Levi’s hat trick, Schleck’s stage as Amgen Tour ends

2009 AToC, stage 8: Leipheimer won his third straight Tour of California

Photo: Graham Watson

To win his third consecutive Amgen Tour of California, Levi Leipheimer needed every bit of help he received from his seven Astana teammates. That was emphasized on Sunday when 10 riders broke clear on the upper reaches of Palomar Mountain, and Leipheimer was the only Astana man who could follow the attacks. “But even though he was alone on Palomar,” said Astana team manager Johan Bruyneel, “I could see Levi was comfortable.”

Leipheimer was looking good despite being isolated. The split was caused by the Saxo Bank team, whose aggressive riding all day long was rewarded when Fränk Schleck won stage 8 in Escondido in an eventual sprint against his breakaway companion, Vincenzo Nibali of Liquigas.

“Yesterday in Pasadena I was so disappointed,” Schleck said about losing stage 7 after making a dashing attack on the Rose Bowl circuit. “It was such a tactical race there.”

Forty seconds after the Schleck-Nibali sprint in Escondido, which was thronged with tens of thousands of fans, George Hincapie of Columbia-Highroad rounded out the day’s podium by out-sprinting a 29-strong chase group. That group included all of the top men, including Leipheimer and three of his teammates, Lance Armstrong, Yaroslav Popovych and Chechu Rubiera.

After pulling the peloton for most of the past eight days, the Astana support men couldn’t follow the final attacks by the Garmin-Slipstream and Saxo Bank team on Palomar. Garmin’s Tom Danielson and Dave Zabriskie elevated the pace before Saxo’s Jens Voigt leapfrogged off an acceleration by his teammate Andy Schleck, who was pulling his brother. “Andy set a really fast pace. I was ready to knock him off his bike,” quipped stage winner Fränk Schleck.

Besides the three Saxo Bank men, two Garmins and Leipheimer, also in the Palomar break were two Rabobank riders, climber Robert Gesink and time trialist Stef Clement, along with Columbia’s Michael Rogers and Nibali. Voigt led the 10 men over the 5,123-foot peak ahead of Leipheimer and Gesink.

On the final slopes, the riders raced through a thick phalanx of fans, thousands of whom had camped out overnight. “It felt like the Alps in July,” Leipheimer said, “not California in February.”

2009 AToC, stage 8: The final jerseys: Gesink (Best Young), McCartney (Climber), Leipheimer (GC), Cavendish (Sprinter).

Photo: Casey B. Gibson

Zabriskie had his own take. “The crowds were tripping over each other at the top. I don’t think they knew what they were doing like they do in the Tour de France,” he said. “So I was trying to be careful not to hit them.”

The giant Palomar ascent is not especially steep, but by climbing for 13 miles, it tested every rider in the field. It was too much for some. Eight riders didn’t finish the stage, and another five didn’t start, including Tour de France champ Carlos Sastre and two-time Paris-Roubaix winner Tom Boonen. Just 84 riders finished the 806-mile tour, compared with 77 last year.

“The mountain was hard, a bit too hard for the last stage,” Rogers said, “and I think most of the riders agree with me.” Again, Zabriskie had a different view. “I’ve done Palomar many times,” he said. “We usually drive to the bottom and then ride straight up, so it was easier getting a warm-up before we got there.”

Once on the fast, non-technical descent, racing through a rocky, chaparral-like landscape, Nibali and Schleck began their brave 53-mile breakaway. They were helped when the pace slowed behind as Leipheimer, Zabriskie and Rogers waited for their main teammates to catch up with the front group.

Two of those who caught back, Rabobank’s Bauke Mollema and Rock Racing’s Glenn Chadwick, managed to join Nibali and Schleck; but they faded again on the 9-percent slopes of Cole Grade with 21 miles still to race. “Nibali really speeded up on that last climb,” Schleck said. “After that, it was pretty hard to hold off the chasers. I don’t like the flat roads so it was a big effort for me.”

