when he signed, I knew you'd be happy.

Today is the opening stage of the 96th Tour de France. It is a 15 kilometer hilly time trial that doesn’t quite suit the time trial specialists. I was full of emotions today. It’s the first stage and you can’t help but feel so many mixed emotions. It’s been my dream to race in the Tour de France and I’m already racing in it at the age of 22. So when I got on the start ramp, I was nervous and excited. I wasn’t going to win the stage but I wanted to be in good position for the TTT in 3 days. I set a good time, coming in 48th, 48 seconds behind the leader.



One of the surprises of the day was the disappointing performance of Fabian Cancellara. He finished in 20th place, 24 seconds behind the leader.



Markus Fothen set a great time, coming in 11th place. He is pretty good in the mountains so he may surprise a lot of people.



The winner of the stage was the Australian TT champion, Cadel Evans, who continues to show his dominance after a win in the Dauphine Libere.



Both Vandevelde and Zabriskie set great times coming in 8th and 9th place. Wiggins however was a huge disappointment. He had a mechanical malfunction and came in last place. (In reality as I was setting his speed, I guess it stuck and went up to a 94. By the time I realized it, it was too late. Sorry guys.)



Stage
1 Cadel Evans Silence - Lotto 22'45
2 Linus Gerdemann Team Milram + 2
3 Vladimir Karpets Team Katusha + 3
4 Stijn Devolder Quick•Step + 4
5 Alberto Contador Astana Cycling Team + 6
6 Luis León Sánchez Caisse d'Epargne + 9
7 Thomas Dekker Silence - Lotto + 10
8 Christian Vandevelde Garmin - Slipstream + 11
9 David Zabriskie Garmin - Slipstream + 13
10 Levi Leipheimer Astana Cycling Team + 14
11 Markus Fothen Team Milram + 15
12 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne + 18
13 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi + 19
14 Andreas Klöden Astana Cycling Team + 20
15 Lance Armstrong Astana Cycling Team + 21
16 Robert Gesink Rabobank s.t.
17 David Millar Garmin - Slipstream + 22
18 Ivan Basso Liquigas s.t.
19 Carlos Sastre Cervélo Test Team + 23
20 Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank + 24
21 Thor Hushovd Cervélo Test Team s.t.
22 Sébastien Joly Française des Jeux + 26
23 Roman Kreuziger Liquigas s.t.
24 Damiano Cunego Lampre - N.G.C + 28
25 Enrico Gasparotto Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
26 Juanjo Cobo Fuji - Servetto + 29
27 Óscar Pereiro Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
28 Lars Boom Rabobank + 30
29 Mikel Astarloza Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
30 Andy Schleck Team Saxo Bank + 32
31 Denis Menchov Rabobank + 36
32 Manuel Quinziato Liquigas + 38
33 George Hincapie Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
34 Vasil Kiryienka Caisse d'Epargne + 39
35 Jakob Fuglsang Team Saxo Bank + 40
36 Jurgen Van den Broeck Silence - Lotto + 41
37 José Angel Gómez Marchante Cervélo Test Team s.t.
38 Christophe Moreau Agritubel + 42
39 Sérgio Paulinho Astana Cycling Team s.t.
40 Marco Pinotti Team Columbia - High Road + 43
41 Edvald Boasson Hagen Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
42 Fränk Schleck Team Saxo Bank s.t.
43 Sylvain Chavanel Quick•Step + 44
44 Pavel Brutt Team Katusha s.t.
45 Yuri Trofimov Bbox Bouygues Télécom + 45
46 Tony Martin Team Columbia - High Road + 47
47 Nicolas Roche AG2R La Mondiale + 48
48 Daniel Martin Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
49 Rémi Pauriol Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 49
50 Mathieu Sprick Bbox Bouygues Télécom + 50

Stage 2 and 3 coming up. Stage 3 was very exciting.

cool

Stage 2

Today’s stage is supposed to be flat, but the profile shows that it has a lot of little climbs throughout the stage. Right from the start Trent Lowe attacked, looking for the King of the Mountain points. Lowe took 10 KOM points at the first climb but only 1 at the next two. He still had 11 points and will now hold the King of the Mountain Jersey in stage 3. After the climbs, the breakaway riders worked together and built a 3 minute gap.



