2008 Vuelta a España
Encyclopedia
The 2008 Vuelta a España was the 63rd edition of the Vuelta a España
, one of cycling's Grand Tours
. The event took place from 30 August to 21 September 2008 over 21 stages covering 3133.6 kilometres (1,947.1 mi). The first stage was a 7 km (4.3 mi) team time trial
in Granada
. The event finished in Madrid
23 days later. The race saw the return of Angliru
, one of the hardest climbs in professional road bicycle racing
.
The race was won by Alberto Contador
of the cycling team, who assumed the race leadership after Angliru and kept it to the conclusion of the Vuelta.
, a traditional city in the history of the Vuelta, having hosted a stage start or finish 39 previous times. Though Astana and Team CSC Saxo Bank were thought to be favorites to win this stage, the top team was Liquigas, which put their team leader Filippo Pozzato
in the first golden jersey. This set the stage for an extremely turbulent first week in terms of race leadership, as Alejandro Valverde
, Daniele Bennati
, Levi Leipheimer
, Sylvain Chavanel
, and Alessandro Ballan
would all don the maillot oro between the race's beginning and Stage 7. All but Chavanel did this by virtue of stage wins - Chavanel, for his part, had been 2 seconds behind Leipheimer for the race lead after the Vuelta's first individual time trial
(ITT), and took it the next day thanks to time bonuses in intermediate sprints.
After the first rest day came the Vuelta's longest stage, said to be the queen stage, as it had many high mountain climbs and an extremely difficult climb to the finish in Andorra
. As it happened, the day the stage was run was marked by consistent rain and cold temperatures, making the stage harder still. Ballan won this stage from a breakaway and took the overall lead, but he was unable to remain in contention the next day. Leipheimer, who had been in second overall, re-assumed the overall lead. In Stage 9, Leipheimer's Astana team afforded a breakaway including Egoi Martínez
sufficient time that Martínez took the overall lead, meaning that through nine stages the race lead had only been retained from one day to the next one time.
The next several stages were flat, and won by sprinters and breakaways, meaning Martínez was able to retain the overall lead for a time. Stage 13, which ended at the storied Alto de El Angliru
, revealed the race's overall contenders. Alberto Contador
won the stage and in so doing gained a lead over Leipheimer, Carlos Sastre
, Ezequiel Mosquera
, and Valverde which he would never relinquish. Contador padded this lead by winning the stage the next day, and kept it in the race's second and final ITT, where his strongest challenger was ironically his teammate Leipheimer.
The points classification
was won by Belgian rider Greg Van Avermaet
, who had won Stage 9 and finished in the top ten of nine other stages. The King of the Mountains
went to ' David Moncoutié
, also a stage winner. The summit stage finish won by Moncoutié as well as points gained by topping climbs at the head of the peloton in the Angliru stage proved to propel Moncoutié into the red jersey. The combination classification, an award unique to the Vuelta among the Grand Tours, was won by Contador, as his first in the General Classification, second in the points classification, and third in the King of the Mountains Classification was by far the strongest combined showing by any rider. With the overall victory, Contador became the first Spaniard and fifth rider ever to complete the career sweep of the Grand Tours
.
(formerly called Saunier Duval-Scott) was excluded from the event as a result of the doping cases of Riccardo Riccò
and Leonardo Piepoli
in the 2008 Tour de France
.
UCI ProTour
did not participate in the race.
External link.
Additionally, there was also a points classification
, which awarded a blue jersey. In the points classification, cyclists received points for finishing in the top 15 in a stage. The winner got 25 points, second place 20, third 16, fourth 14, fifth 12, sixth 10, and one point per place less down the line, to a single point for fifteenth. In addition, some points could be won in intermediate sprints.
