2006 Tour de France
Encyclopedia
The 2006 Tour de France was the 93rd Tour de France
, taking place from July 1 to July 23, 2006. It was won by Óscar Pereiro following the disqualification of apparent winner Floyd Landis
.
The Tour began with a prologue in Strasbourg
, on the French
-German
border, and ended Sunday July 23 in Paris
. The distance of the course (run counterclockwise around France
) was 3657 km (2,272.4 mi). The race was the third fastest in average speed. Along the way, the cyclists passed through six different countries including France, The Netherlands
(a stop at Valkenburg
in Stage 3), Belgium
(at Huy
, Stages 3 and 4), Luxembourg
(at Esch-sur-Alzette
, Stages 2 and 3), Germany (though not stopping there, Stage 1) and Spain
(Pla-de-Beret, Stage 11). The presentation of the course was made by the new director of Le Tour, Christian Prudhomme
. For the first time since the 1999 edition
, there was no team time trial
.
The event, as with some of the Tours of the late 1990s, was marred by doping scandals. Prior to the tour, numerous riders - including the two favourites Jan Ullrich
and Ivan Basso
- were expelled from the Tour due to their link with the Operación Puerto doping case
.
After the Tour, the apparent winner Floyd Landis
was found to have failed a drug test after stage 17; Landis contested the result and demanded arbitration. On September 20, 2007 Landis was found guilty and suspended retroactive to January 30, 2007 and stripped of the 2006 Tour de France title making Óscar Pereiro the title holder. Landis appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport
which upheld the ban.
, thirteen riders were expelled from the tour on the eve of Strasbourg
prologue to the 93rd edition stemming from a Spanish doping scandal
. Jan Ullrich
and Ivan Basso
, two favourites to win the race, were among those excluded from the Tour along with podium candidate Francisco Mancebo
and 2007 champion Alberto Contador
. Alexandre Vinokourov, another race favourite, was not linked to the doping scandal, but was forced to withdraw when the eligible riders on his Astana-Würth Team fell below the minimum starting requirement of six. Because of this and the retirement of seven-time consecutive winner Lance Armstrong
, this year's Tour started without the top five riders from the 2005 edition. It was also the first Tour since 1999
that did not contain a past champion.
The initial doping controversy foreshadowed the contested outcome of the 2006 Tour involving the race leader Floyd Landis
who was found guilty of doping.
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was initially awarded the victory in the closest three-way finish in the race's history to date. Floyd's final time was 89h 39'30".
While Landis was a leading favorite even before the Spanish doping scandal came to light, in an epic eight minute loss of performance in Stage 16, it appeared he had lost all hope to finish on the podium, much less win.
But the following day, during Stage 17, Landis set a very high pace on the first climb of the day that no other rider could match. He then caught a breakaway group that had escaped earlier, passed them, and continued to the finish line solo, making up almost all of his deficit, ending up 30 seconds behind yellow jersey
wearer Óscar Pereiro, which he made up with an extra minute in the final Stage 19 time trial.
However, a urine sample taken from Landis immediately after his Stage 17 win has twice tested positive for banned synthetic testosterone
as well as a ratio of testosterone
to epitestosterone
nearly three times the limit allowed by World Anti-Doping Agency
rules. Landis indicated that he would appeal the test results with the Court of Arbitration for Sport
in Lausanne, Switzerland.
On September 20, 2007, Landis' doping accusation was upheld by an arbitration panel deciding between him and USADA and will be banned for two years. In response to this, International Cycling Union
formally stripped him of his 2006 Tour de France title. Second place finisher Óscar Pereiro was officially declared the winner. The only previous Tour de France winner to be disqualified was 1904 Tour de France
winner Maurice Garin
.
Jersey wearers when one rider is leading two or more competitions:
Other notes
, the main contenders for the overall win were expected to be Ivan Basso
from , the 2005
runner-up; and Jan Ullrich
from , the third man on the podium in 2005, winner in 1997
, and the only previous winner still racing. However, both Ullrich and Basso were suspended by their teams on June 30 after UCI
told T-Mobile and Team CSC that the riders were involved in the anti-doping investigation in Spain.
Francisco Mancebo
of the French team , who finished fourth last year and sixth the year before, was also suspended by his team, and subsequently announced his retirement. Alexander Vinokourov
would have been the only returning rider with a top-five finish from last year's race. However, his team, , was forced to pull out of the race because they would not be able to start with the minimum of six riders.
As a result of the drug scandal, many believed Spaniard Alejandro Valverde
(Caisse d'Épargne), or the Americans Floyd Landis
(Phonak), Levi Leipheimer
(Gerolsteiner), or Australian Cadel Evans
(Davitamon-Lotto) would probably win the race.
The main contenders for the podium were those who placed well on GC
last year, especially if they have had notable results since:
The 2006 Tour also saw the return of former yellow jersey holder and three-time stage winner David Millar
after serving a two year ban for admissions of the use of the drug EPO
, which was discovered in a police search of his house before the 2004 Tour de France
, in June 2004.
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
, taking place from July 1 to July 23, 2006. It was won by Óscar Pereiro following the disqualification of apparent winner Floyd Landis
Floyd Landis
Floyd Landis is an American retired cyclist who after initially being awarded victory in the 2006 Tour de France was stripped of his title for a doping offense. He was an all-around rider, with special skills in climbing and time-trialing, and is also known to be a very fast descender.Landis...
.
The Tour began with a prologue in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, on the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
-German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
border, and ended Sunday July 23 in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. The distance of the course (run counterclockwise around France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) was 3657 km (2,272.4 mi). The race was the third fastest in average speed. Along the way, the cyclists passed through six different countries including France, The Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
(a stop at Valkenburg
Valkenburg aan de Geul
Valkenburg aan de Geul is a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands.-History:Siege and conquest were characteristic of the history of Valkenburg. Each event is withheld, followed by subsequent restorations. This most definitely holds for the castle perched atop of a hill in the middle of the...
in Stage 3), Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
(at Huy
Huy
Huy is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Province of Liege. Huy lies along the river Meuse, at the mouth of the small river Hoyoux. It is in the sillon industriel, the former industrial backbone of Wallonia, home to about two-thirds of the Walloon population...
, Stages 3 and 4), Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
(at Esch-sur-Alzette
Esch-sur-Alzette
Esch-sur-Alzette is a commune with city status, in south-western Luxembourg. It is the country's second city, and its second-most populous commune, with a population of 29,853 people...
, Stages 2 and 3), Germany (though not stopping there, Stage 1) and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
(Pla-de-Beret, Stage 11). The presentation of the course was made by the new director of Le Tour, Christian Prudhomme
Christian Prudhomme
Christian Prudhomme is a French sports journalist and general director of the Tour de France since 2005.-Pre-Tour career:...
. For the first time since the 1999 edition
1999 Tour de France
The 1999 Tour de France was the 86th Tour de France, taking place from July 3 to July 25, 1999. It was won by Lance Armstrong, his first of 7 consecutive wins, the most in Tour history. There were no French stage winners for the first time since the 1926 Tour de France.The 1999 edition of Tour de...
, there was no team time trial
Team time trial
A team time trial is a road-based bicycle race in which teams of cyclists race against the clock .Teams start at equal intervals, usually two, three or four minutes apart...
.
The event, as with some of the Tours of the late 1990s, was marred by doping scandals. Prior to the tour, numerous riders - including the two favourites Jan Ullrich
Jan Ullrich
Jan Ullrich is a German former professional road bicycle racer. In 1997, he was the first German to win the Tour de France. He went on to take five second places and a fourth in 2004 and third in 2005. He is considered one of the best time-trialists in the history of the sport...
and Ivan Basso
Ivan Basso
Ivan Basso is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who is currently racing with UCI ProTeam . Basso, nicknamed Ivan the Terrible, is among the best mountain riders in the professional field in the 21st century, and is considered one of the strongest stage race riders...
- were expelled from the Tour due to their link with the Operación Puerto doping case
Operación Puerto doping case
Operación Puerto is the code name of a Spanish Police operation against the doping network of Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, started in May 2006, which resulted in a scandal that involved several of the world most famous cyclists at the time.Media attention has focused on the small number of...
.
After the Tour, the apparent winner Floyd Landis
Floyd Landis
Floyd Landis is an American retired cyclist who after initially being awarded victory in the 2006 Tour de France was stripped of his title for a doping offense. He was an all-around rider, with special skills in climbing and time-trialing, and is also known to be a very fast descender.Landis...
was found to have failed a drug test after stage 17; Landis contested the result and demanded arbitration. On September 20, 2007 Landis was found guilty and suspended retroactive to January 30, 2007 and stripped of the 2006 Tour de France title making Óscar Pereiro the title holder. Landis appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport
Court of Arbitration for Sport
The Court of Arbitration for Sport is an international arbitration body set up to settle disputes related to sport. Its headquarters are in Lausanne and its courts are located in New York, Sydney and Lausanne, Switzerland...
which upheld the ban.
