t.
23
Koldo Gil
SAUNIER DUVAL - PRODIR
s.t.
24
Pietro Caucchioli
LIQUIGAS
s.t.
25
Tadej Valjavec
LAMPRE - FONDITAL
s.t.
26
Sérgio Paulinho
DISCOVERY CHANNEL PRO CYCLING TEAM
s.t.
27
Francisco Perez Sanchez
DISCOVERY CHANNEL PRO CYCLING TEAM
s.t.
28
Manuel Beltran
COFIDIS, LE CRÉDIT PAR TÉLÉPHONE
s.t.
29
Isidro Nozal
T-MOBILE TEAM
s.t.
30
Leonardo Bertagnolli
LIQUIGAS
s.t.
31
David Arroyo
CAISSE D'EPARGNE
s.t.
32
Vincenzo Nibali
LIQUIGAS
s.t.
33
Ryder Hesjedal
LIQUIGAS
s.t.
34
Ivan Parra Pinto
COFIDIS, LE CRÉDIT PAR TÉLÉPHONE
s.t.
35
José Serpa
TEAM MILRAM
s.t.
36
Giuliano Figueras
LAMPRE - FONDITAL
+ 2'07
37
Carlos Barredo
QUICK STEP - INNERGETIC
s.t.
38
Mauro Santambrogio
LAMPRE - FONDITAL
s.t.
39
Paolo Tiralongo
LAMPRE - FONDITAL
+ 2'55
40
Gorazd Stangelj
LAMPRE - FONDITAL
s.t.
41
Mauro Facci
QUICK STEP - INNERGETIC
+ 3'51
42
Addy Engels
QUICK STEP - INNERGETIC
s.t.
43
Serge Baguet
QUICK STEP - INNERGETIC
s.t.
44
Frantisek Rabon
T-MOBILE TEAM
s.t.
45
Joan Horrach
CAISSE D'EPARGNE
s.t.
46
Simon Gerrans
AG2R PRÉVOYANCE
s.t.
47
Moises Dueñas
AG2R PRÉVOYANCE
s.t.
48
Vladimir Miholjevic
LIQUIGAS
s.t.
49
Remmert Wielinga
SAUNIER DUVAL - PRODIR
s.t.
50
Bingen Fernandez Bustinza
COFIDIS, LE CRÉDIT PAR TÉLÉPHONE
s.t.
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Rinaldo Nocentini
LAMPRE - FONDITAL
3h27'58
2
Patrik Sinkewitz
BOUYGUES TELECOM
s.t.
3
José Ivan Gutiérrez Palacios
CAISSE D'EPARGNE
+ 41
4
David De la Fuente
SAUNIER DUVAL - PRODIR
s.t.
5
Alberto Contador
AG2R PRÉVOYANCE
s.t.
6
Levi Leipheimer
TEAM MILRAM
s.t.
7
Rubén Plaza
BOUYGUES TELECOM
s.t.
8
Cristian Moreni
COFIDIS, LE CRÉDIT PAR TÉLÉPHONE
s.t.
9
Constantino Zaballa
CAISSE D'EPARGNE
s.t.
10
José Luis Rubiera
DISCOVERY CHANNEL PRO CYCLING TEAM
s.t.
Rank
Name
Team
Points
General
1
Rinaldo Nocentini
LAMPRE - FONDITAL
25
25
2
Patrik Sinkewitz
BOUYGUES TELECOM
20
20
3
José Ivan Gutiérrez Palacios
CAISSE D'EPARGNE
16
16
4
David De la Fuente
SAUNIER DUVAL - PRODIR
14
14
5
Alberto Contador
AG2R PRÉVOYANCE
12
12
Rank
Name
Team
Mountain
General
1
Paolo Longo Borghini
BARLOWORLD
14
14
2
Felix Cardénas
CAISSE D'EPARGNE
10
10
3
Patrik Sinkewitz
BOUYGUES TELECOM
10
10
4
Mauro Facci
QUICK STEP - INNERGETIC
9
9
5
Vincenzo Nibali
LIQUIGAS
8
8
The youth competition looks to already be down to 7 rider, as only 7 finished in the lead group.
