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Live Coverage - Stage 14 Tour de France, 2008

Published: Jul. 19, 2008
  • 11:55 AM: Good day and welcome

    to VeloNews.com's Live Coverage of the 14th stage of the 95th edition of the Tour de France, a 194.5-kilometer race from Nimes to Digne les Baines.

    At almost 200km, stage 14 might seem long enough to favor a breakaway, but it is virtually devoid of climbs, other than two gentle Cat. 4s. The opening 50km stretch from Nimes crosses the flat Rhone delta before reaching Provence, where the race traverses some low hills on the way to the Durance Valley, while the final 50km is through the early foothills of the Alps. The last short Cat. 4 climb is on a wide major highway, with a fast descent taking the riders to a flat straightaway in Digne-les-Bains (population 18,000), where a couple of roundabouts might cause a crash or split up the peloton before reaching the Avenue du Front de Bleone.

    Over the 95 editions of the Tour there have been 11 stages that have finished in Digne, but all of them came at the end of climbing stages through the Alps. This was the case three years ago, when David Moncoutie (still with Cofidis) attacked a small breakaway group on the nasty Col de Corobin to win solo. A flat approach from the west will likely produce a different type of stage winner.

    This is the last chance for the sprinters before the Alps, while only two other flat stages remain before Paris. So a field sprint is virtually guaranteed. The favorites will be sprinters on teams that don’t also have one of the GC leaders, so expect the finale to be between Steegmans, Hushovd, McEwen, Chicchi, Forster and (we're not really going out on a limb here) Mark Cavendish.

  • 11:59 AM: It's a warm and sunny day

    Temperatures are around the 28c (82f) mark. The wind is a slight 10kph from the southwest. It won't be much of a factor at that speed, but if it picks up, it will be a slight cross-tailwind for most of the day.

  • 12:12 PM: Today's route

    will probably not have much of an impact on the overall standings, despite the fact that the top two are separated by just one second:

    Overall
    1. Cadel Evans (AUS), Silence-Lotto 54:48min47sec
    2. Frank Schleck (LUX), CSC at 0:01
    3. Christian Vande Velde (USA), Garmin-Chipotle at 0:38
    4. Bernhard Kohl (AUT), Gerolsteiner at 0:46
    5. Denis Menchov (RUS), Rabobank at 0:57
    6. Carlos Sastre (ESP), CSC at 1:28
    7. Kim Kirchen (LUX), Team Columbia at 1:56
    8. Vladimir Efimkin (RUS), Ag2r at 2:32
    9. Mikel Astarloza (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi at 3:51
    10. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA), Liquigas at 4:18

    As far as the polka-dot jersey goes, today's two Cat. 4 climbs - the Cote de Mane at 128.5km and the Col de L'Orme at 185km - won't have much of an impact on that contest. No matter what, though, the jersey will stay in the hands of Gerolsteiner:
    Overall KOM
    1. Sebastian Lang (GER), Gerolsteiner, 60pts
    2. Bernhard Kohl (AUT), Gerolsteiner, 57
    3. Frank Schleck (LUX), CSC, 46
    4. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP), Caisse d'Epargne, 31
    5. Cadel Evans (AUS), Silence-Lotto, 30
    6. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA), Liquigas 30
    7. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA), Cofidis, 27
    8. Thomas Voeckler (FRA), Bouygues Telecom 27
    9. Denis Menchov (RUS), Rabobank, 24
    10. Vladimir Efimkin (RUS), Ag2r 24

    In the points contest, Oscar Freire is doing his best to add to his hold on the green jersey, but with 35 points on the line at the finish, we could see a change at the end of the day, if Freire misses out and Mark Cavendish - or Thor Hushovd - manages a win today. Keep in mind, though, Freire scored 22 points for finishing fifth in yesterday's stage. Points are awarded for the first 25, so he just needs to be in the mix to protect his hold on the green.

    Overall Points
    1. Oscar Freire (ESP), Rabobank, 184pts
    2. Mark Cavendish (IDM), Team Columbia, 156
    3. Thor Hushovd (NOR), Credit Agricole 156
    4. Erik Zabel (GER), Milram, 141
    5. Kim Kirchen (LUX), Team Columbia, 138
    6. Robert Hunter (RSA), Barloworld, 110
    7. Fabio-Leonardo Duque (COL), Cofidis, 107
    8. Robbie McEwen (AUS), Silence-Lotto, 105
    9. Alejandro Valverde (ESP), Caisse d'Epargne, 97
    10. Romain Feillu (FRA), Agritubel, 94

  • 12:15 PM: Today's start

    The peloton is lining up at the village departe in Nimes. They leave for the "pre-start" in a minute. Then, after a ramble through the neutral zone, the official start is expected at 12:25.