With Farrar and Sutton off the back, we were left with no sprinters and in the final sprint, Hushovd beat Boonen for the stage.






Stage
1 Thor Hushovd Cervélo Test Team 4h16'54
2 Tom Boonen Quick·Step s.t.
3 Danilo Napolitano Team Katusha s.t.
4 Heinrich Haussler Cervélo Test Team s.t.
5 Enrico Gasparotto Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
6 Koldo Fernández de Larrea Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
7 Matti Breschel Team Saxo Bank s.t.
8 Pierre Rolland Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
9 Mathieu Drujon Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
10 Pierrick Fédrigo Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
11 Romain Feillu Agritubel s.t.
12 Philippe Gilbert Silence - Lotto s.t.
13 Yuri Trofimov Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
14 Sylvain Chavanel Quick·Step s.t.
15 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
16 Óscar Freire Rabobank s.t.
17 Cadel Evans Silence - Lotto s.t.
18 Andy Schleck Team Saxo Bank s.t.
19 Vladimir Karpets Team Katusha s.t.
20 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Saxo Bank s.t.
21 Andreas Klöden Astana Cycling Team s.t.
22 Alessandro Petacchi LPR Brakes Farnese Vini s.t.
23 Staf Scheirlinckx Silence - Lotto s.t.
24 Johann Tschopp Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
25 Jakob Fuglsang Team Saxo Bank s.t.
26 Kevyn Ista Agritubel s.t.
27 Levi Leipheimer Astana Cycling Team s.t.
28 Ricardo Serrano Fuji - Servetto s.t.
29 Mikhail Ignatiev Team Katusha s.t.
30 Fränk Schleck Team Saxo Bank s.t.
31 Daniel Martin Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
32 Juanjo Cobo Fuji - Servetto s.t.
33 Kim Kirchen Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
34 Tadej Valjavec AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
35 Yann Huguet Agritubel s.t.
36 Vasil Kiryienka Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
37 Damiano Cunego Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
38 Amael Moinard Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
39 Anthony Geslin Française des Jeux s.t.
40 Jérôme Pineau Quick·Step s.t.
41 Stéphane Goubert AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
42 David Cañada Fuji - Servetto s.t.
43 Paolo Bailetti Fuji - Servetto s.t.
44 Greg Van Avermaet Silence - Lotto s.t.
45 Lars Boom Rabobank s.t.
46 Kevin Van Impe Quick·Step s.t.
47 Luca Mazzanti Team Katusha s.t.
48 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
49 Nicolas Roche AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
50 Marcus Burghardt Team Columbia - High Road s.t.


GC
1 Cadel Evans Silence - Lotto 4h39'39
2 Linus Gerdemann Team Milram + 2
3 Vladimir Karpets Team Katusha + 3
4 Stijn Devolder Quick·Step + 4
5 Alberto Contador Astana Cycling Team + 6
6 Luis León Sánchez Caisse d'Epargne + 9
7 Thomas Dekker Silence - Lotto + 10
8 Christian Vandevelde Garmin - Slipstream + 11
9 David Zabriskie Garmin - Slipstream + 13
10 Levi Leipheimer Astana Cycling Team + 14
11 Markus Fothen Team Milram + 15
12 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne + 18
13 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi + 19
14 Andreas Klöden Astana Cycling Team + 20
15 Robert Gesink Rabobank + 21
16 Lance Armstrong Astana Cycling Team s.t.
17 David Millar Garmin - Slipstream + 22
18 Ivan Basso Liquigas s.t.
19 Carlos Sastre Cervélo Test Team + 23
20 Thor Hushovd Cervélo Test Team + 24
21 Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank s.t.
22 Sébastien Joly Française des Jeux + 26
23 Roman Kreuziger Liquigas s.t.
24 Enrico Gasparotto Lampre - N.G.C + 28
25 Damiano Cunego Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
44 Daniel Martin Garmin - Slipstream + 48

Stage 3

Today’s stage starts out pretty hilly but the 2nd half of the stage is completely flat and should set up a fight by the sprinters. Lowe, who was wearing the King of the Mountain jersey, got in the break looking to hold on to the jersey.