Drugs controversy before the Tour
In the most controversial scandal since the 1998 tour1998 Tour de France
The 1998 Tour de France, also called the Tour du Dopage , was marred by doping scandals throughout known as the Festina affair, starting with the arrest of Willy Voet, a soigneur in the French Festina team. Voet was traveling into France when he was arrested and found with large quantities of...
, thirteen riders were expelled from the tour on the eve of Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
prologue to the 93rd edition stemming from a Spanish doping scandal
Operación Puerto doping case
Operación Puerto is the code name of a Spanish Police operation against the doping network of Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, started in May 2006, which resulted in a scandal that involved several of the world most famous cyclists at the time.Media attention has focused on the small number of...
. Jan Ullrich
Jan Ullrich
Jan Ullrich is a German former professional road bicycle racer. In 1997, he was the first German to win the Tour de France. He went on to take five second places and a fourth in 2004 and third in 2005. He is considered one of the best time-trialists in the history of the sport...
and Ivan Basso
Ivan Basso
Ivan Basso is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who is currently racing with UCI ProTeam . Basso, nicknamed Ivan the Terrible, is among the best mountain riders in the professional field in the 21st century, and is considered one of the strongest stage race riders...
, two favourites to win the race, were among those excluded from the Tour along with podium candidate Francisco Mancebo
Francisco Mancebo
Francisco Mancebo Pérez is a Spanish pro cyclist. He initially rode for team Illes Balears, but moved to AG2R Prévoyance in 2006....
and 2007 champion Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador Velasco is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He was the winner of the 2007 Tour de France with the team. With the Astana team he has won the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Vuelta a España, the 2009 Tour de France, the 2010 Tour de France and won 2011 Giro...
. Alexandre Vinokourov, another race favourite, was not linked to the doping scandal, but was forced to withdraw when the eligible riders on his Astana-Würth Team fell below the minimum starting requirement of six. Because of this and the retirement of seven-time consecutive winner Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong
Lance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...
, this year's Tour started without the top five riders from the 2005 edition. It was also the first Tour since 1999
1999 Tour de France
The 1999 Tour de France was the 86th Tour de France, taking place from July 3 to July 25, 1999. It was won by Lance Armstrong, his first of 7 consecutive wins, the most in Tour history. There were no French stage winners for the first time since the 1926 Tour de France.The 1999 edition of Tour de...
that did not contain a past champion.
The initial doping controversy foreshadowed the contested outcome of the 2006 Tour involving the race leader Floyd Landis
Floyd Landis
Floyd Landis is an American retired cyclist who after initially being awarded victory in the 2006 Tour de France was stripped of his title for a doping offense. He was an all-around rider, with special skills in climbing and time-trialing, and is also known to be a very fast descender.Landis...
who was found guilty of doping.
Initial results
American Floyd LandisFloyd Landis
Floyd Landis is an American retired cyclist who after initially being awarded victory in the 2006 Tour de France was stripped of his title for a doping offense. He was an all-around rider, with special skills in climbing and time-trialing, and is also known to be a very fast descender.Landis...
was initially awarded the victory in the closest three-way finish in the race's history to date. Floyd's final time was 89h 39'30".
While Landis was a leading favorite even before the Spanish doping scandal came to light, in an epic eight minute loss of performance in Stage 16, it appeared he had lost all hope to finish on the podium, much less win.
But the following day, during Stage 17, Landis set a very high pace on the first climb of the day that no other rider could match. He then caught a breakaway group that had escaped earlier, passed them, and continued to the finish line solo, making up almost all of his deficit, ending up 30 seconds behind yellow jersey
Yellow jersey
The general classification in the Tour de France is the most important classification, the one by which the winner of the Tour de France is determined. Since 1919, the leader of the general classification wears the yellow jersey .-History:...
wearer Óscar Pereiro, which he made up with an extra minute in the final Stage 19 time trial.
However, a urine sample taken from Landis immediately after his Stage 17 win has twice tested positive for banned synthetic testosterone
Testosterone
Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands...
as well as a ratio of testosterone
Testosterone
Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands...
to epitestosterone
Epitestosterone
Epitestosterone is a natural steroid, an inactive epimer of the hormone testosterone. Structurally, it differs from testosterone only in the configuration at the OH-bearing carbon, C17...
nearly three times the limit allowed by World Anti-Doping Agency
World Anti-Doping Agency
The World Anti-Doping Agency , , is an independent foundation created through a collective initiative led by the International Olympic Committee . It was set up on November 10, 1999 in Lausanne, Switzerland, as a result of what was called the "Declaration of Lausanne", to promote, coordinate and...
rules. Landis indicated that he would appeal the test results with the Court of Arbitration for Sport
Court of Arbitration for Sport
The Court of Arbitration for Sport is an international arbitration body set up to settle disputes related to sport. Its headquarters are in Lausanne and its courts are located in New York, Sydney and Lausanne, Switzerland...
in Lausanne, Switzerland.
On September 20, 2007, Landis' doping accusation was upheld by an arbitration panel deciding between him and USADA and will be banned for two years. In response to this, International Cycling Union
Union Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....
formally stripped him of his 2006 Tour de France title. Second place finisher Óscar Pereiro was officially declared the winner. The only previous Tour de France winner to be disqualified was 1904 Tour de France
1904 Tour de France
The 1904 Tour de France was the second Tour de France, held from 2 July to 24 July. With a route similar to its previous edition, 1903 Tour de France winner Maurice Garin seemed to have repeated his win by a small margin over Lucien Pothier, while Hippolyte Aucouturier won four of the six stages...
winner Maurice Garin
Maurice Garin
Maurice-Francois Garin was a road bicycle racer best known for winning the inaugural Tour de France in 1903, and for being stripped of his title in the second Tour in 1904 along with eight others, for cheating.-Origins:Garin was born the son of Maurice Clément Garin and Maria Teresa...
.