  • 12:19 PM: Drop us a line

    If you have a comment, question or complaint, feel free to hit the "Contact our editors" link below the Live Update window.

    We read them all, we try to answer as many as we can and we will post a few along the way today.

  • 12:27 PM: The start

    Riders reached the official start at 12:22 and are now at the 3km mark. Thus far, there have been no successful attacks.

  • 12:30 PM: At 6km

    The peloton is moving along very quickly. There have been several attempted breaks, but as of yet no one has managed to get a gap of significance.

  • 12:31 PM: Oh that will never last

    Twenty one riders have ten seconds on the peloton. No one will let a group of that size go, will they?

  • 12:34 PM: At 9km

    our 21 escapees are about 15 seconds ahead of the field.

  • 12:40 PM: 45 seconds

    At the 13km mark, the leaders are now 45 seconds up the road. Maybe we were wrong (it's been known to happen) and they will get some distance.

    We see Garmin's Will Frischkorn in the mix. Stuey O'Grady is in there, too. There appears to be a good cross-section of teams there, as well, so maybe it will stick for a while.

  • 12:41 PM: 50 seconds at 15km

    the break is shaping up and working to build up some distance.

  • 12:47 PM: At 20km our leaders

    are 1:00 ahead of the field.

    There are now GC threats in the group, as Sandy Casar (24th, at 13 minutes) is the highest ranked in the group of 21.

    The composition of the break - and their positions on GC - is as follows:

    24. Sandy Casar (FRA), Francaise des Jeux at 13:00
    26. Stijn Devolder (BEL), Quick Step at 13:51
    32. Eduardo Gonzalo (ESP), Agritubel at 18:15
    37. Marco Velo (ITA), Milram at 25:42
    46. Ivan Gutierrez (ESP), Caisse d'Epargne at 34:49
    51. Bram Tankink (NED), Rabobank at 37:10
    72. Amets Txurruka (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi at 58:44
    92. David Le Lay (FRA), Agritubel at 1:15:36
    93. William Bonnet (FRA), Credit Agricole at 1:15:59
    101. Juan Jose Oroz (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi at 1:19:59
    106. Thomas Voeckler (FRA), Bouygues Telecom at 1:27:20
    112. Matteo Bono (ITA), Lampre at 1:32:42
    115. Stuart O'Grady (AUS), CSC at 1:34:11
    132. Manuel Quinziato (ITA), Liquigas at 1:44:54
    134. Heinrich Haussler (GER), Gerolsteiner at 1:46:41
    137. Will Frischkorn (USA), Garmin-Chipotle at 1:48:31
    141. Sebastien Chavanel (FRA), Francaise des Jeux at 1:50:54
    149. Vicente Garcia Acosta (ESP), Caisse d'Epargne at 1:54:51
    154. Bernhard Eisel (AUT), Team Columbia at 1:57:09
    155. Christophe Riblon (FRA), Ag2r at 1:57:25
    156. Mathieu Sprick (FRA), Bouygues Telecom at 2:02:20

  • 12:53 PM: Still around a minute

    At 26km, the peloton is not letting the gap develop into something too big. The gap is now 50 seconds.

  • 12:59 PM: Correction

    We had the wrong Chavanel up there. It's Sebastien, not Sylvain. We have corrected our list, not to revise the history of making the wrong post, but to avoid confusion.

  • 01:00 PM: In Mas-Blanc-des-Alpilles

    the leaders ain't getting much slack. At 31km, they are still only 50 seconds up the road.

  • 01:03 PM: Heading to Saint-Remy-de-Provence

    the leaders are now at 34km. Up next is the sprint at Saint-Remy-de-Provence (at 37km) and the peloton is keeping a tight leash on this crew. They are now 45 seconds ahead.

  • 01:05 PM: Chased by the unrepresented

    Silence-Lotto and Cofidis, neither of which has a rider in the break, are leading the chase.