There was also a mountains classification, which awarded a red jersey. In the mountains classifications, points were won by reaching the top of a mountain before other cyclists. Each climb was categorized, with most of the climbs being either first, second, third, or fourth category. There were also two "special category" climbs (equivalent to Hors Categorie
in the Tour de France), the stage finishes into Andorra and the Alto de El Angliru. "Special category" climbs paid 30 points for the first rider over the summit, then 25, 20, 16, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2 and 1. First category climbs paid 16 points for the leader, then 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2 and 1, second category climbs 10, 7, 5, 3, 2 and 1, and third category climbs 6, 4, 2 and 1.
Finally, there was the combination classification. This was calculated by adding the rankings in the general, points and mountains classifications; the cyclist with the lowest combined ranking was the leader in the combination classification, and received a white jersey.
There was also a classification for teams. In this classification, the times of the best three cyclists per stage were added, and the team with the lowest time was leader.
Jersey wearers when one rider is leading two or more competitions
If a cyclist leads two or more competitions at the end of a stage, he receives all those jerseys. In the next stage, he can only wear one jersey, and he wears the jersey representing leadership in the most important competition (golden first, then blue, then red, then white). The other jerseys that the cyclists owns are worn in the next stage by the second-place (or, if needed, third or fourth-place) rider in that classification.
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...
, one of cycling's Grand Tours
Grand Tour (cycling)
In road bicycle racing, a Grand Tour refers to one of the three major European professional cycling stage races:* Tour de France – Tour of France , held in July* Giro d'Italia – Tour of Italy , held in May...
. The event took place from 30 August to 21 September 2008 over 21 stages covering 3133.6 kilometres (1,947.1 mi). The first stage was a 7 km (4.3 mi) 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...
in Granada
Granada
Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea...
. The event finished in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
23 days later. The race saw the return of Angliru
Alto de El Angliru
Alto del Angliru is a steep mountain road in Asturias, near La Vega-Riosa, in northern Spain. It is one of the most demanding climbs in professional road bicycle racing...
, one of the hardest climbs in professional road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing is a bicycle racing sport held on roads, using racing bicycles. The term "road racing" is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first to the line at the end of the course .Historically, the most...
.
The race was won by 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...
of the cycling team, who assumed the race leadership after Angliru and kept it to the conclusion of the Vuelta.
Race overview
The 2008 Vuelta a España began with a short team time trial in GranadaGranada
Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea...
, a traditional city in the history of the Vuelta, having hosted a stage start or finish 39 previous times. Though Astana and Team CSC Saxo Bank were thought to be favorites to win this stage, the top team was Liquigas, which put their team leader Filippo Pozzato
Filippo Pozzato
Filippo "Pippo" Pozzato is an Italian road racing cyclist with UCI ProTour Team Katusha.-Career:...
in the first golden jersey. This set the stage for an extremely turbulent first week in terms of race leadership, as 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...
, 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...
, 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...
, Sylvain Chavanel
Sylvain Chavanel
Sylvain Chavanel Albira is a French professional road bicycle racer. His brother Sébastien Chavanel is also a cyclist.Chavanel started his professional career in 2000 with Jean-René Bernaudeau's team Bonjour, which became Brioches La Boulangère in 2003...
, and Alessandro Ballan
Alessandro Ballan
Alessandro Ballan is an Italian professional road bicycle racer for UCI Professional Continental team , and is a former world champion. Although he possesses a frame that is usually more associated with climbing, Ballan has established himself as a leading spring classics contender in recent years...
would all don the maillot oro between the race's beginning and Stage 7. All but Chavanel did this by virtue of stage wins - Chavanel, for his part, had been 2 seconds behind Leipheimer for the race lead after the Vuelta's first individual time trial
Individual time trial
An individual time trial is a road bicycle race in which cyclists race alone against the clock . There are also track-based time trials where riders compete in velodromes, and team time trials...
(ITT), and took it the next day thanks to time bonuses in intermediate sprints.
Andorra
Andorra , officially the Principality of Andorra , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, , is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of...