He was able to hold on to the jersey for another day but they break was caught with 30 kilometers left. The sprinters set up, but upfront a couple riders fell. One of them was Hesjedal and he hit the ground hard.



With nowhere to go I fell also, falling off my bike and being run over by other riders too.



Almost half of the peloton crashed including a lot of the leaders, including Evans, Leipheimer, and Schleck.



Somehow, Vandevelde managed to stay on his bike and finish with the peloton. At the sprint finish, a lot of the sprinters were behind because of the crash including Farrar. At the line Haussler won the stage.



Both Andy Schleck and Levi Leipheimer abandoned and a lot of riders lost a lot of time.


Stage
1 Heinrich Haussler Cervélo Test Team 4h29'14
2 Pierre Rolland Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
3 Yuri Trofimov Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
4 Thor Hushovd Cervélo Test Team s.t.
5 Daniele Bennati Liquigas s.t.
6 Pierrick Fédrigo Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
7 Christopher Sutton Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
8 Alessandro Petacchi LPR Brakes Farnese Vini s.t.
9 Sébastien Chavanel Française des Jeux s.t.
10 Thomas Voeckler Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
11 Matti Breschel Team Saxo Bank s.t.
12 Wouter Weylandt Quick·Step s.t.
13 Danilo Napolitano Team Katusha s.t.
14 Damiano Cunego Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
15 Enrico Gasparotto Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
16 Jakob Fuglsang Team Saxo Bank s.t.
17 Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank s.t.
18 Mathieu Sprick Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
19 Sylvain Chavanel Quick·Step s.t.
20 Mathieu Drujon Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
21 Robbie McEwen Team Katusha s.t.
22 Jérôme Pineau Quick·Step s.t.
23 Philippe Gilbert Silence - Lotto s.t.
24 Sandy Casar Française des Jeux s.t.
25 Vasil Kiryienka Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
26 Markus Fothen Team Milram s.t.
27 George Hincapie Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
28 Andreas Klöden Astana Cycling Team s.t.
29 Kim Kirchen Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
30 Roman Kreuziger Liquigas s.t.
31 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
32 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
33 Allan Davis Quick·Step s.t.
34 Alessandro Ballan Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
35 Marcus Burghardt Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
36 Christian Vandevelde Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
37 Luis León Sánchez Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
38 Mikhail Ignatiev Team Katusha s.t.
39 José Joaquín Rojas Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
40 Pavel Brutt Team Katusha s.t.
41 Jussi Veikkanen Française des Jeux s.t.
42 Rigoberto Urán Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
43 Alejandro Valverde Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
44 Igor Antón Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
45 Frederic Guesdon Française des Jeux s.t.
46 Óscar Pereiro Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
47 Thomas Rohregger Team Milram s.t.
48 Aleksandr Kuschynski Liquigas s.t.
49 Rémy Di Gregorio Française des Jeux s.t.
50 Ivan Basso Liquigas s.t.
51 Vladimir Karpets Team Katusha s.t.
52 Lance Armstrong Astana Cycling Team s.t.
53 Grégory Rast Astana Cycling Team s.t.
54 Maxime Bouet Agritubel s.t.
55 Gert Steegmans Team Katusha s.t.
56 Alberto Contador Astana Cycling Team s.t.
57 Leonardo Duque Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
58 Christophe Moreau Agritubel s.t.
59 Mikel Astarloza Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
60 Iñaki Isasi Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
61 Kevin Van Impe Quick·Step s.t.
62 Yoann Le Boulanger Agritubel s.t.
63 Andrea Noè Liquigas s.t.
64 Julien El Fares Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
65 Evgeni Petrov Team Katusha s.t.
66 José Rubiera Astana Cycling Team s.t.
67 Tadej Valjavec AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
68 David Moncoutié Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
69 Tony Martin Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
70 David Millar Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
71 Volodymyr Gustov Cervélo Test Team s.t.
72 Jürgen Van de Walle Quick·Step s.t.
73 Dani Navarro Astana Cycling Team s.t.
74 David Zabriskie Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
75 Iker Camaño Fuji - Servetto s.t.
76 Kevyn Ista Agritubel s.t.
77 Amael Moinard Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
78 Yann Huguet Agritubel s.t.
79 Nicolas Portal Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
80 André Greipel Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