Stages
| Stage | Route | Distance | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | Strasbourg Strasbourg Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,... |
7.1 km |  Individual time trial |
Saturday, July 1 |
| 1 | Strasbourg Strasbourg Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,... – Strasbourg Strasbourg Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,... |
184.5 km |  Flat stage |
Sunday, July 2 |
| 2 | Obernai – Esch-sur-Alzette Esch-sur-Alzette Esch-sur-Alzette is a commune with city status, in south-western Luxembourg. It is the country's second city, and its second-most populous commune, with a population of 29,853 people... |
228.5 km | Flat stage |
Monday, July 3 |
| 3 | Esch-sur-Alzette Esch-sur-Alzette Esch-sur-Alzette is a commune with city status, in south-western Luxembourg. It is the country's second city, and its second-most populous commune, with a population of 29,853 people... – Valkenburg Valkenburg aan de Geul Valkenburg aan de Geul is a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands.-History:Siege and conquest were characteristic of the history of Valkenburg. Each event is withheld, followed by subsequent restorations. This most definitely holds for the castle perched atop of a hill in the middle of the... |
216.5 km |  Hilly stage |
Tuesday, July 4 |
| 4 | Huy Huy Huy is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Province of Liege. Huy lies along the river Meuse, at the mouth of the small river Hoyoux. It is in the sillon industriel, the former industrial backbone of Wallonia, home to about two-thirds of the Walloon population... – Saint-Quentin Saint-Quentin, Aisne Saint-Quentin is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France. It has been identified as the Augusta Veromanduorum of antiquity. It is named after Saint Quentin, who is said to have been martyred here in the 3rd century.... |
207.0 km | Flat stage |
Wednesday, July 5 |
| 5 | Beauvais Beauvais Beauvais is a city approximately by highway north of central Paris, in the northern French region of Picardie. It currently has a population of over 60,000 inhabitants.- History :... – Caen Caen Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel.... |
225.0 km | Flat stage |
Thursday, July 6 |
| 6 | Lisieux Lisieux Lisieux is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.Lisieux is the capital of the Pays d'Auge area, which is characterised by valleys and hedged farmland... – Vitré Vitré, Ille-et-Vilaine Vitré is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany in north-western France.Vitré, a sub-prefecture until 1926, is the seat of a canton of around 17,000 inhabitants . It lies on the edge of Brittany, near Normandy, Maine, and Anjou... |
189.0 km | Flat stage |
Friday, July 7 |
| 7 | Saint Grégoire Saint-Grégoire, Ille-et-Vilaine Saint-Grégoire is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Bretagne in north-western France.-Demographics:Inhabitants of Saint-Grégoire are called Grégoriens.-References:* * -External links:*... – Rennes Rennes Rennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France. Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.-History:... |
52.0 km | Individual time trial |
Saturday, July 8 |
| 8 | Saint-Méen-le-Grand Saint-Méen-le-Grand Saint-Méen-le-Grand is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany in north-western France.It is located southwest of Rennes between Montauban-de-Bretagne and Gaël.At the 2006 Tour de France, Saint-Méen-le-Grand hosted the start of Stage 8.... – Lorient Lorient Lorient, or L'Orient, is a commune and a seaport in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France.-History:At the beginning of the 17th century, merchants who were trading with India had established warehouses in Port-Louis... |
181.0 km | Flat stage |
Sunday, July 9 |
| Rest day | Monday, July 10 | |||
| 9 | Bordeaux Bordeaux Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture... – Dax Dax, Landes Dax is a commune in Aquitaine in south-western France, sub-prefecture of the Landes department.It is particularly famous as a spa, specialising in mud treatment for rheumatism and similar ailments.... |
169.5 km | Flat stage |
Tuesday, July 11 |
| 10 | Cambo-les-Bains Cambo-les-Bains Cambo-les-Bains is a town in the traditional Basque province of Labourd, now in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-People:... – Pau |
190.5 km |  Mountain stage |
Wednesday, July 12 |
| 11 | Tarbes Tarbes Tarbes is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France.It is part of the historical region of Gascony. It is the second largest metropolitan area of Midi-Pyrénées, with 110,000 inhabitants.... – Val d'Aran Val d'Aran The Val d'Aran is a valley in the Pyrenees mountains and a comarca in the northwestern part of the province of Lleida, in Catalonia, northern Spain. Most of the valley constitutes the only part of Spain, and of Catalonia, on the north face of the Pyrenees, hence the only part of Catalonia whose... /Pla-de-Beret |
206.5 km | Mountain stage |
Thursday, July 13 |
| 12 | Luchon Bagnères-de-Luchon Bagnères-de-Luchon , also referred to as Luchon, is a spa town and a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Geography:... – Carcassonne Carcassonne Carcassonne is a fortified French town in the Aude department, of which it is the prefecture, in the former province of Languedoc.It is divided into the fortified Cité de Carcassonne and the more expansive lower city, the ville basse. Carcassone was founded by the Visigoths in the fifth century,... |
211.5 km | Hilly stage |
Friday, July 14 |
| 13 | Béziers Béziers Béziers is a town in Languedoc in southern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the Hérault department. Béziers hosts the famous Feria de Béziers, centred around bullfighting, every August. A million visitors are attracted to the five-day event... – Montélimar Montélimar Montélimar is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France. It is the second-largest town in the department after Valence.-History:... |
230.0 km | Flat stage |
Saturday, July 15 |
| 14 | Montélimar Montélimar Montélimar is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France. It is the second-largest town in the department after Valence.-History:... – Gap Gap, Hautes-Alpes Gap is a commune in southeastern France, the capital of the Hautes-Alpes department.-Geography:An Alpine crossroads at the intersection of D994 and Route nationale 85 the Route Napoléon, Gap lies above sea level along the right bank of the Luye River... |
180.5 km | Hilly stage |
Sunday, July 16 |
| Rest day | Monday, July 17 | |||
| 15 | Gap Gap -General:* Gap , a spacing between large trees in a forest* Gap , a mountain pass, often carved by a river* Gap year, a prolonged period between a life stage-Places:* Gap, Hautes-Alpes, France* Gap, Pennsylvania, United States... – L'Alpe d'Huez |
187.0 km | Mountain stage |
Tuesday, July 18 |
| 16 | Le Bourg-d'Oisans Le Bourg-d'Oisans Le Bourg-d'Oisans is a commune in the Isère department in south-eastern France.It is located in the Oisans region of the French Alps. Le Bourg-d'Oisans is located in the valley of the Romanche river, on the road from Grenoble to Briançon, and on the south side of the Col de la Croix de Fer... – La Toussuire |
182.0 km | Mountain stage |
Wednesday, July 19 |
| 17 | Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.... – Morzine Morzine Morzine is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in eastern France with panoramic mountain views, modern ski facilities and hotels and restaurants. The ski resort of Avoriaz is located on the territory of the commune... |
200.5 km | Mountain stage |
Thursday, July 20 |
| 18 | Morzine Morzine Morzine is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in eastern France with panoramic mountain views, modern ski facilities and hotels and restaurants. The ski resort of Avoriaz is located on the territory of the commune... – Mâcon Mâcon Mâcon is a small city in central France. It is prefecture of the Saône-et-Loire department, in the region of Bourgogne, and the capital of the Mâconnais district. Mâcon is home to over 35,000 residents, called Mâconnais.-Geography:... |
197.0 km | Flat stage |
Friday, July 21 |
| 19 | Le Creusot Le Creusot Le Creusot is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.The inhabitants are known as Creusotins. Formerly a mining town, its economy is now dominated by metallurgical companies such as ArcelorMittal, Schneider Electric, and Alstom.Since the 1990s, the... – Montceau-les-Mines Montceau-les-Mines Montceau-les-Mines is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.It is the second-largest commune of the metropolitan Communauté urbaine Creusot-Montceau, which lies southwest of the city of Dijon.... |
57.0 km | Individual time trial |
Saturday, July 22 |
| 20 | Antony Antony, Hauts-de-Seine -Personalities:Antony was the birthplace of:* Nicola Sirkis singer with the French band Indochine* Agnès Jaoui screenwriter, film director and actress* Laurent Lafforgue , mathematician-International relations:... /Parc de Sceaux - Paris Paris Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region... Champs-Élysées Champs-Élysées The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is a prestigious avenue in Paris, France. With its cinemas, cafés, luxury specialty shops and clipped horse-chestnut trees, the Avenue des Champs-Élysées is one of the most famous streets and one of the most expensive strip of real estate in the world. The name is... |
154.5 km | Flat stage |
Sunday, July 23 |
| Total | 3,639 km | |||
Classification leadership
| Stage | Winner | General classification |
Points classification Points classification in the Tour de France The points classification in the Tour de France is a secondary competition in the Tour de France, that started in 1953. Points are given for high finishes in a stage and for winning intermediate sprints, and these are recorded in a points classification. It is considered a sprinters' competition...  |
Mountains classification |
Young rider classification Young rider classification in the Tour de France -History:From 1968 to 1975, there was a white jersey awarded in the Tour de France to the lead rider in the combination classification . In 1975, this classification was removed, and replaced by the Best Young Rider Classification...  |
Team classification Team classification The team classification is a prize given in the Tour de France to the best team in the race. It has been awarded since 1930, and the calculation has changed throughout the years.-Calculation:...  |