. As it happened, the day the stage was run was marked by consistent rain and cold temperatures, making the stage harder still. Ballan won this stage from a breakaway and took the overall lead, but he was unable to remain in contention the next day. Leipheimer, who had been in second overall, re-assumed the overall lead. In Stage 9, Leipheimer's Astana team afforded a breakaway including 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....
sufficient time that Martínez took the overall lead, meaning that through nine stages the race lead had only been retained from one day to the next one time.
The next several stages were flat, and won by sprinters and breakaways, meaning Martínez was able to retain the overall lead for a time. Stage 13, which ended at the storied Alto de El Angliru
Alto de El Angliru
Alto del Angliru is a steep mountain road in Asturias, near La Vega-Riosa, in northern Spain. It is one of the most demanding climbs in professional road bicycle racing...
, revealed the race's overall contenders. 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...
won the stage and in so doing gained a lead over Leipheimer, 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...
, Ezequiel Mosquera
Ezequiel Mosquera
Ezequiel Mosquera Míguez is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He has finished in the top 5 of the Vuelta a España in all appearances, and finished second in the 2010, after putting in a strong time trial and winning the penultimate stage to Bola del Mundo.On September 30,...
, and Valverde which he would never relinquish. Contador padded this lead by winning the stage the next day, and kept it in the race's second and final ITT, where his strongest challenger was ironically his teammate Leipheimer.
The points classification
Points classification
The points classification is a secondary award category in road bicycle racing. Points are given for high finishes and, in some cases, for winning intermediate sprints. The points classification is the top prize for many cycling sprinters and therefore is often known as the Sprint Classification;...
was won by Belgian rider Greg Van Avermaet
Greg Van Avermaet
Greg Van Avermaet is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer, currently riding for UCI ProTeam .- Palmarès :2006Greg Van Avermaet is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer, currently riding for UCI ProTeam .- Palmarès :2006Greg Van Avermaet is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer,...
, who had won Stage 9 and finished in the top ten of nine other stages. The 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...
went to ' David Moncoutié
David Moncoutié
David Moncoutié is a French professional road racing cyclist with the French team Cofidis, with whom he turned professional in 1997. He is a climber, and won his first professional race in a mountain stage of Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré...
, also a stage winner. The summit stage finish won by Moncoutié as well as points gained by topping climbs at the head of the peloton in the Angliru stage proved to propel Moncoutié into the red jersey. The combination classification, an award unique to the Vuelta among the Grand Tours, was won by Contador, as his first in the General Classification, second in the points classification, and third in the King of the Mountains Classification was by far the strongest combined showing by any rider. With the overall victory, Contador became the first Spaniard and fifth rider ever to complete the career sweep of the Grand Tours
Grand Tour (cycling)
In road bicycle racing, a Grand Tour refers to one of the three major European professional cycling stage races:* Tour de France – Tour of France , held in July* Giro d'Italia – Tour of Italy , held in May...
.
Teams
The 19 teams invited to the race were:
|
Tinkoff Credit Systems Tinkoff Credit Systems was a professional continental cycling team based in Italy that had UCI Professional Continental status, raced in UCI Continental Circuits races and when selected as a wildcard to UCI ProTour events... |
(formerly called Saunier Duval-Scott) was excluded from the event as a result of the doping cases of Riccardo Riccò
Riccardo Riccò
Riccardo Riccò is a professional road bicycle racer from Italy, currently under contract to UCI Continental team Meridiana-Kamen, and suspended from competition. He was ejected from the 2008 Tour de France for doping violations and suspended...
and Leonardo Piepoli
Leonardo Piepoli
Leonardo Piepoli is an Italian professional road racing cyclist. He most recently rode for on the UCI ProTour, but had his contract suspended in July 2008 during the Tour de France amid allegations of the use of the blood boosting drug EPO in the team.-Career:He is a record four-time winner of the...
in the 2008 Tour de France
2008 Tour de France
The 2008 Tour de France was the 95th Tour de France. The event took place from 5–27 July 2008. Starting in the French city of Brest, the tour entered Italy on the 15th stage and returned to France during the 16th, heading for Paris, its regular final destination, which was reached in the 21st stage...