81 Yukiya Arashiro Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
82 Gorka Verdugo Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
83 Graeme Brown Rabobank s.t.
84 Bram Tankink Rabobank s.t.
85 Simone Ponzi Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
86 Janez Brajkovič Astana Cycling Team s.t.
87 Francesco Chicchi Liquigas s.t.
88 Giairo Ermeti LPR Brakes Farnese Vini s.t.
89 Kanstantsin Siutsou Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
90 Alexandre Botcharov Team Katusha s.t.
91 Bradley Wiggins Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
92 Jens Voigt Team Saxo Bank s.t.
93 Trent Lowe Garmin - Slipstream + 2'16
94 Samuel Dumoulin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 2'40
95 Matteo Montaguti LPR Brakes Farnese Vini s.t.
96 Laurens Ten Dam Rabobank s.t.
97 Nicolas Roche AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
98 Romain Feillu Agritubel s.t.
99 Cadel Evans Silence - Lotto s.t.
100 Edvald Boasson Hagen Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
101 Martin Elmiger AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
102 Koldo Fernández de Larrea Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
103 Óscar Freire Rabobank s.t.
104 Tom Boonen Quick·Step s.t.
105 Roger Hammond Cervélo Test Team s.t.
106 Sebastian Langeveld Rabobank s.t.
107 John Gadret AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
108 Nick Nuyens Rabobank s.t.
109 Daniel Martin Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
110 Tyler Farrar Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
111 Niki Terpstra Team Milram s.t.
112 Linus Gerdemann Team Milram s.t.
113 Robert Gesink Rabobank s.t.
114 Simon Gerrans Cervélo Test Team s.t.
115 Cyril Dessel AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
116 Vladimir Efimkin AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
117 Hubert Dupont AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
118 Yauheni Hutarovich Française des Jeux s.t.
119 Ricardo Serrano Fuji - Servetto s.t.
120 Luca Mazzanti Team Katusha s.t.
121 Nicki Sørensen Team Saxo Bank s.t.
122 Paolo Bailetti Fuji - Servetto s.t.
123 Stijn Devolder Quick·Step s.t.
124 Fränk Schleck Team Saxo Bank s.t.
125 Vitaliy Buts Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
126 Sérgio Paulinho Astana Cycling Team s.t.
127 Denis Menchov Rabobank s.t.
128 Christian Knees Team Milram s.t.
129 Stéphane Goubert AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
130 Staf Scheirlinckx Silence - Lotto s.t.
131 Carlos Sastre Cervélo Test Team s.t.
132 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Saxo Bank s.t.
133 Juanjo Cobo Fuji - Servetto s.t.
134 Marco Pinotti Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
135 David Cañada Fuji - Servetto s.t.
136 Peter Wrölich Team Milram s.t.
137 Alexander Efimkin AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
138 José Angel Gómez Marchante Cervélo Test Team s.t.
139 Andreas Klier Cervélo Test Team s.t.
140 Ryder Hesjedal Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
141 Laurent Lefèvre Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
142 Fabian Wegmann Team Milram s.t.
143 Aitor Galdos Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
144 Thomas Dekker Silence - Lotto s.t.
145 Manuel Quinziato Liquigas s.t.
146 Johan Van Summeren Silence - Lotto s.t.
147 Gerald Ciolek Team Milram s.t.
148 Claudio Corioni Liquigas s.t.
149 Lars Boom Rabobank s.t.
150 Hilton Clarke Fuji - Servetto s.t.
151 Robert Förster Team Milram s.t.
152 Sylvain Calzati Agritubel s.t.
153 Claudio Cucinotta LPR Brakes Farnese Vini s.t.
154 Jurgen Van den Broeck Silence - Lotto s.t.
155 Roberto Ferrari LPR Brakes Farnese Vini s.t.
156 Cristiano Salerno LPR Brakes Farnese Vini s.t.
157 Robert Kiserlovski Fuji - Servetto + 5'04
158 Aitor Hernández Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
159 Iván Velasco Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
160 Juan José Haedo Team Saxo Bank + 6'08
161 Jeremy Hunt Cervélo Test Team + 6'32
162 Charles Wegelius Silence - Lotto + 7'04
163 Matthew Lloyd Silence - Lotto s.t.
164 Alberto Fernández Fuji - Servetto s.t.
165 Rémi Pauriol Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
166 William Bonnet Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
167 Riccardo Chiarini LPR Brakes Farnese Vini s.t.
168 Sergio Laganà LPR Brakes Farnese Vini s.t.
169 Guillaume Blot Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 8'45
170 Nico Sijmens Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 9'25
171 Bingen Fernández Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 9'57
172 Anthony Roux Française des Jeux s.t.
173 Greg Van Avermaet Silence - Lotto + 11'01
174 Angelo Furlan Lampre - N.G.C + 11'25
175 Kevin Hulsmans Quick·Step s.t.
176 Mirko Lorenzetto Lampre - N.G.C + 13'33
177 Sylvester Szmyd Liquigas s.t.
178 Davide Viganò Fuji - Servetto s.t.
179 Jure Golcer LPR Brakes Farnese Vini + 20'45
180 Anthony Ravard Agritubel + 21'57