  • 01:10 PM: No rush

    for the sprint. The 21 rode through Saint-Remy-de-Provence as a group and no one contested the sprint. Nonetheless, the Tour will award points to the top three:
    1. Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) 6points
    2. Will Frischkorn (Garmin) 4pts
    3. Bernhard Eisel (Columbia) 2pts

  • 01:11 PM: The gap

    at 41km is now down to 35seconds. The Mavic Neutral Support Vehicle has been pulled out of the gap...

    Four of our 21 riders are trying make a run for it.

    Sandy Casar (FRA), Francaise des Jeux
    Bram Tankink (NED), Rabobank
    Ivan Gutierrez (ESP), Caisse d'Epargne
    William Bonnet (FRA), Credit Agricole

  • 01:15 PM: Little gaps

    Our four leaders have but five seconds on the other 17 and the peloton is now jut 20 seconds behind the break. Indeed... it looks like the big group will be caught.

  • 01:18 PM: 10 riders

    from the original break are back in the main field. Sandy Casar (Francaise des Jeux), Bram Tankink (Rabobank), Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne) and William Bonnet (Credit Agricole) are now 30 seconds ahead of the peloton. They are now at the 47km mark in Molleges Gare.

  • 01:19 PM: Fast pace

    the opening hour of racing is close to averaging 50kph. We'll get an official figure soon.

  • 01:21 PM: The leading four

    are 18 seconds ahead of the seven survivors of the break. The peloton is 40 seconds behind the leaders.

  • 01:23 PM: Those seven survivors

    are Juan Jose Oroz (Euskaltel-Euskadi) , Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas) , Christophe Riblon (Ag2r) , Heinrich Haussler (Gerolsteiner), David Le Lay (Agritubel), Mathieu Sprick (Bouygues Telecom) and Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom).

  • 01:32 PM: Man this is fast

    There is a lot of action going on, all within a minute of the front of the peloton. The average speed really was fast over that first hour - 52.5kph, that's the fastest opening hour we've seen this year and an indication of just how much the peloton dislikes those big breaks.

    Our first four are still up front. The chasing seven have been joined by 13 others. The gaps, though, are small. ... errr wait. Now all of those have been caught, so now all we have is that group of four, 22 seconds ahead of the field at the 60km mark in the town of Taillades.

  • 01:35 PM: At 61km

    the peloton is 30 seconds behind the group of four - Sandy Casar (Francaise des Jeux), Bram Tankink (Rabobank), Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne) and William Bonnet (Credit Agricole).

  • 01:37 PM: In Robion

    the four leaders - Sandy Casar (Francaise des Jeux), Bram Tankink (Rabobank), Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne) and William Bonnet (Credit Agricole) - are now 1:05 ahead of the peloton.

    Is it piano time for the peloton now that the break is down to a reasonable size?

  • 01:40 PM: The peloton

    is now 1:10 behind the leading quartet. The leaders are now in Coustellet.

  • 01:46 PM: The gap

    has reached 3:25. That's due in part to the work of the lead group, but also because Cadel Evans had to take a leak, back a ways. Of course, tradition dictates that no one take advantage of the situation, so the peloton slowed until the man in the yellow jersey caught back on.

  • 01:48 PM: At 71km

    the four up front have bumped their lead to 3:40, which is good. Not only was the pace high for the riders, but Live Update Guy (a.k.a. LUG) was having trouble typing at 52.5kph.

  • 01:56 PM: At 76km

    the peloton is now 3:50 behind our four leaders, who have just left the town of Lumieres.

  • 02:01 PM: Reader Question

    Eric writes in to ask

    Hi, I am wondering if there ever has been someone caught cheating on bike weight. For example, a slow-leaking water-filled bladder inside a frame tube that would give a light bike after weighing. Do they weigh the bikes after the race also?
    Eric Greenville, SC
    Well, when the first rule was added, we did see riders being forced to add weight to their frames, some of which appeared to be removable. The new rules mandate that weight come in the form of non-detachable items, like bolted on components. We have seen a few bikes weighed after the finish of stages, but we've not heard of anyone going to the lengths you suggest. Of course, if it worked, we wouldn't hear much about it.

    Bottom line the weight limits - albeit silly - are pretty low as it is (14.8 pounds for a complete bike), so the risk of getting caught may outweigh the benefits... of course, we once thought that about doping rules (which we don't think are silly).

  • 02:05 PM: Lunch

    the leaders are at the 81km mark and that means they're at the day's feedzone.