.
UCI ProTour
UCI ProTour
The UCI ProTour was a series of road bicycle races in Europe, Australia and Canada organised by the UCI . Created by Hein Verbruggen, former president of the UCI, it comprises a number of 'ProTour' cycling teams, each of whom are required to compete in every round of the series...
did not participate in the race.
Stages
| Stage | Date | Route | Distance | Type | Winner | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 Aug | Granada Granada Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea... |
7 km |  |
Team time trial | ||
| 2 | 31 Aug | Granada to Jaén Jaén, Spain Jaén is a city in south-central Spain, the name is derived from the Arabic word Jayyan, . It is the capital of the province of Jaén. It is located in the autonomous community of Andalusia.... |
167 km |  |
Flat stage | ||
| 3 | 1 Sept | Jaén to Córdoba Córdoba, Spain -History:The first trace of human presence in the area are remains of a Neanderthal Man, dating to c. 32,000 BC. In the 8th century BC, during the ancient Tartessos period, a pre-urban settlement existed. The population gradually learned copper and silver metallurgy... |
168 km | |
Flat stage | ||
| 4 | 2 Sept | Córdoba to Puertollano Puertollano Puertollano is an industrial city in province of Ciudad Real, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It is situated on the AVE High Speed Train line linking Madrid and Seville . The city has a population of 51,842 .- Legend of the lie :... |
170 km | |
Flat stage | ||
| 5 | 3 Sept | Ciudad Real Ciudad Real Ciudad Real is a city in Castile-La Mancha, Spain, with a population of c. 74,000. It is the capital of the province of Ciudad Real. It has a stop on the AVE high-speed rail line and has begun to grow as a long-distance commuter suburb of Madrid, located 115 miles to the north. A high capacity... |
42 km | |
Individual time trial | ||
| 6 | 4 Sept | Ciudad Real to Toledo Toledo, Spain Toledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:... |
150 km | |
Flat stage | ||
| 5 Sept | Rest day | ||||||
| 7 | 6 Sept | Barbastro Barbastro Barbastro is a city in the Somontano county, province of Huesca, Spain... to Naturlandia-La Rabassa (Andorra Andorra Andorra , officially the Principality of Andorra , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, , is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of... ) |
223 km |  |
Mountain stage | ||
| 8 | 7 Sept | Escaldes-Engordany Escaldes-Engordany Escaldes-Engordany is one of the parishes of Andorra. The parish is composed of the areas of les Escaldes, Engordany, Els Vilars d'Engordany, Engolasters, and El Fener. As of 2005 it has a population of 16,918. Notable events include the town's annual jazz festival.... (Andorra) to Plá de Beret |
151 km | |
Mountain stage | ||
| 9 | 8 Sept | Vielha e Mijaran Vielha e Mijaran Vielha e Mijaran is a municipality in the comarca of the Val d'Aran in Catalonia, Spain. It was created in 1970 by the merger of the municipalities of Arròs e Vila, Betlan, Escunhau, Gausac, Vielha and Vilac: the former municipalities retain some privileges as "decentralised municipal entities" , as... to Sabiñánigo Sabiñánigo Sabiñánigo is a municipality located in the province of Huesca, Aragón, Spain, capital of the comarca of Alto Gállego... |
200 km |  |
Intermediate stage | ||
| 10 | 9 Sept | Sabiñánigo to Zaragoza Zaragoza Zaragoza , also called Saragossa in English, is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain... |
151 km | |
Flat stage | ||
| 11 | 10 Sept | Calahorra Calahorra Calahorra, , La Rioja, Spain is a municipality in the comarca of Rioja Baja, near the border with Navarre on the right bank of the Ebro. During ancient Roman times, Calahorra was a municipium known as Calagurris.-Location:... to Burgos Burgos Burgos is a city of northern Spain, historic capital of Castile. It is situated at the edge of the central plateau, with about 178,966 inhabitants in the city proper and another 20,000 in its suburbs. It is the capital of the province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León... |
178 km | |
Flat stage | ||
| 12 | 11 Sept | Burgos to Suances | 186 km | |
Intermediate stage | ||