GC
1 Vladimir Karpets Team Katusha 9h08'56
2 Alberto Contador Astana Cycling Team + 3
3 Luis León Sánchez Caisse d'Epargne + 6
4 Christian Vandevelde Garmin - Slipstream + 8
5 David Zabriskie Garmin - Slipstream + 10
6 Markus Fothen Team Milram + 12
7 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne + 15
8 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi + 16
9 Andreas Klöden Astana Cycling Team + 17
10 Lance Armstrong Astana Cycling Team + 18
11 David Millar Garmin - Slipstream + 19
12 Ivan Basso Liquigas s.t.
13 Thor Hushovd Cervélo Test Team + 21
14 Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank s.t.
15 Roman Kreuziger Liquigas + 23
16 Enrico Gasparotto Lampre - N.G.C + 25
17 Damiano Cunego Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
18 Óscar Pereiro Caisse d'Epargne + 26
19 Mikel Astarloza Euskaltel - Euskadi + 27
20 George Hincapie Team Columbia - High Road + 35
21 Vasil Kiryienka Caisse d'Epargne + 36
22 Jakob Fuglsang Team Saxo Bank + 37
23 Christophe Moreau Agritubel + 39
24 Sylvain Chavanel Quick·Step + 41
25 Pavel Brutt Team Katusha s.t.
26 Yuri Trofimov Bbox Bouygues Télécom + 42
27 Tony Martin Team Columbia - High Road + 44
28 Sandy Casar Française des Jeux + 47
29 Kim Kirchen Team Columbia - High Road + 48
30 Iker Camaño Fuji - Servetto s.t.
31 Alejandro Valverde Caisse d'Epargne + 52
32 Philippe Gilbert Silence - Lotto + 54
33 Jens Voigt Team Saxo Bank s.t.
34 Kevyn Ista Agritubel + 55
35 Rigoberto Urán Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
36 Pierrick Fédrigo Bbox Bouygues Télécom + 56
37 Janez Brajkovič Astana Cycling Team + 57
38 Heinrich Haussler Cervélo Test Team + 59
39 Evgeni Petrov Team Katusha + 1'00
40 José Rubiera Astana Cycling Team + 1'01
41 Mikhail Ignatiev Team Katusha + 1'02
42 Amael Moinard Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 1'03
43 Yoann Le Boulanger Agritubel s.t.
44 David Moncoutié Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
45 Jérôme Pineau Quick·Step + 1'05
46 Marcus Burghardt Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
47 Christopher Sutton Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
48 Maxime Bouet Agritubel s.t.
49 Matti Breschel Team Saxo Bank + 1'07
50 Volodymyr Gustov Cervélo Test Team s.t.
51 Igor Antón Euskaltel - Euskadi + 1'09
52 Tadej Valjavec AG2R La Mondiale + 1'12
53 Jussi Veikkanen Française des Jeux s.t.
54 Kevin Van Impe Quick·Step + 1'13
55 Jürgen Van de Walle Quick·Step s.t.
56 Rémy Di Gregorio Française des Jeux s.t.
57 Thomas Rohregger Team Milram s.t.
58 Giairo Ermeti LPR Brakes Farnese Vini + 1'15
59 Alexandre Botcharov Team Katusha + 1'17
60 Julien El Fares Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 1'18
61 Alessandro Petacchi LPR Brakes Farnese Vini + 1'21