Combativity award Combativity award The combativity award, , is a prize given in the Tour de France. It favours constant attackers and since 1981 the winner of the award has not won the whole Tour.- History :...  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | Thor Hushovd Thor Hushovd Thor Hushovd is a Norwegian professional road bicycle racer riding . He has signed for from 2012 onwards. He is known for sprinting and time trialing and is the 2010 Norwegian and world road champion. He is the first Norwegian to lead the Tour de France, and first Scandinavian to win the road... |
Thor Hushovd Thor Hushovd Thor Hushovd is a Norwegian professional road bicycle racer riding . He has signed for from 2012 onwards. He is known for sprinting and time trialing and is the 2010 Norwegian and world road champion. He is the first Norwegian to lead the Tour de France, and first Scandinavian to win the road... |
Thor Hushovd Thor Hushovd Thor Hushovd is a Norwegian professional road bicycle racer riding . He has signed for from 2012 onwards. He is known for sprinting and time trialing and is the 2010 Norwegian and world road champion. He is the first Norwegian to lead the Tour de France, and first Scandinavian to win the road... |
N/A | Joost Posthuma Joost Posthuma Joost Posthuma is a Dutch professional road bicycle racer. He rides on the UCI ProTour for the professional cycling team... |
N/A | |
| 1 | Jimmy Casper Jimmy Casper thumb|leftJimmy Casper is a French professional road bicycle racer for the UCI Professional Continental team Saur-Sojasun.... |
George Hincapie George Hincapie George Hincapié Garcés is an American professional road bicycle racer currently riding for UCI ProTeam . Hincapie resides in Greenville, South Carolina... |
Jimmy Casper Jimmy Casper thumb|leftJimmy Casper is a French professional road bicycle racer for the UCI Professional Continental team Saur-Sojasun.... |
Fabian Wegmann Fabian Wegmann Fabian Wegmann is a German road racing cyclist, known as a climbing specialist. He is currently riding for UCI ProTeam .... |
Benoît Vaugrenard Benoît Vaugrenard Benoît Vaugrenard is a French road racing cyclist who rides for UCI Professional Continental team .- Palmares:2005... |
Walter Beneteau Walter Bénéteau Walter Bénéteau is a French former professional cyclist. He has raced in every Tour de France from 2000 until 2006.-Final standings in the Tour de France:*2000 - 72nd*2001 - 42nd*2002 - 117th*2003 - 59th... |
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| 2 | Robbie McEwen Robbie McEwen Robbie McEwen is an Australian professional road bicycle racer, for on the UCI ProTour, specializing in sprint finishes... |
Thor Hushovd Thor Hushovd Thor Hushovd is a Norwegian professional road bicycle racer riding . He has signed for from 2012 onwards. He is known for sprinting and time trialing and is the 2010 Norwegian and world road champion. He is the first Norwegian to lead the Tour de France, and first Scandinavian to win the road... |
Robbie McEwen Robbie McEwen Robbie McEwen is an Australian professional road bicycle racer, for on the UCI ProTour, specializing in sprint finishes... |
David de la Fuente David De La Fuente David de la Fuente Rasilla is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer. He rides for the cycling team. De la Fuente led the mountains classification of the 2006 Tour de France for a number of stages, donning the Polka Dot jersey after stage 2, and then again after stage 11 until Michael... |
David de la Fuente David De La Fuente David de la Fuente Rasilla is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer. He rides for the cycling team. De la Fuente led the mountains classification of the 2006 Tour de France for a number of stages, donning the Polka Dot jersey after stage 2, and then again after stage 11 until Michael... |
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| 3 | Matthias Kessler Matthias Kessler Matthias Kessler , is a German professional road racing cyclist who rode for .Kessler debuted as a pro during the 2000 season after becoming German under 23 champion in 1999, a year in which he also took the bronze medal in the under 23 cycling world championships... |
Tom Boonen Tom Boonen Tom Boonen is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer who won the 2005 World Road Race Championship. He is a member of the team, and is considered a single-day road race specialist with a strong finishing sprint... |
Tom Boonen Tom Boonen Tom Boonen is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer who won the 2005 World Road Race Championship. He is a member of the team, and is considered a single-day road race specialist with a strong finishing sprint... |
Jérôme Pineau Jérôme Pineau Jérôme Pineau is a French professional road bicycle racer. In 2009, he rides on the UCI ProTour for .- Major achievements :20022003-External links:*... |
Markus Fothen Markus Fothen Markus Fothen is a German road racing cyclist, currently riding for the German continental team NSP.In 2003 Fothen won the under-23 World Championship time trial in Hamilton, Canada. He completed the 30.8 km course in 38:35.29, beating his nearest rival by nearly 20 seconds... |
José Luis Arrieta José Luis Arrieta José Luis Arrieta Lujambio is a retired Spanish professional road racing cyclist. He last rode for UCI ProTour team . He is now a sporting director for , the same franchise for which he rode earlier in his career when it was known as .Arrieta was a devoted domestique for Miguel Indurain... |
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| 4 | Robbie McEwen Robbie McEwen Robbie McEwen is an Australian professional road bicycle racer, for on the UCI ProTour, specializing in sprint finishes... |
Robbie McEwen Robbie McEwen Robbie McEwen is an Australian professional road bicycle racer, for on the UCI ProTour, specializing in sprint finishes... |
Egoi Martínez Egoi Martínez Egoi Martínez de Esteban is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam Euskaltel-Euskadi. In his first Tour de France, Martínez finished 41st overall at the 2004 Tour de France.... |
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| 5 | Óscar Freire Óscar Freire Óscar Freire Gómez is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer, riding for the UCI ProTeam Rabobank. He is one of the top sprinters in road bicycle racing, having won the world championship a three times, equalling Alfredo Binda, Rik Van Steenbergen and Eddy Merckx... |
Samuel Dumoulin Samuel Dumoulin Samuel Dumoulin is a French professional road bicycle racer who rides for Cofidis.-Amateur career:Dumoulin rode as an amateur for the TCCT . He won the national youth championship in 1996, then the éspoir Paris–Tours and Paris-Auxerre in 2001. He turned professional in 2002 for Jean Delatour... |
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| 6 | Robbie McEwen Robbie McEwen Robbie McEwen is an Australian professional road bicycle racer, for on the UCI ProTour, specializing in sprint finishes... |
Benoît Vaugrenard Benoît Vaugrenard Benoît Vaugrenard is a French road racing cyclist who rides for UCI Professional Continental team .- Palmares:2005... |
Anthony Geslin Anthony Geslin Anthony Geslin is a French professional road bicycle racer for UCI Professional Continental team .He was born in Alençon and became a professional in 2002, when he signed with the Bonjour team... |
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| 7 | Serhiy Honchar Serhiy Honchar Serhiy Honchar is a Ukrainian former professional road racing cyclist. He is a former world time trial champion. In the 2006 Tour de France, Honchar lead the general classification after a time-trial win in stage 7.... |
Serhiy Honchar Serhiy Honchar Serhiy Honchar is a Ukrainian former professional road racing cyclist. He is a former world time trial champion. In the 2006 Tour de France, Honchar lead the general classification after a time-trial win in stage 7.... |
Markus Fothen Markus Fothen Markus Fothen is a German road racing cyclist, currently riding for the German continental team NSP.In 2003 Fothen won the under-23 World Championship time trial in Hamilton, Canada. He completed the 30.8 km course in 38:35.29, beating his nearest rival by nearly 20 seconds... |
N/A | |||
| 8 | Sylvain Calzati Sylvain Calzati Sylvain Calzati is a French road bicycle racer for UCI Professional Continental team Bretagne-Schuller. He turned professional during the year 2003 with Team Barloworld. His biggest success is winning the 8th Stage in the 2006 Tour de France. He also won the Tour de l'Avenir in 2004. He currently... |
Sylvain Calzati Sylvain Calzati Sylvain Calzati is a French road bicycle racer for UCI Professional Continental team Bretagne-Schuller. He turned professional during the year 2003 with Team Barloworld. His biggest success is winning the 8th Stage in the 2006 Tour de France. He also won the Tour de l'Avenir in 2004. He currently... |
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| 9 | Óscar Freire Óscar Freire Óscar Freire Gómez is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer, riding for the UCI ProTeam Rabobank. He is one of the top sprinters in road bicycle racing, having won the world championship a three times, equalling Alfredo Binda, Rik Van Steenbergen and Eddy Merckx... |
Christian Knees Christian Knees Christian Knees is a German professional road racing cyclist who rides for . He won the German National Road Race Championship in 2010... |
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| 10 | Juan Miguel Mercado Juan Miguel Mercado Juan Miguel Mercado Martín is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer who turned professional with Vitalicio Seguros in 1998... |
Cyril Dessel Cyril Dessel Cyril Dessel is a French professional road racing cyclist for on the UCI ProTour. He made his professional debut in 2000.In 2006, he won the Tour Méditerranéen on the UCI Europe Tour... |
Cyril Dessel Cyril Dessel Cyril Dessel is a French professional road racing cyclist for on the UCI ProTour. He made his professional debut in 2000.In 2006, he won the Tour Méditerranéen on the UCI Europe Tour... |
Juan Miguel Mercado Juan Miguel Mercado Juan Miguel Mercado Martín is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer who turned professional with Vitalicio Seguros in 1998... |
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| 11 | Denis Menchov Denis Menchov Denis Nikolayevich Menchov , born 25 January 1978 in Oryol, is a professional Russian road bicycle racer for . He is a general classification rider and a climber. In 2005 he won the Vuelta a España, which he won for a second time in 2007... |