| 12 Sept | Rest day | ||||||
| 13 | 13 Sept | San Vicente de la Barquera San Vicente de la Barquera San Vicente de la Barquera is a municipality of Cantabria in northern Spain. It had a population of 4,412 in 2002.-External links:** - Cantabria 102 Municipios... to Alto de El Angliru Alto de El Angliru Alto del Angliru is a steep mountain road in Asturias, near La Vega-Riosa, in northern Spain. It is one of the most demanding climbs in professional road bicycle racing... |
209 km | |
Mountain stage | ||
| 14 | 14 Sept | Oviedo Oviedo Oviedo is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. It is also the name of the municipality that contains the city.... to Fuentes de Invierno |
158 km | |
Mountain stage | ||
| 15 | 15 Sept | Cudillero Cudillero Cudillero is a small village and municipality in the Principality of Asturias, Spain. These days, Cudillero's main economic activities are related to tourism, but it is also known for its fishing ships. A legend says that it was founded by the Vikings. People from Cudillero speak Spanish and a... to Ponferrada Ponferrada Ponferrada is a city in the province of León, Castile and León, Spain. It lies on the Sil River, a tributary of the river Miño, in the El Bierzo valley, completely surrounded by mountains. It is the last major town along the French route of the Way of St. James before it reaches its destination... |
202 km | |
Mountain stage | ||
| 16 | 16 Sept | Ponferrada to Zamora Zamora, Spain Zamora is a city in Castile and León, Spain, the capital of the province of Zamora. It lies on a rocky hill in the northwest, near the frontier with Portugal and crossed by the Duero river, which is some 50 km downstream as it reaches the Portuguese frontier... |
186 km | |
Flat stage | ||
| 17 | 17 Sept | Zamora to Valladolid Valladolid Valladolid is a historic city and municipality in north-central Spain, situated at the confluence of the Pisuerga and Esgueva rivers, and located within three wine-making regions: Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Cigales... |
146 km | |
Flat stage | ||
| 18 | 18 Sept | Valladolid to Las Rozas | 167 km | |
Flat stage | ||
| 19 | 19 Sept | Las Rozas to Segovia Segovia Segovia is a city in Spain, the capital of Segovia Province in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is situated north of Madrid, 30 minutes by high speed train. The municipality counts some 55,500 inhabitants.-Etymology:... |
145 km | |
Mountain stage | ||
| 20 | 20 Sept | La Granja de San Ildefonso to Alto de Navacerrada | 17 km | |
Individual time trial | ||
| 21 | 21 Sept | San Sebastián de los Reyes San Sebastián de los Reyes San Sebastián de los Reyes is a municipality in the Community of Madrid in Spain. Founded in 1492, it is located 20 km north of Madrid. The city is twinned with Baunatal in Germany. It is geographically joined with neighboring Alcobendas and they share a common RENFE commuter line to Madrid Atocha... to Madrid Madrid Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan... |
102 km | |
Flat stage | ||
External link.
Riders' jersey progress table
In the 2008 Vuelta a España, four different jerseys were awarded. For the general classification, calculated by adding the finishing times of the stages per cyclist, the leader received a golden jersey. This classification is considered the most important of the Vuelta a España, and the winner of the general classification is considered the winner of the Vuelta.Additionally, there was also a points classification
Points classification
The points classification is a secondary award category in road bicycle racing. Points are given for high finishes and, in some cases, for winning intermediate sprints. The points classification is the top prize for many cycling sprinters and therefore is often known as the Sprint Classification;...
, which awarded a blue jersey. In the points classification, cyclists received points for finishing in the top 15 in a stage. The winner got 25 points, second place 20, third 16, fourth 14, fifth 12, sixth 10, and one point per place less down the line, to a single point for fifteenth. In addition, some points could be won in intermediate sprints.