62 Yann Huguet Agritubel + 1'25
63 Andrea Noè Liquigas + 1'26
64 Pierre Rolland Bbox Bouygues Télécom + 1'27
65 Danilo Napolitano Team Katusha + 1'29
66 Mathieu Drujon Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
67 Gorka Verdugo Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
68 Allan Davis Quick·Step + 1'31
69 Leonardo Duque Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 1'35
70 Cadel Evans Silence - Lotto + 2'37
71 Linus Gerdemann Team Milram + 2'39
72 Stijn Devolder Quick·Step + 2'41
73 Thomas Dekker Silence - Lotto + 2'47
74 Dani Navarro Astana Cycling Team + 2'51
75 Daniele Bennati Liquigas + 2'53
76 Robert Gesink Rabobank + 2'58
77 Carlos Sastre Cervélo Test Team + 3'00
78 Juanjo Cobo Fuji - Servetto + 3'06
79 Lars Boom Rabobank + 3'07
80 Gert Steegmans Team Katusha + 3'11
81 Iñaki Isasi Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
82 Denis Menchov Rabobank + 3'13
83 José Angel Gómez Marchante Cervélo Test Team + 3'18
84 Frederic Guesdon Française des Jeux s.t.
85 Sérgio Paulinho Astana Cycling Team + 3'19
86 Fränk Schleck Team Saxo Bank + 3'20
87 Marco Pinotti Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
88 Daniel Martin Garmin - Slipstream + 3'25
89 Nicolas Roche AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
90 Aleksandr Kuschynski Liquigas s.t.
91 Vladimir Efimkin AG2R La Mondiale + 3'27
92 Tom Boonen Quick·Step + 3'31
93 Nick Nuyens Rabobank + 3'33
94 David Cañada Fuji - Servetto + 3'34
95 Laurens Ten Dam Rabobank + 3'38
96 Fabian Wegmann Team Milram s.t.
97 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Saxo Bank + 3'39
98 John Gadret AG2R La Mondiale + 3'42
99 Sebastian Langeveld Rabobank + 3'44
100 Christian Knees Team Milram s.t.
101 Cyril Dessel AG2R La Mondiale + 3'51
102 Nicki Sørensen Team Saxo Bank + 3'53
103 Simon Gerrans Cervélo Test Team + 3'54
104 Óscar Freire Rabobank + 3'55
105 Staf Scheirlinckx Silence - Lotto s.t.
106 Vitaliy Buts Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
107 Stéphane Goubert AG2R La Mondiale + 3'57
108 Koldo Fernández de Larrea Euskaltel - Euskadi + 3'58
109 Hubert Dupont AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
110 Roger Hammond Cervélo Test Team + 4'00
111 Sylvain Calzati Agritubel s.t.
112 Paolo Bailetti Fuji - Servetto + 4'01
113 Andreas Klier Cervélo Test Team s.t.
114 Luca Mazzanti Team Katusha + 4'11
115 Romain Feillu Agritubel + 4'19
116 Aitor Galdos Euskaltel - Euskadi + 4'26
117 Robbie McEwen Team Katusha + 4'33
118 Ricardo Serrano Fuji - Servetto s.t.
119 Nicolas Portal Caisse d'Epargne + 4'41
120 Wouter Weylandt Quick·Step + 4'42
121 José Joaquín Rojas Caisse d'Epargne + 4'46
122 Sébastien Chavanel Française des Jeux + 4'55