Floyd Landis Floyd Landis is an American retired cyclist who after initially being awarded victory in the 2006 Tour de France was stripped of his title for a doping offense. He was an all-around rider, with special skills in climbing and time-trialing, and is also known to be a very fast descender.Landis... Cyril Dessel Cyril Dessel Cyril Dessel is a French professional road racing cyclist for on the UCI ProTour. He made his professional debut in 2000.In 2006, he won the Tour Méditerranéen on the UCI Europe Tour... |
David de la Fuente David De La Fuente David de la Fuente Rasilla is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer. He rides for the cycling team. De la Fuente led the mountains classification of the 2006 Tour de France for a number of stages, donning the Polka Dot jersey after stage 2, and then again after stage 11 until Michael... |
David de la Fuente David De La Fuente David de la Fuente Rasilla is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer. He rides for the cycling team. De la Fuente led the mountains classification of the 2006 Tour de France for a number of stages, donning the Polka Dot jersey after stage 2, and then again after stage 11 until Michael... |
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| 12 | Yaroslav Popovych Yaroslav Popovych Yaroslav Popovych is a Ukrainian cyclist with the UCI ProTour team . He was born in Drohobych, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union. Under-23 road race champion in 2001, Popovych turned professional in 2002 with , where he performed particularly strongly in the Giro d'Italia, finishing third in 2003... |
Daniele Bennati Daniele Bennati Daniele Bennati is an Italian road racing cyclist specializing in fast sprint finishes. He currently rides for UCI ProTeam . He turned professional in 2002, when he joined the team and wore zebra stripes as part of Mario Cipollini’s leadout train... |
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| 13 | Jens Voigt Jens Voigt Jens Voigt is a German professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . Voigt is known for his propensity to attack, and for his positive racing attitude. He is capable of repeated attacking, holding a high tempo, and breaking away from the peloton... |
Óscar Pereiro | Jens Voigt Jens Voigt Jens Voigt is a German professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . Voigt is known for his propensity to attack, and for his positive racing attitude. He is capable of repeated attacking, holding a high tempo, and breaking away from the peloton... |
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| 14 | Pierrick Fédrigo Pierrick Fédrigo Pierrick Fédrigo is a French racing cyclist who rides for . He was the French national road champion in 2005 and won Stage 14 of the 2006 Tour de France in Gap, Stage 9 of the 2009 Tour de France in Tarbes, and Stage 16 of the 2010 Tour de France in Pau... |
Salvatore Commesso Salvatore Commesso Salvatore Commesso is an Italian professional road bicycle racer that rides for the professional continental team Preti Mangimi.... |
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| 15 | Fränk Schleck Fränk Schleck Fränk René Schleck is a Luxembourgish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . At the start of 2005, Schleck was joined by his younger brother Andy on , and they split the 2005 national championships between them, with Fränk winning the road race and Andy winning the time trial... |
Floyd Landis Floyd Landis is an American retired cyclist who after initially being awarded victory in the 2006 Tour de France was stripped of his title for a doping offense. He was an all-around rider, with special skills in climbing and time-trialing, and is also known to be a very fast descender.Landis... Óscar Pereiro |
Stefano Garzelli Stefano Garzelli Stefano Garzelli is an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The high point of his career to date was his overall win in the 2000 Giro d'Italia, after a close three-way competition with Gilberto Simoni and Francesco Casagrande.-Career:He started out as being a domestique for Marco Pantani but... |
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| 16 | Michael Rasmussen Michael Rasmussen Michael Rasmussen is a Danish professional road bicycle racer who rides for the Danish team Christina Watches-Onfone. In the 2007 Tour de France, Rasmussen, while in the yellow jersey, had his contract terminated by his team and was removed from the Tour... |
Óscar Pereiro | Michael Rasmussen Michael Rasmussen Michael Rasmussen is a Danish professional road bicycle racer who rides for the Danish team Christina Watches-Onfone. In the 2007 Tour de France, Rasmussen, while in the yellow jersey, had his contract terminated by his team and was removed from the Tour... |
Michael Rasmussen Michael Rasmussen Michael Rasmussen is a Danish professional road bicycle racer who rides for the Danish team Christina Watches-Onfone. In the 2007 Tour de France, Rasmussen, while in the yellow jersey, had his contract terminated by his team and was removed from the Tour... |
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| 17 | Carlos Sastre Carlos Sastre Carlos Sastre Candil is a retired Spanish professional road bicycle racer and champion of the 2008 Tour de France. Sastre rides in 2011 for UCI Professional Continental team... |
Damiano Cunego Damiano Cunego Damiano Cunego is an Italian professional road racing cyclist who rides for the Italian UCI ProTeam . His biggest wins are the 2004 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Amstel Gold Race, and the Giro di Lombardia in 2004, 2007, 2008. He finished second in the UCI Road World Championships in 2008 and in the... |
Floyd Landis Floyd Landis is an American retired cyclist who after initially being awarded victory in the 2006 Tour de France was stripped of his title for a doping offense. He was an all-around rider, with special skills in climbing and time-trialing, and is also known to be a very fast descender.Landis... |
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| 18 | Matteo Tosatto Matteo Tosatto Matteo Tosatto is an Italian road racing cyclist who rides for in the UCI ProTour.- Tour de France participations :*1997 - 132nd*2001 - 60th*2004 - 110th*2006 - 125th- Major achievements :... |
Levi Leipheimer Levi Leipheimer Levi Leipheimer is an American professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . His major results are winning the 2007–2009 editions of the Tour of California, the 2006 Dauphiné Libéré and the 2005 Deutschland Tour, coming in second in the 2008 Vuelta a España, third in the 2001 Vuelta a... |
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| 19 | Serhiy Honchar Serhiy Honchar Serhiy Honchar is a Ukrainian former professional road racing cyclist. He is a former world time trial champion. In the 2006 Tour de France, Honchar lead the general classification after a time-trial win in stage 7.... |
Floyd Landis Floyd Landis is an American retired cyclist who after initially being awarded victory in the 2006 Tour de France was stripped of his title for a doping offense. He was an all-around rider, with special skills in climbing and time-trialing, and is also known to be a very fast descender.Landis... Óscar Pereiro |
N/A | ||||
| 20 | Thor Hushovd Thor Hushovd Thor Hushovd is a Norwegian professional road bicycle racer riding . He has signed for from 2012 onwards. He is known for sprinting and time trialing and is the 2010 Norwegian and world road champion. He is the first Norwegian to lead the Tour de France, and first Scandinavian to win the road... |
Aitor Hernandez Aitor Hernández Aitor Hernández Gutiérrez is a Spanish racing cyclist who is currently not under contract to any team.- Palmares :199820022006 – Euskaltel-Euskadi2007 – Euskaltel-Euskadi2009... |
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| Final | Óscar Pereiro | Robbie McEwen Robbie McEwen Robbie McEwen is an Australian professional road bicycle racer, for on the UCI ProTour, specializing in sprint finishes... |
Michael Rasmussen Michael Rasmussen Michael Rasmussen is a Danish professional road bicycle racer who rides for the Danish team Christina Watches-Onfone. In the 2007 Tour de France, Rasmussen, while in the yellow jersey, had his contract terminated by his team and was removed from the Tour... |
Damiano Cunego Damiano Cunego Damiano Cunego is an Italian professional road racing cyclist who rides for the Italian UCI ProTeam . His biggest wins are the 2004 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Amstel Gold Race, and the Giro di Lombardia in 2004, 2007, 2008. He finished second in the UCI Road World Championships in 2008 and in the... |
David de la Fuente David De La Fuente David de la Fuente Rasilla is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer. He rides for the cycling team. De la Fuente led the mountains classification of the 2006 Tour de France for a number of stages, donning the Polka Dot jersey after stage 2, and then again after stage 11 until Michael... |
Jersey wearers when one rider is leading two or more competitions:
- In stage 1, George HincapieGeorge HincapieGeorge Hincapié Garcés is an American professional road bicycle racer currently riding for UCI ProTeam . Hincapie resides in Greenville, South Carolina...
wore the green jersey. - In stage 4, Daniele BennatiDaniele BennatiDaniele Bennati is an Italian road racing cyclist specializing in fast sprint finishes. He currently rides for UCI ProTeam . He turned professional in 2002, when he joined the team and wore zebra stripes as part of Mario Cipollini’s leadout train...
wore the green jersey. - In stage 11, Juan Miguel MercadoJuan Miguel MercadoJuan Miguel Mercado Martín is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer who turned professional with Vitalicio Seguros in 1998...
wore the polka-dot jersey
Other notes
- Stage 17 was originally won by Floyd LandisFloyd LandisFloyd Landis is an American retired cyclist who after initially being awarded victory in the 2006 Tour de France was stripped of his title for a doping offense. He was an all-around rider, with special skills in climbing and time-trialing, and is also known to be a very fast descender.Landis...
, who also wore the yellow jersey on the 19th and 20th stage. After the court's decision to forfeit all his results in the 2006 Tour de France, Carlos Sastre became the winner of the 17th stage, and Cyril DesselCyril DesselCyril Dessel is a French professional road racing cyclist for on the UCI ProTour. He made his professional debut in 2000.In 2006, he won the Tour Méditerranéen on the UCI Europe Tour...
and Óscar Pereiro should be considered having led the general classification as shown in the table.