    The gap is down to 4:10. We can imagine that the Columbia team and other sprinters' squads will be ramping things up, but there is plenty of time, with 112km remaining.

  • 02:12 PM: Reader Question

    Marty B in Utah writes to ask:

    You keep mentioning how much the peloton dislikes those big breaks. If most teams are represented, what's the problem?

    Hello Marty. Back in the old days, of course, there was always the risk of someone important slipping into the break. It really is hard to keep track of, but now with radios, GPS and modern technology, it takes just a few seconds to assess the risks from the team car and radio that information up to riders. The real problem is that 21 riders are a lot harder to pull in. Watching four guys fade over the last 50km is predictable, but the legs are a lot fresher in a break of 21.

    Today's chase was largely driven by unrepresented teams, but the sprinters' teams will chase a break, especially if the guy they have up front doesn't stand a good chance of grabbing the stage win.

  • 02:15 PM: The gap

    the leaders are now at the 90km mark and lead the field by 6:00. While that profile looks like this is a long uphill ride, the slope is quite gentle - no more that two or three percent until they reach the day's first KOM. The altitude changes are pretty minor today, with that first climb at just 490 meters. Given that the Cote de Mane crests at 128.5km, you can see that it's a pretty mellow profile today.

  • 02:20 PM: My doctor made me do it

    Barloworld's Moises Duenas, kicked out of the Tour last week, has blamed a Spanish doctor for his positive test for EPO, the Spanish daily El Pais reported on Saturday.

    Duenas, who was charged with "use and possession of poisonous substances" before a court at Tarbes, southwestern France on Thursday, had claimed that the products were sold to him by Spanish doctor Jesus Losa.

    But the former Euskaltel-Euskadi team doctor denied "ever providing Duenas with prohibited products" and was ready to testify as such before the French judicial system. El Pais reports that Losa's name came up several years ago in connection with David Millar and the Cofidis doping affair, but he was never questioned.

    Duenas is one of three cyclists to fail a drugs test during this year's Tour along with compatriot Manuel Beltran of Liquigas and Italy's Riccardo Ricco of Saunier-Duval. Word is that the three were all caught using the newest incarnation of EPO, called CERA, for which many assumed there was no test.

    Surprise, surprise...

  • 02:24 PM: At 95km

    the leading four - Sandy Casar (Francaise des Jeux), Bram Tankink (Rabobank), Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne) and William Bonnet (Credit Agricole) - are now 6:38 ahead of the peloton.

  • 02:31 PM: The Lantern Rouge

    Our friend Adam writes in to tell us:

    More stats regarding the Lantern Rouge.

    The Lantern Rouge and the Maillott Jaune have been won by racers from the same country 23 times in the history of Le Tour. Unsurprisingly, France has done it the most with 19 times. Italy has done it twice and Belgium and Spain have each done it once. It hasn't happened since 1992 when Miguel Indurain won his second Tour and Fernando Quevedo came in last.

    Okay Adam, we have been reading and enjoying your notes and by a vote of the Live Update Crew - okay, just me, but that means it's a unanimous vote - you have been appointed the Official Live Update Latern Rouge Historian. It's actually a very interesting topic and our bosses always insist that we focus on the guy who wins... as if everyone else isn't already doing that.

  • 02:32 PM: Cofidis

    and Silence-Lotto have stepped it up a little. The gap is now down to 5:12 as the leaders hit the town of La Begude at 101km.

  • 02:41 PM: The Hounds

    have the scent and the chase is on. Our four leaders have lost another chunk of time over the last 4km. The gap is now 3:56.

    Meanwhile reader Chris writes in to ask:

    We are in the Italian Piedmont right now and are heading out to see the stage tomorrow. Any suggestions?
    Ya know Chris, if we were going to watch a stage like tomorrow's, we'd get over to that last climb this evening and camp out on the slopes of the Prato Nevoso. There will be plenty of people out there and it's always a party on the climbs.

  • 02:42 PM: In the U.S.

    Those of you listening to NPR this morning will be able to hear our man Andrew Hood talking about the Tour on Weekend Edition right now.

  • 02:43 PM: The weather

    is warming up. It's now 32c out there and the wind is now up to 15kph.

  • 02:46 PM: At 110km

    Our four leaders are five km from the town of Les Granons. The gap is 3:12.

  • 02:51 PM: At 113km

    and with 81km remaining, the gap is now down to 3:10.