There was also a mountains classification, which awarded a red jersey. In the mountains classifications, points were won by reaching the top of a mountain before other cyclists. Each climb was categorized, with most of the climbs being either first, second, third, or fourth category. There were also two "special category" climbs (equivalent to Hors Categorie
Hors Categorie
Hors catégorie is a French term used in cycle races to designate a climb that is "beyond categorization", an incredibly tough climb. Most climbs in cycling are designated from Category 1 to Category 4 , based on both steepness and length...
in the Tour de France), the stage finishes into Andorra and the Alto de El Angliru. "Special category" climbs paid 30 points for the first rider over the summit, then 25, 20, 16, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2 and 1. First category climbs paid 16 points for the leader, then 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2 and 1, second category climbs 10, 7, 5, 3, 2 and 1, and third category climbs 6, 4, 2 and 1.
Finally, there was the combination classification. This was calculated by adding the rankings in the general, points and mountains classifications; the cyclist with the lowest combined ranking was the leader in the combination classification, and received a white jersey.
There was also a classification for teams. In this classification, the times of the best three cyclists per stage were added, and the team with the lowest time was leader.
| Stage | Winner |  General ClassificationGeneral Classification The general classification in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races... |
 Points Classification |
 Mountains Classification |
 Combination Classification |
Team Classification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liquigas Liquigas Liquigas-Cannondale is an Italian professional road bicycle racing team in the UCI ProTour. The current title sponsor is Liquigas, a provider of liquified gas products in Italy. The second sponsor, Cannondale, is an American bicycle manufacturing company, whose sponsorship has led to a small... |
Filippo Pozzato Filippo Pozzato Filippo "Pippo" Pozzato is an Italian road racing cyclist with UCI ProTour Team Katusha.-Career:... |
none | none | none | |
| 2 | 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... |
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... |
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... |
Jesús Rosendo Jesús Rosendo Jesús Rosendo Prado is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI Professional Continental team Andalucía-Cajasur... |
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.... |
|
| 3 | 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... |
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... |
||||
| 4 | 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... |
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... |
Paolo Bettini Paolo Bettini Paolo Bettini is an Italian former champion road racing cyclist, and the coach of the Italian national cycling team. Considered the best classics specialist of his generation, and probably one of the strongest of all times, he won gold medals in the 2004 Athens Olympics road race and in the 2006... |
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| 5 | 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... |
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... |
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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| 6 | Paolo Bettini Paolo Bettini Paolo Bettini is an Italian former champion road racing cyclist, and the coach of the Italian national cycling team. Considered the best classics specialist of his generation, and probably one of the strongest of all times, he won gold medals in the 2004 Athens Olympics road race and in the 2006... |
Sylvain Chavanel Sylvain Chavanel Sylvain Chavanel Albira is a French professional road bicycle racer. His brother Sébastien Chavanel is also a cyclist.Chavanel started his professional career in 2000 with Jean-René Bernaudeau's team Bonjour, which became Brioches La Boulangère in 2003... |
Paolo Bettini Paolo Bettini Paolo Bettini is an Italian former champion road racing cyclist, and the coach of the Italian national cycling team. Considered the best classics specialist of his generation, and probably one of the strongest of all times, he won gold medals in the 2004 Athens Olympics road race and in the 2006... |
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| 7 | Alessandro Ballan Alessandro Ballan Alessandro Ballan is an Italian professional road bicycle racer for UCI Professional Continental team , and is a former world champion. Although he possesses a frame that is usually more associated with climbing, Ballan has established himself as a leading spring classics contender in recent years... |
Alessandro Ballan Alessandro Ballan Alessandro Ballan is an Italian professional road bicycle racer for UCI Professional Continental team , and is a former world champion. Although he possesses a frame that is usually more associated with climbing, Ballan has established himself as a leading spring classics contender in recent years... |
Alessandro Ballan Alessandro Ballan Alessandro Ballan is an Italian professional road bicycle racer for UCI Professional Continental team , and is a former world champion. Although he possesses a frame that is usually more associated with climbing, Ballan has established himself as a leading spring classics contender in recent years... |
Alessandro Ballan Alessandro Ballan Alessandro Ballan is an Italian professional road bicycle racer for UCI Professional Continental team , and is a former world champion. Although he possesses a frame that is usually more associated with climbing, Ballan has established himself as a leading spring classics contender in recent years... |
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| 8 | David Moncoutié David Moncoutié David Moncoutié is a French professional road racing cyclist with the French team Cofidis, with whom he turned professional in 1997. He is a climber, and won his first professional race in a mountain stage of Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré... |
