Cycling - Tour de France 2008

Everybody who loves cycling cherishes every year the second of the dawning of the Tour de France, the most noted and for the cyclists most significant cycle pursuit in the world. The general director of the tour said at the outset: "Cycling fans cherish the mo when the upcoming Tour's itinerary is unveiled. It was already known that the 95th Tour de France would dote on 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 catch center stage!"

The fundamental nine stages of the Tour de France 2008 are life done. The tour started on The middle of summer 5th with a apartment lodgings relay of 197,5 kilometers. There testament be 21 stages this year with a complete distance of sorrounding 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 appendix this year is that for the cardinal 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 delightful castles, churches and chapels, whereby alive with of them are from the 15th and 16th century. Plumelec has been only 3 times folio town.

Winner of the first stage was the 28-year-old Spaniard Alejandro Valverde. He was the head wearer of the yellow sweater of the Tour de France 2008. Moment 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 Duo Milram on place 22. Already on the ahead sheet there was an accident; but in spite of his wrist injury the Colombian Mauricio Soler wants to start at the second stage.

The second period on July 6th, a flat race as well, started in Aurey and finished 164,5 kilometres later in Brieuc. The winner was the Norwegian Thor Hushovd who won against his opponents in the ending sprint. The Swiss Fabian Cancellara was leading until 700 meters before the finishing line, on the other hand he was then held up by the pack. For Hushovd it is the sixth chapter victory in a Tour de France. Our German favorites: Stefan Schumacher and Erik Zabel arrived together with the pack with an room of nobody seconds. Valverde could seal the treacherous shirt with a one second work over the Luxembourger Kim Kirchen.

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

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

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