2009 AToC, stage 8: Schleck won the final stage

Photo: Casey B. Gibson

Huge crowds

Although this final stage was one of the hardest the Amgen Tour has ever tackled, it didn’t change much, except for Nibali moving up from 10th to sixth overall. But it did set a new standard for spectators. “We had a milestone today that will resonate with this race,” race director Jim Birrell said. “In 25 years of organizing bike races, I’ve never seen the size of crowds we had today in the United States on any single day of racing.”

It was estimated that 300,000 watched Sunday’s racing, to push the race’s total number of spectators to a record 2 million for the nine days. A big reason for the massive interest in the race — both on the road and in the media — was summed up by two banners sitting side by side on the roadside in Escondido. They said: “Go Levi” and “Welcome Lance.”

Armstrong’s comeback has generated more crowd interest than anyone could have imagined, And it resonated with the riders. “I was very impressed with the event,” Armstrong said. “Everyone enjoys the race. The crowds were simply amazing. It was a tough final day, a great race, and it was good to be back in it. Hats off to the organizers, the state and the people for coming out. I’m excited to be back, but I don’t know if I’ll be back in 2010.”

The Texan’s thoughts were echoed by Aussie Michael Rogers. “The crowds were nothing short of amazing,” Rogers said. “They make the race more enjoyable for the riders, and make us race harder. And I’m stoked to finish third because the caliber of the field is like the Tour de France.”

Three for Levi

Rogers ended up in third, 45 seconds behind Leipheimer, while Zabriskie kept second place, at 36 seconds. The King of the Mountains title went to Saxo Bank’s Jason McCartney; Columbia’s Mark Cavendish was the points winner; and Gesink took the Best Young Rider award for the third time. But this year’s race will be remembered for Leipheimer’s hat trick.

2009 AToC, stage 8: Armstrong got gapped on Palomar, but quickly rejoined Leipheimer and helped chase.

Photo: Casey B. Gibson

“I’ve been trying to articulate the feelings I’ve got on taking this race three times,” Leipheimer said. “To win it once was huge, to win it twice I was a little bit lucky, and this is the sweetest victory of the three. I told Lance the other day that I don’t know how the hell he won seven Tours in a row. You can’t get second place because that’s losing.”

Leipheimer then complimented his Astana teammates. “We had the best team in the race,” he said. “We didn’t need a lot of communication between each other because we’ve all been doing this for so long. And it’s been a long hard road to get to this point. But to have a guy like Lance to back you up, it’s a lifelong dream for me. The team really had to work hard all week. They led, they sweat, and they cried.

“I need to pay these guys back. I’ll be working for Alberto (Contador) in Paris-Nice, riding for Lance in the Giro, and we’ll have our best team in the Tour.”

As for the key moments of his third victory in the fourth Amgen Tour, Leipheimer said, “I’ve dreamt many times when training in the winter about making a move like the one I made on Bonny Doon (on stage 2), when the conditions are horrendous and you go for it. And then there’s the half-hour that decides the whole race in the time trial at Solvang.”

Team manager Bruyneel praised Leipheimer and said the whole team enjoys riding for him. “It was a harder and more difficult victory than ever,” Bruyneel said. “But everybody knows Levi is going to be ready if he says he is going to be ready. He already had the fastest time trial position but he went back to the wind tunnel two times this winter. Levi always delivers when he says he’s gonna be there.”