General classification
| Rank | Name | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| |
Phonak | 89h 39' 30" | |
| 1 | Caisse d'Epargne | 89h 40' 27" | |
| 2 | T-Mobile | +0' 32" | |
| 3 | Team CSC | +2' 16" | |
| 4 | Davitamon-Lotto | +4' 11" | |
| 5 | Rabobank | +6' 09" | |
| 6 | Ag2r | +7' 44" | |
| 7 | Ag2r | +8' 40" | |
| 8 | Euskaltel | +11' 08" | |
| 9 | T-Mobile | +14' 10" | |
| 10 | Team CSC | +16' 49" |
| Final general classification (11–138) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Name | Team | Time |
| 11 | Lampre | +18' 22" | |
| 12 | Gerolsteiner | +18' 25" | |
| 13 | Rabobank | +18' 49" | |
| 14 | Gerolsteiner | +19' 00" | |
| 15 | Credit Agricole | +20' 15" | |
| 16 | Lampre | +25' 28" | |
| 17 | Rabobank | +27' 36" | |
| 18 | Discovery Channel | +37' 11" | |
| 19 | Lampre | +42' 08" | |
| 20 | Caisse d'Epargne | +43' 03" | |
| 21 | Lampre | +43' 31" | |
| 22 | T-Mobile | +48' 04" | |
| 23 | Team CSC | +49' 22" | |
| 24 | Discovery Channel | +51' 05" | |
| 25 | T-Mobile | +57' 02" | |
| 26 | T-Mobile | +1h 01' 43" | |
| 27 | Ag2r | +1h 02' 03" | |
| 28 | Bouygues Telecom | +1h 04' 30" | |
| 29 | Caisse d'Epargne | +1h 06' 21" | |
| 30 | Phonak | +1h 08' 31" | |
| 31 | Discovery Channel | +1h 10' 17" | |
| 32 | Caisse d'Epargne | +1h 15' 50" | |
| 33 | Ag2r | +1h 19' 29" | |
| 34 | Euskaltel | +1h 20' 37" | |
| 35 | Ag2r | +1h 23' 29" | |
| 36 | Ag2r | +1h 27' 36" | |
| 37 | Bouygues Telecom | +1h 29' 27" | |
| 38 | Agritubel | +1h 29' 58" | |
| 39 | Davitamon-Lotto | +1h 33' 27" | |
| 40 | Saunier Duval | +1h 34' 02" | |
| 41 | Discovery Channel | +1h 34' 15" | |
| 42 | Cofidis | +1h 36' 12" | |
| 43 | Cofidis | +1h 37' 10" | |
| 44 | Cofidis | +1h 39' 08" | |
| 45 | Saunier Duval | +1h 39' 55" | |
| 46 | Gerolsteiner | +1h 41' 58" | |
| 47 | Credit Agricole | +1h 42' 06" | |
| 48 | Credit Agricole | +1h 43' 49" | |
| 49 | Euskaltel | +1h 47' 25" | |
| 50 | Bouygues Telecom | +1h 47' 34" | |
| 51 | T-Mobile | +1h 48' 25" | |
| 52 | Team CSC | +1h 49' 44" | |
| 53 | T-Mobile | +1h 51' 06" | |
| 54 | Liquigas | +1h 52' 58" | |
| 55 | Saunier Duval | +1h 54' 22" | |
| 56 | Lampre | +1h 55' 58" | |
| 57 | Cofidis | +2h 02' 13" | |
| 58 | Saunier Duval | +2h 03' 13" | |
| 59 | Saunier Duval | +2h 06' 21" | |
| 60 | Agritubel | +2h 07' 02" | |
| 61 | Phonak | +2h 08' 06" | |
| 62 | Française des Jeux | +2h 11' 16" | |
| 63 | Davitamon-Lotto | +2h 11' 28" | |
| 64 | Discovery Channel | +2h 15' 48" | |
| 65 | Gerolsteiner | +2h 24' 18" | |
| 66 | Lampre | +2h 25' 37" | |
| 67 | Gerolsteiner | +2h 26' 20" | |
| 68 | Française des Jeux | +2h 27' 37" | |
| 69 | Lampre | +2h 31' 11" | |
| 70 | Euskaltel | +2h 31' 39" | |
| 71 | Quick Step | +2h 31' 50" | |
| 72 | Bouygues Telecom | +2h 31' 57" | |
| 73 | Team CSC | +2h 32' 49" | |
| 74 | Euskaltel | +2h 32' 55" | |
| 75 | Credit Agricole | +2h 33' 27" | |
| 76 | Française des Jeux | +2h 39' 04" | |
| 77 | Saunier Duval | +2h 40' 25" | |
| 78 | Ag2r | +2h 45' 36" | |
| 79 | Liquigas | +2h 46' 36" | |
| 80 | +2h 46' 51" | ||
| 81 | Rabobank | +2h 48' 56" | |
| 82 | Bouygues Telecom | +2h 50' 25" | |
| 83 | Discovery Channel | +2h 50' 36" | |
| 84 | Rabobank | +2h 51' 03" | |
| 85 | +2h 51' 16" | ||
| 86 | Française des Jeux | +2h 51' 34" | |
| 87 | Bouygues Telecom | +2h 51' 34" | |
| 88 | Bouygues Telecom | +2h 52' 00" | |
| 89 | Agritubel | +2h 52' 30" | |
| 90 | Team CSC | +2h 54' 28" | |
| 91 | Discovery Channel | +2h 54' 47" | |
| 92 | Rabobank | +2h 55' 06" | |
| 93 | Quick Step | +2h 56' 05" | |
| 94 | Quick Step | +2h 57' 58" | |
| 95 | Gerolsteiner | +2h 59' 51" | |
| 96 | Phonak | +3h 00' 37" | |
| 97 | Saunier Duval | +3h 00' 40" | |
| 98 | +3h 01' 12" | ||
| 99 | Caisse d'Epargne | +3h 01' 23" | |
| 100 | Liquigas | +3h 03' 21" | |
| 101 | +3h 03' 24" | ||
| 102 | Phonak | +3h 04' 08" | |
| 103 | +3h 05' 01" | ||
| 104 | Française des Jeux | +3h 05' 17" | |
| 105 | Davitamon-Lotto | +3h 05' 29" | |
| 106 | Phonak | +3h 07' 26" | |
| 107 | Française des Jeux | +3h 08' 02" | |
| 108 | Lampre | +3h 11' 54" | |
| 109 | Française des Jeux | +3h 12' 06" | |
| 110 | Bouygues Telecom | +3h 14' 44" | |
| 111 | Davitamon-Lotto | +3h 17' 47" | |
| 112 | Credit Agricole | +3h 18' 18" | |
| 113 | Credit Agricole | +3h 19' 32" | |
| 114 | Caisse d'Epargne | +3h 19' 35" | |
| 115 | Davitamon-Lotto | +3h 20' 04" | |
| 116 | Agritubel | +3h 20' 30" | |
| 117 | Liquigas | +3h 20' 37" | |
| 118 | Liquigas | +3h 20' 51" | |
| 119 | Ag2r | +3h 21' 18" | |
| 120 | Credit Agricole | +3h 22' 55" | |
| 121 | Phonak | +3h 23' 39" | |
| 122 | Cofidis | +3h 24' 22" | |
| 123 | Cofidis | +3h 24' 35" | |
| 124 | Quick Step | +3h 24' 57" | |
| 125 | Agritubel | +3h 25' 26" | |
| 126 | Euskaltel | +3h 29' 15" | |
| 127 | Credit Agricole | +3h 29' 36" | |
| 128 | Liquigas | +3h 32' 31" | |
| 129 | Cofidis | +3h 34' 37" | |
| 130 | Française des Jeux | +3h 34' 55" | |
| 131 | Liquigas | +3h 34' 56" | |
| 132 | Quick Step | +3h 36' 09" | |
| 133 | Agritubel | +3h 38' 03" | |
| 134 | Gerolsteiner | +3h 38' 23" | |
| 135 | Euskaltel | +3h 49' 19" | |
| 136 | Davitamon-Lotto | +3h 58' 19" | |
| 137 | Cofidis | +3h 59' 08" | |
| 138 | Davitamon-Lotto | +4h 01' 04" | |
Points classification
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ' | 288 | |
| 2 | 199 | ||
| 3 | 195 | ||
| 4 | 176 | ||
| 5 | 174 | ||
| 6 | 130 | ||
| 7 | 128 | ||
| 8 | 116 | ||
| 9 | 98 | ||
| 10 | 88 |
Mountains classification
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ' | 166 | |
| 2 | 113 | ||
| 3 | 99 | ||
| 4 | 96 | ||
| 5 | 93 | ||
| 6 | 80 | ||
| 7 | 72 | ||
| 8 | Team Gerolsteiner Team Gerolsteiner Gerolsteiner was a German road bicycle racing team in the UCI ProTour. It was sponsored by the mineral water company Gerolsteiner Brunnen and Specialized.... |
66 | |
| 9 | 64 | ||
| 10 | 63 |
Young rider classification
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ' | 89h 58' 49" | |
| 2 | Team Gerolsteiner Team Gerolsteiner Gerolsteiner was a German road bicycle racing team in the UCI ProTour. It was sponsored by the mineral water company Gerolsteiner Brunnen and Specialized.... |
+ 38" | |
| 3 | + 1h 29' 12" | ||
| 4 | + 1h 36' 00" | ||
| 5 | Agritubel | + 1h 48' 40" | |
| 6 | + 1h 52' 54" | ||
| 7 | + 2h 22' 03" | ||
| 8 | + 2h 32' 41" | ||
| 9 | + 2h 33' 12" | ||
| 10 | + 2h 36' 44" |
Team classification
| Rank | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 269h 08' 46" | |
| 2 | + 17' 04" | |
| 3 | + 23' 26" | |
| 4 | + 33' 19" | |
| 5 | + 56' 53" | |
| 6 | + 57' 37" | |
| 7 | Team Gerolsteiner Team Gerolsteiner Gerolsteiner was a German road bicycle racing team in the UCI ProTour. It was sponsored by the mineral water company Gerolsteiner Brunnen and Specialized.... |
+ 1h 45' 25" |
| 8 | + 2h 19' 17" | |
| 9 | + 2h 26' 38" | |
| 10 | Phonak Hearing Systems Phonak (cycling team) Phonak was a Swiss professional cycling team from 2000 until 2006. The team was one of 20 teams in the first UCI ProTour in 2005... |
+ 2h 49' 06"* |
Pre-race favourites
After the retirement of seven-time winner Lance ArmstrongLance Armstrong
Lance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...