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... |
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... |
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... |
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| 9 | Greg Van Avermaet Greg Van Avermaet Greg Van Avermaet is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer, currently riding for UCI ProTeam .- Palmarès :2006Greg Van Avermaet is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer, currently riding for UCI ProTeam .- Palmarès :2006Greg Van Avermaet is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer,... |
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.... |
David Moncoutié David Moncoutié David Moncoutié is a French professional road racing cyclist with the French team Cofidis, with whom he turned professional in 1997. He is a climber, and won his first professional race in a mountain stage of Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré... |
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| 10 | Sébastien Hinault Sébastien Hinault Sébastien Hinault is a French road racing cyclist. He debuted in 1997 with the French team , which later became Crédit Agricole, and has competed in the Tour de France five times. After Crédit Agricole disbanded in 2008, Hinault joined .He is not related to former cyclist Bernard Hinault.-Race... |
Greg Van Avermaet Greg Van Avermaet Greg Van Avermaet is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer, currently riding for UCI ProTeam .- Palmarès :2006Greg Van Avermaet is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer, currently riding for UCI ProTeam .- Palmarès :2006Greg Van Avermaet is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer,... |
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| 11 | 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... |
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| 12 | Paolo Bettini Paolo Bettini Paolo Bettini is an Italian former champion road racing cyclist, and the coach of the Italian national cycling team. Considered the best classics specialist of his generation, and probably one of the strongest of all times, he won gold medals in the 2004 Athens Olympics road race and in the 2006... |
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| 13 | 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... |
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... |
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| 14 | 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... |
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... |
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| 15 | David García David García (cyclist) David García Dapena is a retired Spanish professional road bicycle racer.During the 2010 Vuelta a España he tested positive for EPO. A later sample also tested positive for HES. The Spanish Cycling Federation subsequently banned him for 2 years, effective October 6, 2010, and declared his results... |
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| 16 | 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... |
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| 17 | Wouter Weylandt Wouter Weylandt Wouter Weylandt was a Belgian professional cyclist for UCI ProTeam and later for . His first major win was the 17th stage of the 2008 Vuelta a España. He also won the 3rd stage of the 2010 Giro d'Italia... |
Greg Van Avermaet Greg Van Avermaet Greg Van Avermaet is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer, currently riding for UCI ProTeam .- Palmarès :2006Greg Van Avermaet is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer, currently riding for UCI ProTeam .- Palmarès :2006Greg Van Avermaet is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer,... |
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| 18 | Imanol Erviti Imanol Erviti Imanol Erviti Ollo is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam .- Palmares :20042007- External links :... |
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| 19 | David Arroyo David Arroyo David Arroyo Durán is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer, riding on the UCI ProTeam . He is one of the best climbers on his team along with team leader Alejandro Valverde. After Valverde crashed on the first week of the 2006 Tour de France, Arroyo was made team leader, until Pereiro claimed... |
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| 20 | 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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| 21 | Matti Breschel Matti Breschel Matti Breschel is a Danish professional road bicycle racer who currently rides for UCI ProTeam .-Career:He got his breakthrough with small Danish Team PH, finishing 6th at the U/23 Cycling World Championship in Verona in 2004 where he helped fellow Dane Mads Christensen finish 3rd... |
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| Final | 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... |
Greg Van Avermaet Greg Van Avermaet Greg Van Avermaet is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer, currently riding for UCI ProTeam .- Palmarès :2006Greg Van Avermaet is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer, currently riding for UCI ProTeam .- Palmarès :2006Greg Van Avermaet is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer,... |
David Moncoutié David Moncoutié David Moncoutié is a French professional road racing cyclist with the French team Cofidis, with whom he turned professional in 1997. He is a climber, and won his first professional race in a mountain stage of Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré... |
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... |
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Jersey wearers when one rider is leading two or more competitions
If a cyclist leads two or more competitions at the end of a stage, he receives all those jerseys. In the next stage, he can only wear one jersey, and he wears the jersey representing leadership in the most important competition (golden first, then blue, then red, then white). The other jerseys that the cyclists owns are worn in the next stage by the second-place (or, if needed, third or fourth-place) rider in that classification.