Photo Gallery

Results

Results – Stage 8, 2009 Amgen Tour of California

1. Frank Schleck (Lux), Saxo Bank 3:48:39 (41.335kph),
2. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita), Liquigas, at 0:02
3. George Hincapie (USA), Columbia-High Road, at 0:40
4. Rory Sutherland (Aus), OUCH, Presented by Maxxis, at 0:40
5. Grischa Niermann (Ger), Rabobank, at 0:40
6. José Luis Rubiera (Spa), Astana, at 0:40
7. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr), Astana, at 0:40
8. Jens Voigt (Ger), Saxo Bank, at 0:40
9. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Astana, at 0:40
10. Hubert Dupont (Fra), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 0:40
11. David Zabriskie (USA), Garmin-Slipstream, at 0:40
12. Bauke Mollema (Ned), Rabobank, at 0:40
13. Valeriy Kobzarenko (Ukr), Type 1, at 0:40
14. Mathias Frank (Swi), BMC Racing, at 0:40
15. Glen Chadwick (NZl), Rock Racing, at 0:40
16. Michael Rogers (Aus), Columbia-High Road, at 0:40
17. Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel), Quick Step, at 0:40
18. Gustav Larsson (Swe), Saxo Bank, at 0:40
19. Jeremy Vennell (NZl), Bissell Pro Cycling, at 0:40
20. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe), Columbia-High Road, at 0:40
21. Robert Gesink (Ned), Rabobank, at 0:40
22. Jurgen van de Walle (Bel), Quick Step, at 0:40
23. Iñigo Cuesta (Spa), Cervélo TestTeam, at 0:40
24. Trent Lowe (Aus), Garmin-Slipstream, at 0:40
25. Andy Schleck (Lux), Saxo Bank, at 0:40
26. Oscar Sevilla (Spa), Rock Racing, at 0:40
27. Thomas Danielson (USA), Garmin-Slipstream, at 0:40
28. Enrique Gutierrez (Spa), Rock Racing, at 0:40
29. Floyd Landis (USA), OUCH, Presented by Maxxis, at 0:40
30. Addy Engels (Ned), Quick Step, at 0:40
31. Lance Armstrong (USA), Astana, at 0:40
32. Pieter Weening (Ned), Rabobank, at 3:54
33. Serge Pauwels (Bel), Cervélo TestTeam, at 8:41
34. Dominique Rollin (Can), Cervélo TestTeam, at 8:41
35. Will Routley (Can), Jelly Belly Cycling, at 8:41
36. Weert Kevin De (Bel), Quick Step, at 8:41
37. Martin Elmiger (Swi), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 8:41
38. Stef Clement (Ned), Rabobank, at 8:41
39. Christian Vande Velde (USA), Garmin-Slipstream, at 8:41
40. Stuart O’Grady (Aus), Saxo Bank, at 8:41
41. Tom Zirbel (USA), Bissell Pro Cycling, at 8:41
42. Ian McKissick (USA), BMC Racing, at 8:41
43. Christopher Horner (USA), Astana, at 8:41
44. Jason McCartney (USA), Saxo Bank, at 8:41
45. Steve Morabito (Swi), Astana, at 8:41
46. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 8:41
47. Brian Vandborg (Den), Liquigas, at 8:41
48. Chris Baldwin (USA), Rock Racing, at 8:41
49. Markus Zberg (Swi), BMC Racing, at 8:41
50. Mark Cavendish (GBr), Columbia-High Road, at 15:11
51. Michael Barry (Can), Columbia-High Road, at 15:11
52. Marco Velo (Ita), Quick Step, at 15:11
53. Kevin Hulsmans (Bel), Quick Step, at 15:11
54. Nick Reistad (USA), Jelly Belly Cycling, at 15:11
55. Steven Cozza (USA), Garmin-Slipstream, at 15:11
56. Bernard Van Ulden (USA), Jelly Belly Cycling, at 15:11
57. Karl Menzies (Aus), OUCH, Presented by Maxxis, at 15:11
58. Tyler Hamilton (USA), Rock Racing, at 15:11
59. Kiel Reijnen (USA), Jelly Belly Cycling, at 15:11
60. Timothy Johnson (USA), OUCH, Presented by Maxxis, at 15:11
61. Frank Pipp (USA), Bissell Pro Cycling, at 15:11
62. Tyler Farrar (USA), Garmin-Slipstream, at 15:11
63. Tyler Wren (USA), Colavita-Sutter Home, Presented by Cooking Light, at 15:11
64. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg), Colavita-Sutter Home, Presented by Cooking Light, at 15:11
65. Pedro Horrillo (Spa), Rabobank, at 15:11
66. Brett Lancaster (Aus), Cervélo TestTeam, at 15:11
67. Carlos Barredo (Spa), Quick Step, at 15:11
68. Bradley White (USA), OUCH, Presented by Maxxis, at 15:11
69. Alessandro Vanotti (Ita), Liquigas, at 15:11
70. Ben Day (Aus), Fly V Australia, at 15:11
71. Mauricio Ardila (Col), Rabobank, at 15:11
72. Matthew Wilson (Aus), Type 1, at 15:11
73. Matthew Crane (USA), Jelly Belly Cycling, at 15:11
74. Andy Guptill (USA), Colavita-Sutter Home, Presented by Cooking Light, at 15:11
75. Thomas Peterson (USA), Garmin-Slipstream, at 15:11
76. Hayden Roulston (NZl), Cervélo TestTeam
77. Davide Frattini (Ita), Colavita-Sutter Home, Presented by Cooking Light, at 15:11
78. Christopher Jones (USA), Type 1, at 15:11
79. Aaron Olson (USA), Colavita-Sutter Home, Presented by Cooking Light, at 15:11
80. Jeffry Louder (USA), BMC Racing, at 15:11
81. Christophe Riblon (Fra), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 15:11
82. Janez Brajkovic (Slo), Astana, at 15:11
83. Grégory Rast (Swi), Astana, at 15:11
84. Alexandre Moos (Swi), BMC Racing, at 15:11