, the main contenders for the overall win were expected to be Ivan Basso
Ivan Basso
Ivan Basso is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who is currently racing with UCI ProTeam . Basso, nicknamed Ivan the Terrible, is among the best mountain riders in the professional field in the 21st century, and is considered one of the strongest stage race riders...
from , the 2005
2005 Tour de France
The 2005 Tour de France was the 92nd Tour de France, taking place from July 2 to July 24, 2005. It comprised 21 stages over 3592.5 km, the winner's average speed was 41.654 km/h. The first stages were held in the département of the Vendée, for the third time in 12 years. The 2005 Tour was...
runner-up; and Jan Ullrich
Jan Ullrich
Jan Ullrich is a German former professional road bicycle racer. In 1997, he was the first German to win the Tour de France. He went on to take five second places and a fourth in 2004 and third in 2005. He is considered one of the best time-trialists in the history of the sport...
from , the third man on the podium in 2005, winner in 1997
1997 Tour de France
The 1997 Tour de France was the 84th Tour de France, it took place July 5–27, 1997. Jan Ullrich's victory margin, of 9' 09" was the largest margin of victory since Laurent Fignon won the 1984 Tour de France by 10' 32"...
, and the only previous winner still racing. However, both Ullrich and Basso were suspended by their teams on June 30 after UCI
Union Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....
told T-Mobile and Team CSC that the riders were involved in the anti-doping investigation in Spain.
Francisco Mancebo
Francisco Mancebo
Francisco Mancebo Pérez is a Spanish pro cyclist. He initially rode for team Illes Balears, but moved to AG2R Prévoyance in 2006....
of the French team , who finished fourth last year and sixth the year before, was also suspended by his team, and subsequently announced his retirement. Alexander Vinokourov
Alexander Vinokourov
Alexander Nikolaevich Vinokourov, also written Alexandre Vinokourov, is an ethnically Russian Kazakhstani professional road bicycle racer who currently competes with the UCI ProTeam Astana...
would have been the only returning rider with a top-five finish from last year's race. However, his team, , was forced to pull out of the race because they would not be able to start with the minimum of six riders.
As a result of the drug scandal, many believed Spaniard Alejandro Valverde
Alejandro Valverde
Alejandro Valverde Belmonte is a Spanish road racing cyclist currently under suspension. He last rode for UCI ProTour team . Valverde's biggest wins have been the 2009 Vuelta a España, the Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 2006, 2008 and 2006 UCI ProTour series championship...
(Caisse d'Épargne), or the Americans Floyd Landis
Floyd Landis
Floyd Landis is an American retired cyclist who after initially being awarded victory in the 2006 Tour de France was stripped of his title for a doping offense. He was an all-around rider, with special skills in climbing and time-trialing, and is also known to be a very fast descender.Landis...
(Phonak), Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer is an American professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . His major results are winning the 2007–2009 editions of the Tour of California, the 2006 Dauphiné Libéré and the 2005 Deutschland Tour, coming in second in the 2008 Vuelta a España, third in the 2001 Vuelta a...
(Gerolsteiner), or Australian Cadel Evans
Cadel Evans
Cadel Lee Evans is an Australian professional racing cyclist and winner of the 2011 Tour de France. Early in his career, Evans was a champion mountain biker, winning the World Cup in 1998 and 1999 and placing seventh in the men's cross-country mountain bike race at the 2000 Summer Olympics in...
(Davitamon-Lotto) would probably win the race.
The main contenders for the podium were those who placed well on GC
General Classification
The general classification in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races...
last year, especially if they have had notable results since:
| Team | Rider | Notes |
|---|---|---|
 Christophe MoreauChristophe Moreau Christophe Moreau is a French former professional road racing cyclist. For many years Moreau was the primary French contender for the general classification in the Tour de France: he finished in the top 12 in the GC five times and finished the race as best Frenchman in 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2005... |
11th 2005, 4th 2000; 2nd 2006 Dauphiné Libéré Dauphiné Libéré 2006 The 58th edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré took place from June 4 to June 11, 2006. It consisted of a Prologue and seven stages covering a total of 1098 km, starting in Annecy and finishing in Grenoble.... |
|
 Óscar Pereiro |
10th 2005, "Most combative" 2005; 14th 2006 Dauphiné Libéré Dauphiné Libéré 2006 The 58th edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré took place from June 4 to June 11, 2006. It consisted of a Prologue and seven stages covering a total of 1098 km, starting in Annecy and finishing in Grenoble.... |
|
| Alejandro Valverde Alejandro Valverde Alejandro Valverde Belmonte is a Spanish road racing cyclist currently under suspension. He last rode for UCI ProTour team . Valverde's biggest wins have been the 2009 Vuelta a España, the Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 2006, 2008 and 2006 UCI ProTour series championship... |
DNF 2005; 3rd 2003 Vuelta a España Vuelta a España The Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages... ; 1st 2006 Liège-Bastogne-Liège Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2006 The 92nd edition of the Liège–Bastogne–Liège cycling classic was held on April 23, and stretched 262 km. The race was won by Spanish all-rounder Alejandro Valverde of the Illes Balears cycling team.-Results:-External links:*... ; 1st 2006 La Flèche Wallonne La Flèche Wallonne 2006 The 70th edition of the La Flèche Wallonne cycling classic was held on April 19, 2006. It was won by Spanish all-rounder Alejandro Valverde of Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears cycling team in a sprint finish. He was later convicted of doping and banned for two years.- 19-04-2006: Charleroi-Huy, 202... |
|
 José AzevedoJosé Azevedo José Bento Azevedo Carvalho is a Portuguese former professional road racing cyclist. As of 2010, he is also a team manager with Team RadioShack... |
5th 2004; 6th 2002; 4th 2006 Dauphiné Libéré Dauphiné Libéré 2006 The 58th edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré took place from June 4 to June 11, 2006. It consisted of a Prologue and seven stages covering a total of 1098 km, starting in Annecy and finishing in Grenoble.... ; 5th 2001 Giro d'Italia 2001 Giro d'Italia The 2001 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 84th running of the race, was held from 19 May to 10 June 2001. It consisted of a prologue plus 21 stages with one rest days, for a total of 3,356 km, ridden at an average speed of 40.170 km/h. It was won by Gilberto Simoni.- Stages :-Jersey Progress:- General... |
|
 George HincapieGeorge Hincapie George Hincapié Garcés is an American professional road bicycle racer currently riding for UCI ProTeam . Hincapie resides in Greenville, South Carolina... |
14th 2005; 33rd 2004; 10th 2006 Dauphiné Libéré Dauphiné Libéré 2006 The 58th edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré took place from June 4 to June 11, 2006. It consisted of a Prologue and seven stages covering a total of 1098 km, starting in Annecy and finishing in Grenoble.... ; only teammate to join Armstrong Lance Armstrong Lance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support... in all seven victories. |
|
 Yaroslav PopovychYaroslav Popovych Yaroslav Popovych is a Ukrainian cyclist with the UCI ProTour team . He was born in Drohobych, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union. Under-23 road race champion in 2001, Popovych turned professional in 2002 with , where he performed particularly strongly in the Giro d'Italia, finishing third in 2003... |