- After stage 2, Alejandro ValverdeAlejandro ValverdeAlejandro 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...
received the golden jersey and the blue jersey, because he was leading both the general and the points classifications. In stage 3, he wore the golden jersey, and the blue jersey was worn by the second-place cyclist in the points classification, Davide RebellinDavide RebellinDavide Rebellin is an Italian road bicycle racer, currently riding for the Italian Miche-Guerciotti team. He served a 2-year suspension for testing positive for Mircera at the 2008 Olympic Games...
. - In stage 5 and 17, Tom BoonenTom BoonenTom 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...
wore the blue jersey. - In stage 8, Marc de MaarMarc de MaarMarc de Maar is a professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam .- Biography :At the age of 14, De Maar was ice skating in the winter and cycling in the summer. He had better results in cycling...
wore the red jersey. - In stages 8 and 14 through 21, Levi LeipheimerLevi LeipheimerLevi 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...
wore the white jersey. - In stage 15 and 16, Greg Van AvermaetGreg Van AvermaetGreg Van Avermaet is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer, currently riding for UCI ProTeam .- Palmarès :2006Greg Van Avermaet is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer, currently riding for UCI ProTeam .- Palmarès :2006Greg Van Avermaet is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer,...
wore the blue jersey.
General Classification
| |Team | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | + 46" | ||
| 3 | + 4' 12" | ||
| 4 | + 5' 19" | ||
| 5 | + 6' 00" | ||
| 6 | + 6' 50" | ||
| 7 | + 6' 55" | ||
| 8 | |
+ 10' 10" | |
| 9 | + 10' 57" | ||
| 10 | + 11' 56" | ||
Teams Classification
| |Team | |Time | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 241h 20' 38" | |
| 2 | + 39' 22" | |
| 3 | + 39' 35" | |
| 4 | + 42' 01" | |
| 5 | + 51' 31" | |
| 6 | + 1h 14' 51" | |
| 7 | + 1h 17' 22" | |
| 8 | + 1h 27' 42" | |
| 9 | + 1h 28' 56" | |
| 10 | + 1h 42' 42" |
King of the Mountains Classification
| |Team | Crédit Agricole Crédit Agricole (cycling team) Crédit Agricole was a French professional cycling team managed by Roger Legeay and sponsored by the French bank, Crédit Agricole, since 1997. Before 1997 the team was known as GAN. Since 2005, the team is one of the 20 that compete in the UCI ProTour. Crédit Agricole announced that they would... | 106 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | |
99 | |
| 4 | 89 | ||
| 5 | 65 | ||
| 6 | 56 | ||
| 7 | 51 | ||
| 8 | 48 | ||
| 9 | 46 | ||
| 10 | 43 | ||
Combination Classification
| |Team | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |Team | Crédit Agricole Crédit Agricole (cycling team) Crédit Agricole was a French professional cycling team managed by Roger Legeay and sponsored by the French bank, Crédit Agricole, since 1997. Before 1997 the team was known as GAN. Since 2005, the team is one of the 20 that compete in the UCI ProTour. Crédit Agricole announced that they would... | 68 | |
| 9 | 67 | ||
| 10 | |
65 | |