Did not Finish<-H2>
Juan José Haedo (Arg), Saxo Bank
Adam Hansen (Aus), Columbia-High Road
Svein Tuft (Can), Garmin-Slipstream
Tom Boonen (Bel), Quick Step
Kjell Carlström (Fin), Liquigas
Daniel Oss (Ita), Liquigas
Carlos Sastre (Spa), Cervélo TestTeam
Thor Hushovd (Nor), Cervélo TestTeam
Cameron Evans (Can), OUCH, Presented by Maxxis
Jonathan Patrick McCarty (USA), OUCH, Presented by Maxxis
Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA), Bissell Pro Cycling
Robert Gunn (USA), Fly V Australia
Freddy Rodriguez (USA), Rock Racing

Final overall standings<-h2>
1. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Astana, at 31:28:21
2. David Zabriskie (USA), Garmin-Slipstream, at 0:36
3. Michael Rogers (Aus), Columbia-High Road, at 0:45
4. Jens Voigt (Ger), Saxo Bank, at 1:10
5. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe), Columbia-High Road, at 1:29
6. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita), Liquigas, at 1:37
7. Lance Armstrong (USA), Astana, at 1:46
8. Robert Gesink (Ned), Rabobank, at 1:54
9. Thomas Danielson (USA), Garmin-Slipstream, at 2:24
10. José Luis Rubiera (Spa), Astana, at 2:48
11. Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel), Quick Step, at 2:57
12. Frank Schleck (Lux), Saxo Bank, at 3:19
13. Oscar Sevilla (Spa), Rock Racing, at 3:37
14. Jurgen van de Walle (Bel), Quick Step, at 4:15
15. George Hincapie (USA), Columbia-High Road, at 4:19
16. Bauke Mollema (Ned), Rabobank, at 5:44
17. Grischa Niermann (Ger), Rabobank, at 6:08
18. Gustav Larsson (Swe), Saxo Bank, at 6:25
19. Iñigo Cuesta (Spa), Cervélo TestTeam, at 6:56
20. Enrique Gutierrez (Spa), Rock Racing, at 7:55
21. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr), Astana, at 8:16
22. Christopher Horner (USA), Astana, at 10:14
23. Floyd Landis (USA), OUCH, Presented by Maxxis, at 10:26
24. Hubert Dupont (Fra), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 10:47
25. Pieter Weening (Ned), Rabobank, at 11:09
26. Jeremy Vennell (NZl), Bissell Pro Cycling, at 12:22
27. Christian Vande Velde (USA), Garmin-Slipstream, at 13:02
28. Janez Brajkovic (Slo), Astana, at 16:30
29. Martin Elmiger (Swi), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 17:18
30. Weert Kevin De (Bel), Quick Step, at 17:57
31. Glen Chadwick (NZl), Rock Racing, at 18:44
32. Andy Schleck (Lux), Saxo Bank, at 19:12
33. Dominique Rollin (Can), Cervélo TestTeam, at 19:15
34. Rory Sutherland (Aus), OUCH, Presented by Maxxis, at 20:11
35. Hayden Roulston (NZl), Cervélo TestTeam, at 20:51