123 Kanstantsin Siutsou Team Columbia - High Road + 4'59
124 Jurgen Van den Broeck Silence - Lotto + 5'00
125 Simone Ponzi Lampre - N.G.C + 5'06
126 Mathieu Sprick Bbox Bouygues Télécom + 5'13
127 Thomas Voeckler Bbox Bouygues Télécom + 5'15
128 Ryder Hesjedal Garmin - Slipstream + 5'23
129 Tyler Farrar Garmin - Slipstream + 5'45
130 Alexander Efimkin AG2R La Mondiale + 5'47
131 Peter Wrölich Team Milram + 5'53
132 Alessandro Ballan Lampre - N.G.C + 6'06
133 Yukiya Arashiro Bbox Bouygues Télécom + 6'22
134 Grégory Rast Astana Cycling Team + 6'31
135 Bram Tankink Rabobank + 6'37
136 Edvald Boasson Hagen Team Columbia - High Road + 6'42
137 Niki Terpstra Team Milram + 6'52
138 Johan Van Summeren Silence - Lotto + 7'12
139 Martin Elmiger AG2R La Mondiale + 7'16
140 Rémi Pauriol Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 7'50
141 Laurent Lefèvre Bbox Bouygues Télécom + 7'56
142 Jeremy Hunt Cervélo Test Team + 8'16
143 Manuel Quinziato Liquigas + 8'21
144 Cristiano Salerno LPR Brakes Farnese Vini + 8'46
145 Matteo Montaguti LPR Brakes Farnese Vini + 9'02
146 Gerald Ciolek Team Milram + 9'10
147 Claudio Cucinotta LPR Brakes Farnese Vini + 9'26
148 Roberto Ferrari LPR Brakes Farnese Vini + 9'31
149 Claudio Corioni Liquigas + 9'42
150 Aitor Hernández Euskaltel - Euskadi + 9'55
151 Bradley Wiggins Garmin - Slipstream + 10'04
152 Robert Kiserlovski Fuji - Servetto + 11'42
153 Trent Lowe Garmin - Slipstream + 11'46
154 Greg Van Avermaet Silence - Lotto + 12'32
155 Alberto Fernández Fuji - Servetto + 13'41
156 Iván Velasco Euskaltel - Euskadi + 14'12
157 Nico Sijmens Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 14'30
158 William Bonnet Bbox Bouygues Télécom + 15'32
159 Charles Wegelius Silence - Lotto + 16'19
160 Matthew Lloyd Silence - Lotto s.t.
161 Bingen Fernández Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 16'43
162 Mirko Lorenzetto Lampre - N.G.C + 17'13
163 Sergio Laganà LPR Brakes Farnese Vini + 18'30
164 Graeme Brown Rabobank + 18'37
165 André Greipel Team Columbia - High Road + 18'56
166 Davide Viganò Fuji - Servetto + 20'41
167 Riccardo Chiarini LPR Brakes Farnese Vini + 21'22
168 Robert Förster Team Milram + 21'43
169 Francesco Chicchi Liquigas + 22'29
170 Jure Golcer LPR Brakes Farnese Vini + 23'45
171 Anthony Roux Française des Jeux + 23'58
172 Yauheni Hutarovich Française des Jeux + 25'15
173 Hilton Clarke Fuji - Servetto + 25'29
174 Samuel Dumoulin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 25'31
175 Guillaume Blot Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 27'35
176 Sylvester Szmyd Liquigas + 27'53
177 Juan José Haedo Team Saxo Bank + 28'14
178 Anthony Ravard Agritubel + 29'04
179 Angelo Furlan Lampre - N.G.C + 34'25
180 Kevin Hulsmans Quick·Step + 36'09