  • 02:54 PM: Full charge

    The peloton is moving along at a good speed. With 79km remaining, the gap is down to 2:48. The chase duties are being handled by Liquigas, Milram, Cofidis and Columbia.

    The four up front are - Sandy Casar (Francaise des Jeux), Bram Tankink (Rabobank), Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne) and William Bonnet (Credit Agricole)

  • 03:00 PM: 2:45

    With 75km to go, it's certainly beginning to look like the four - Sandy Casar (Francaise des Jeux), Bram Tankink (Rabobank), Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne) and William Bonnet (Credit Agricole) - will be caught before the finish.

    Another day for Cav'?

  • 03:07 PM: The gap

    is holding. Sandy Casar (Francaise des Jeux), Bram Tankink (Rabobank), Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne) and William Bonnet (Credit Agricole) are now 2:55 ahead of the field. They are now at 126km and heading up the Cote de Mane

  • 03:10 PM: Could this be a day for the grand ol' man?

    With that little Cat. 4 near the finish, maybe Milram is chasing in hopes of placing Erik Zabel in first today. Zabel is certainly a better climber than the young Mr. Cavendish, but it is only a small Cat. 4.

  • 03:11 PM: Over the top

    The four leaders have crested the Cote de Mane. The peloton should be there in about 2:45.

  • 03:14 PM: KOM points

    Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne) lead the way over the climb for three points, Bram Tankink (Rabobank) earned two Sandy Casar (Francaise des Jeux) got one and William Bonnet (Credit Agricole) got a goose egg.

    The peloton is now reaching the top, 2:43 behind the leading four.

  • 03:21 PM: Reader question

    Pamela B. writes in to ask

    I am about to buy a new bike and I wonder if I should consider one of those pricey carbon rides you see at the Tour or should I opt for something else. I don't want to scrimp, but I also don't want to buy another bike for a while.
    Ahhh... I may be the wrong guy to ask. I love carbon bikes; they're light and fast and, barring a disastrous crash, they last. That said, my favorite material for what you might call a "life-time bike" - one that would last a decade or so - has to be titanium or steel. Carbon is wonderful, but I keep going back to those old Ti bikes I first rode in the '90s (which suddenly seems like a long, long time ago).

  • 03:22 PM: Lettin' them hang

    the gap is still coming down, but a little more slowly than it has been. The peloton is now 2:30 behind our four leaders.

  • 03:24 PM: With 57km remaining

    the gap is 2:22.

  • 03:27 PM: Another one bites the dust

    IOL.com, a South African news Web site, is reporting that Barloworld will withdraw its sponsorship of Team Barloworld after the Tour de France.

    The announcement follows the departure of teammember Moises Duenas who tested positive for EPO, following stage 4.

    The company's marketing director, Chris Fisher, told the site: "We consistently drive the values of our business through the team. Team Barloworld has a zero tolerance policy towards doping which has been constantly communicated to the riders — we have to act on this policy and as such we will all have to live with the long term consequences of one individual's action."

    And so it goes...

  • 03:33 PM: The peloton

    seems content to let these boys hang out there for a while. The gap is holding at 2:30, with Liquigas and Milram setting temp at the front, with 50km remaining.

  • 03:42 PM: Liquigas and Milram

    are still doing the bulk of the work at the front of the peloton and the chalkboard man has just delivered the bad news to the leaders. With 42km to go the sign said "1:45"

    The newer technology - GPS - shows it's even smaller than that, now at 1:28

  • 03:47 PM: Bouygues Telecom

    is adding a few fellas into the mix at the front of the peloton. The gap is now down to 1:11. We have to look as the catching being all but inevitable.

  • 03:49 PM: 1:07

    The peloton is coming up fast.

  • 03:54 PM: With 36km to go

    the gap is holding around the 1:10 mark. It may stay that way for a bit, until the next big surge. We assume that the peloton will want to catch before the Col de L'Orme, where we can expect a big push from riders hoping to get rid of Cavendish.

  • 03:56 PM: With 32km remaining

    the gap has bumped up to 1:30.

  • 04:01 PM: With 29km to go

    Sandy Casar (Francaise des Jeux), Bram Tankink (Rabobank), Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne) and William Bonnet (Credit Agricole) are now 1:10 ahead of the field.

    We still see the same three teams - Bouygues Telecom, Liquigas and Milram - doing the bulk of the work.