12th 2005, 2005 maillot blanc Maillot blanc Numerous cycling stage races award a white jersey to signify the current leader and overall winner of a certain competition. The most prominent of these is perhaps the Tour de France, where the jersey is known as the maillot blanc and is awarded to the best-placed rider under 26 years of age... ; 40th 2006 Dauphiné Libéré Dauphiné Libéré 2006 The 58th edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré took place from June 4 to June 11, 2006. It consisted of a Prologue and seven stages covering a total of 1098 km, starting in Annecy and finishing in Grenoble.... |
|
| Iban Mayo Iban Mayo Iban Mayo Diez is a professional road bicycle racer. His successes have been overshadowed by doping.... |
60th 2005; 6th 2003; 15th 2006 Dauphiné Libéré Dauphiné Libéré 2006 The 58th edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré took place from June 4 to June 11, 2006. It consisted of a Prologue and seven stages covering a total of 1098 km, starting in Annecy and finishing in Grenoble.... ; 1st 2004 Dauphiné Libéré |
|
| Team Gerolsteiner Team Gerolsteiner Gerolsteiner was a German road bicycle racing team in the UCI ProTour. It was sponsored by the mineral water company Gerolsteiner Brunnen and Specialized.... |
Levi Leipheimer Levi Leipheimer Levi Leipheimer is an American professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . His major results are winning the 2007–2009 editions of the Tour of California, the 2006 Dauphiné Libéré and the 2005 Deutschland Tour, coming in second in the 2008 Vuelta a España, third in the 2001 Vuelta a... |
6th 2005; 1st 2006 Dauphiné Libéré Dauphiné Libéré 2006 The 58th edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré took place from June 4 to June 11, 2006. It consisted of a Prologue and seven stages covering a total of 1098 km, starting in Annecy and finishing in Grenoble.... ; 1st 2005 Tour of Germany Deutschland Tour 2005 These are the results for the 2005 edition of the Deutschland Tour cycling race, won by Levi Leipheimer of Team Gerolsteiner.-Final General Classification:- 15-08-2005: Attenburg-Plauen, 170 km. :- 16-08-2005: Pegnitz-Bodenmais, 180 km. :... |
 Damiano CunegoDamiano Cunego Damiano Cunego is an Italian professional road racing cyclist who rides for the Italian UCI ProTeam . His biggest wins are the 2004 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Amstel Gold Race, and the Giro di Lombardia in 2004, 2007, 2008. He finished second in the UCI Road World Championships in 2008 and in the... |
4th 2006 Giro d'Italia 2006 Giro d'Italia The 2006 Giro d'Italia was the 89th running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It was held from 6 May to 28 May 2006, and covered , beginning in the Belgian mining town of Seraing and ending in Milan... ; 1st 2004 Giro d'Italia 2004 Giro d'Italia The 2004 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 87th running of the race, was held from 8 May to 30 May 2004, consisting of 21 stages for a total of 3,420 km, ridden at an average speed of 38.565 km/h. It was won by Damiano Cunego... |
|
| Phonak Hearing Systems Phonak (cycling team) Phonak was a Swiss professional cycling team from 2000 until 2006. The team was one of 20 teams in the first UCI ProTour in 2005... |
Floyd Landis Floyd Landis Floyd Landis is an American retired cyclist who after initially being awarded victory in the 2006 Tour de France was stripped of his title for a doping offense. He was an all-around rider, with special skills in climbing and time-trialing, and is also known to be a very fast descender.Landis... |
9th 2005; 1st 2006 Paris-Nice Paris-Nice 2006 The 2006 edition of the Paris–Nice bicycle race was run from March 5 to March 12. The race was won by United States rider Floyd Landis, of Team Phonak.- 05-03-2006: Issy-les-Moulineaux - Issy-les-Moulineaux, 4.8 km... ; 1st 2006 Tour de Georgia Tour de Georgia 2006 The 2006 Tour de Georgia was a six-stage race held April 18 through April 23, 2006 with the overall title won by Floyd Landis of the . American Fred Rodriguez claimed the points jersey for sprinters. Jason McCartney won his second KOM crown; he previously won the 2004 climbers title. McCartney's... ; 1st 2006 Amgen Tour of California Amgen Tour of California The Tour of California is an annual professional cycling stage race on the UCI America Tour and USA Cycling Professional Tour. It began on February 19, 2006. The eight-day race covers 650–700 miles through California... ; 60th 2006 Dauphiné Libéré Dauphiné Libéré 2006 The 58th edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré took place from June 4 to June 11, 2006. It consisted of a Prologue and seven stages covering a total of 1098 km, starting in Annecy and finishing in Grenoble.... |
 Cadel EvansCadel Evans Cadel Lee Evans is an Australian professional racing cyclist and winner of the 2011 Tour de France. Early in his career, Evans was a champion mountain biker, winning the World Cup in 1998 and 1999 and placing seventh in the men's cross-country mountain bike race at the 2000 Summer Olympics in... |
8th 2005; 1st 2006 Tour de Romandie Tour de Romandie 2006 The 60th Tour de Romandie took place from April 25 through April 30. It is a six-stage cycling tour. It was won by Australian climber Cadel Evans of the who surprisingly won the final time trial stage and won the Overall Classification despite starting the time trial in the third overall... ; 10th 2006 Tour of Switzerland Tour de Suisse 2006 The 70th edition of the Tour de Suisse took place from June 10 to June 18, 2006. It consisted of nine stages covering a total of 1,468 km, starting in Baden and finishing in Bern.... |
|
 Denis MenchovDenis Menchov Denis Nikolayevich Menchov , born 25 January 1978 in Oryol, is a professional Russian road bicycle racer for . He is a general classification rider and a climber. In 2005 he won the Vuelta a España, which he won for a second time in 2007... |
85th 2005; 1st 2005 Vuelta a España | |
 Michael RasmussenMichael Rasmussen Michael Rasmussen is a Danish professional road bicycle racer who rides for the Danish team Christina Watches-Onfone. In the 2007 Tour de France, Rasmussen, while in the yellow jersey, had his contract terminated by his team and was removed from the Tour... |
7th 2005, 2005 King of the Mountains King of the Mountains The King of the Mountains is the title given to the best climber in a cycling road race; usually and officially known as the Mountains classification... |
|
| Gilberto Simoni Gilberto Simoni Gilberto Simoni is an Italian ex-professional road bicycle racer, most recently for . Simoni is twice winner of the Giro d'Italia cycling race... |
3rd 2006 Giro d'Italia 2006 Giro d'Italia The 2006 Giro d'Italia was the 89th running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It was held from 6 May to 28 May 2006, and covered , beginning in the Belgian mining town of Seraing and ending in Milan... ; 1st 2001 2001 Giro d'Italia The 2001 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 84th running of the race, was held from 19 May to 10 June 2001. It consisted of a prologue plus 21 stages with one rest days, for a total of 3,356 km, ridden at an average speed of 40.170 km/h. It was won by Gilberto Simoni.- Stages :-Jersey Progress:- General... and 2003 2003 Giro d'Italia The 2003 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 86th running of the race, was held from 10 May to 1 June 2003, consisting of 21 stages for a total of 3,472 km, ridden at an average speed of 38.828 km/h. It was won by Gilberto Simoni.... Giro d'Italia Giro d'Italia The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar... . |
The 2006 Tour also saw the return of former yellow jersey holder and three-time stage winner David Millar
David Millar
David Millar is a British road racing cyclist riding for . He has won three stages of the Tour de France, two of the Vuelta a España and one Stage of the Giro d'Italia. He was the British national road champion and the national time trial champion, both in 2007...
after serving a two year ban for admissions of the use of the drug EPO
Erythropoietin
Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...
, which was discovered in a police search of his house before the 2004 Tour de France
2004 Tour de France
The 2004 Tour de France was the 91st, taking place from July 3 to July 25, 2004. It consisted of 20 stages over 3391 km.Lance Armstrong became the first to win six Tours de France. Armstrong had been favored to win, his competitors seen as being German Jan Ullrich, Spaniards Roberto Heras and...
, in June 2004.