Now im already 3 minutes back before the 1st Mountain stage. with schleck out I have a better chance to take the U25 rider.

TTT coming up next and we have a chance to take the yellow jersey.

Good luck, shame you fell :S

Thor Hushovd for the Green Jersey^^

U25 isn't realistic

I have to admit that if one of my important riders fall, then I restart the etape/race

Well Vandevelde somehow stayed up.

Bad luck there but you´ll manage to hang on.

Yes...but surely you are also important rider for yourself

yeah. I will look at the silver lining and say that now I know I have to work for Vandevelde and now it's more likely I can get a stage win.

Stage 4
Today was a long Team Time Trial and a chance for us to take the yellow jersey. The team that came in 5th despite having Cadel Evans and Thomas Dekker was Silence Lotto. They finished 1'10 back of the winner.



In 4th place, led by Markus Fothen, Team Milram finshed in 4th, 1'07 back of the leader.



Rabobank finished in 3rd place thanks to the time trialing ability of Denis Menchov. They managed to finish only 52 seconds back.



In 2nd place Caisse d'Epargne put up a great time finishing only 30 seconds behind the winner. Columbian TT champion Uran and the leader of the Pro Tour Valverde led the team across the line.



We managed to put up a great time, coming in 1st place led by great time trailers such as, Wiggins, Zabriskie, Millar, Vandevelde, and some other descent time trailers. We now hold the Yellow, White, and Polka Dot jersey.




Stage
1 Garmin - Slipstream 47'25
2 Caisse d'Epargne + 30
3 Rabobank + 52
4 Team Milram + 1'07
5 Silence - Lotto + 1'10
6 Cervélo Test Team + 1'29
7 Quick•Step + 1'35
8 Team Katusha + 1'47
9 Astana Cycling Team + 2'01
10 AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
11 Euskaltel - Euskadi + 2'08
12 Liquigas + 2'17
13 Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 2'23
14 Team Columbia - High Road + 2'28
15 Fuji - Servetto s.t.
16 Team Saxo Bank + 2'54
17 Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
18 LPR Brakes Farnese Vini + 3'20
19 Lampre - N.G.C + 3'35
20 Agritubel s.t.
21 Française des Jeux + 3'54


General Classification
1 Christian Vandevelde Garmin - Slipstream 9h56'28
2 David Zabriskie Garmin - Slipstream + 2
3 David Millar Garmin - Slipstream + 11
4 Luis León Sánchez Caisse d'Epargne + 28
5 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne + 37
6 Óscar Pereiro Caisse d'Epargne + 48
7 Christopher Sutton Garmin - Slipstream + 57
8 Vasil Kiryienka Caisse d'Epargne + 58
9 Markus Fothen Team Milram + 1'11
10 Alejandro Valverde Caisse d'Epargne + 1'14
11 Rigoberto Urán Caisse d'Epargne + 1'17
12 Vladimir Karpets Team Katusha + 1'40
13 Thor Hushovd Cervélo Test Team + 1'43
14 Mathieu Drujon Caisse d'Epargne + 1'51
15 Philippe Gilbert Silence - Lotto + 1'56
16 Alberto Contador Astana Cycling Team + 1'57
17 Sylvain Chavanel Quick•Step + 2'09
18 Andreas Klöden Astana Cycling Team + 2'11
19 Thomas Rohregger Team Milram + 2'12
20 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi + 2'17
21 Lance Armstrong Astana Cycling Team + 2'18
22 Heinrich Haussler Cervélo Test Team + 2'21
23 Pavel Brutt Team Katusha s.t.
24 Mikel Astarloza Euskaltel - Euskadi + 2'28
25 Volodymyr Gustov Cervélo Test Team + 2'29
26 Ivan Basso Liquigas s.t.
27 Jérôme Pineau Quick•Step + 2'33
28 Roman Kreuziger Liquigas s.t.
29 Evgeni Petrov Team Katusha + 2'40
30 Kevin Van Impe Quick•Step + 2'41
31 Jürgen Van de Walle Quick•Step s.t.
32 Mikhail Ignatiev Team Katusha + 2'42
33 Janez Brajkovič Astana Cycling Team + 2'51
34 George Hincapie Team Columbia - High Road + 2'55
35 José Rubiera Astana Cycling Team s.t.
36 Alexandre Botcharov Team Katusha + 2'57
37 Allan Davis Quick•Step + 2'59
38 Tadej Valjavec AG2R La Mondiale + 3'06
39 Kim Kirchen Team Columbia - High Road + 3'08
40 Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank s.t.
41 Iker Camaño Fuji - Servetto s.t.
42 Danilo Napolitano Team Katusha + 3'09
43 Igor Antón Euskaltel - Euskadi + 3'10
44 Tony Martin Team Columbia - High Road + 3'12
45 Daniel Martin Garmin - Slipstream + 3'17
46 Amael Moinard Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 3'18
47 David Moncoutié Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
48 Jakob Fuglsang Team Saxo Bank + 3'24
49 Marcus Burghardt Team Columbia - High Road + 3'25
50 Gorka Verdugo Euskaltel - Euskadi + 3'30

this will be it for the day. So see you all sometime tomorrow for stage 5.

Columbia 14th

there big TTers have been in breaks and I think they were a little tired. Plus the crash shook some riders up.

can you give us the list of rider that have resing?