Cycling - Tour De France 2008

Everybody who loves cycling cherishes every year the moment of the beginning of the Tour de France, the most famous and for the cyclists most significant cycle race in the world. The general director of the tour said at the outset: ”Cycling fans cherish the moment when the upcoming Tour’s itinerary is unveiled. It was already known that the 95th Tour de France would enjoy the blessing of setting off from Brittany, land of profound roots and fervent enthusiasm. After a most rocky season, I have only one wish: May the race once again take center stage!”

The first nine stages of the Tour de France 2008 are being done. The tour started on July 5th with a flat race of 197,5 kilometers. There will be 21 stages this year with a total distance of around 3.500 kilometers. The fragmentation will be as follows: 10 flat stages, 5 mountain stages, 4 medium mountain stages and 2 individual time-trial stages. The new addition this year is that for the first time since 1967 there was no prologue to begin the battle. Besides, there won’t be granted time bonuses at the end of the stages nor for the sprints during the stage.

The 95th Tour de France started in Brest, a harbor town on the north-west corner of France. Brest was already 28 times stage town. The first time was more than 100 years ago in 1906 and the last time so far was in 1974. From Brest the tour went 197,5 kilometers south to Plumelec. The city is famous due to her beautiful castles, churches and chapels, whereby many of them are from the 15th and 16th century. Plumelec has been only 3 times stage town.

Winner of the first stage was the 28-year-old Spaniard Alejandro Valverde. He was the first wearer of the yellow jersey of the Tour de France 2008. Second was the Belgian Philippe Gilbert ahead of Jerome Pineau from France. The first German cyclist was Stefan Schumacher from Team Gerolsteiner on place 20 followed by Erik Zabel who rides for Team Milram on place 22. Already on the first stage there was an accident; but despite his wrist injury the Colombian Mauricio Soler wants to start at the second stage. 

The second stage on July 6th, a flat race as well, started in Aurey and finished 164,5 kilometers later in Brieuc. The winner was the Norwegian Thor Hushovd who won against his opponents in the final sprint. The Swiss Fabian Cancellara was leading until 700 meters before the finishing line, but he was then held up by the pack. For Hushovd it is the sixth stage victory in a Tour de France. Our German favorites: Stefan Schumacher and Erik Zabel arrived together with the pack with an interval of zero seconds.  Valverde could seal the yellow shirt with a one second advantage over the Luxembourger Kim Kirchen.

At the fourth stage the German Schumacher won the individual time-trial in Cholet and was awarded for the first time in his career with the yellow jersey. One day later; on the flat race he could once more defend the jersey but on the next stage he was 500 meters ahead of the finish line but touched the back wheel of Kim Kirchen, therefore he arrived 32 seconds after the Luxembourger Kirchen. Since then he has not been replaced. Additionally to the yellow jersey he already won the green jersey as best sprinter six times at this tour. 

After all 9 stages with a total of 224 kilometers, Kim Kirchen is first with an advantage of 6 seconds over the Australian Cadel Evans.  Third is the US-American Christian Vandevelde with a lag of 44 seconds. Stefan Schumacher saves himself the fourth place of the overall standings with almost one minute behind Kim Kirchen. Erik Zabel comes in place 53 with a lag of 16 minutes.