  • 04:04 PM: With the peloton closing fast

    Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne) has attacked out of the leading group. Sandy Casar (Francaise des Jeux) and Bram Tankink (Rabobank) are chasing, William Bonnet (Credit Agricole) was quickly gapped. He looked tired. Must have been.

  • 04:05 PM: With 25km

    to go, Gutierrez is trying to go on his own. He is 20 seconds ahead of the two chasers and 59 seconds ahead of the peloton. It looks like Bonnet has been pulled in.

  • 04:07 PM: With 24km

    Gutierrez has bumped his advantage to 1:07. He's 30 seconds ahead of Tankink and Casar

  • 04:10 PM: With 22km

    Gutierrez is slowly being pulled back. He's now 53 seconds ahead of the peloton. Casar and Tankink are at 31 seconds.

  • 04:12 PM: Casar and Tankink

    are back int he peloton. With 20km to go Gutierrez is only 40 seconds ahead of the field.

  • 04:17 PM: Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne)

    is now 34 seconds ahead of the peloton. He's 15km from the finish and working his way toward the Col de L'Orme.

  • 04:18 PM: Will he be caught?

    We're figuring he should be caught with around 10km to go. Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne) is a good time trialist, but with the peloton going all out, we can't expect him to last.

  • 04:19 PM: 14km

    to go and the gap is 23 seconds..... errrr, make that 20.

  • 04:21 PM: The Col de L'Orme

    summits at 185km. It's followed by a six kilometer descent and then about three kilometers of flat roads to the finish.

  • 04:23 PM: This climb

    averages only 4.9 percent, bit after being on the attack all day, Gutierrez will have a tough time of it.

    He has 12 seconds and just as the peloton hits the climb, Thomas Voeckler, feisty little feller that he is, scampers out of the field.

  • 04:25 PM: Voeckler

    caught and another rider from Lampre tries a dig. With 10km to go, the gap to Guitierrez is caught.

    You know what that means.....

  • 04:26 PM: Cavendish

    We see the Tour's top sprinter struggling on the climb. He's been spit off the back, but he's trying to work his way back.

  • 04:28 PM: Good crowds

    on this Cat 4. The peloton has been trimmed as it nears the top.

    There goes Oscar Peirero, the 2006 Tour champ, but he is caught.

  • 04:30 PM: All the biggies

    are up in front, leading the remainder of the peloton on the way down to the finish. Barring a miracle, we won't see Robbie McEwen or Cavendish contesting this one.

  • 04:31 PM: Zabel is in the mix

    Phillipe Gilbert is in there, too. A bunch of soon-to-be-unemployed Barloworld riders are there, too. They have reason to try for a win today.

    six km to go.

  • 04:32 PM: Chavanel

    Sylvain takes a big dig, with 4km to go. He's got about five seconds on the field. He tried this yesterday, too.

  • 04:33 PM: Chavanel

    The chase is on and Columbia and Milram are chasing hard.

  • 04:34 PM: Chavanel

    is 2.2km from the finish and still holding a five second lead. ... no here comes the catch, with 1.5km to go

  • 04:35 PM: With 1km

    Columbia is leading. Ciolek?

  • 04:35 PM: CHARGE

    Columbia is leading

  • 04:36 PM: A big scramble to the line

    We see Zabel and others taking a big dig... but, no... the man in the green jersey, Oscar Freire wins it!

  • 04:41 PM: Stage Results

    1. Oscar Freire (Sp), Rabobank
    2. Fabio-Leonardo Duque (COL), Cofidis
    3. Erik Zabel (G), Milram
    4. Julien Dean (NZ), Garmin-Chipotle
    5. Steven De Jongh (NED), Quick Step
    6. Alessandro Ballan (ITA), Lampre
    7. Ruben Perez (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi
    8. Jerome Pineau (FRA), Bouygues Telecom
    9. Mateo Tosatto (I), Quick Step
    10.Thor Hushovd (N), Credit Agricole.

    There were no major changes in the GC picture, so we can expect to see Evans in yellow again. He was in the field, finishing 28th on the stage, so he's good to go.

    Freire obviously pads his lead in the race for the green jersey.

  • 04:52 PM: Thanks for tuning in

    folks. Be sure to check in with VeloNews.com for the next few hours as we add more pictures, results, stories, stats and features.

    We'll be back tomorrow, as the Tour heads into the Alps.