36. Tom Zirbel (USA), Bissell Pro Cycling, at 21:23
37. Carlos Barredo (Spa), Quick Step, at 21:46
38. Thomas Peterson (USA), Garmin-Slipstream, at 23:23
39. Valeriy Kobzarenko (Ukr), Type 1, at 23:46
40. Stuart O’Grady (Aus), Saxo Bank, at 23:56
41. Jason Mccartney (USA), Saxo Bank, at 24:18
42. Addy Engels (Ned), Quick Step, at 26:48
43. Frank Pipp (USA), Bissell Pro Cycling, at 26:56
44. Steven Cozza (USA), Garmin-Slipstream, at 27:35
45. Mathias Frank (Swi), BMC Racing, at 28:53
46. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 29:53
47. Ian McKissick (USA), BMC Racing, at 30:20
48. Markus Zberg (Swi), BMC Racing, at 30:57
49. Alexandre Moos (Swi), BMC Racing, at 35:02
50. Will Routley (Can), Jelly Belly Cycling, at 35:13
51. Steve Morabito (Swi), Astana, at 36:53
52. Brian Vandborg (Den), Liquigas, at 37:33
53. Trent Lowe (Aus), Garmin-Slipstream, at 37:42
54. Stef Clement (Ned), Rabobank, at 38:42
55. Serge Pauwels (Bel), Cervélo TestTeam, at 39:22
56. Chris Baldwin (USA), Rock Racing, at 40:15
57. Timothy Johnson (USA), OUCH, Presented by Maxxis, at 40:36
58. Grégory Rast (Swi), Astana, at 40:52
59. Mauricio Ardila (Col), Rabobank, at 42:24
60. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg), Colavita-Sutter Home, Presented by Cooking Light, at 42:25
61. Matthew Wilson (Aus), Type 1, at 42:51
62. Christopher Jones (USA), Type 1, at 43:34
63. Bradley White (USA), OUCH, Presented by Maxxis, at 43:48
64. Mark Cavendish (GBr), Columbia-High Road, at 46:29
65. Michael Barry (Can), Columbia-High Road, at 47:00
66. Brett Lancaster (Aus), Cervélo TestTeam, at 47:17
67. Pedro Horrillo (Spa), Rabobank, at 47:24
68. Nick Reistad (USA), Jelly Belly Cycling, at 47:32
69. Davide Frattini (Ita), Colavita-Sutter Home, Presented by Cooking Light, at 47:45
70. Marco Velo (Ita), Quick Step, at 47:48
71. Christophe Riblon (Fra), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 48:15
72. Tyler Farrar (USA), Garmin-Slipstream, at 48:17
73. Matthew Crane (USA), Jelly Belly Cycling, at 49:10
74. Kevin Hulsmans (Bel), Quick Step, at 49:21
75. Kiel Reijnen (USA), Jelly Belly Cycling, at 49:32
76. Ben Day (Aus), Fly V Australia, at 50:47
77. Jeffry Louder (USA), BMC Racing, at 51:13
78. Karl Menzies (Aus), OUCH, Presented by Maxxis, at 51:59
79. Tyler Wren (USA), Colavita-Sutter Home, Presented by Cooking Light, at 53:55
80. Alessandro Vanotti (Ita), Liquigas, at 56:29
81. Bernard Van Ulden (USA), Jelly Belly Cycling, at 1:00:35
82. Aaron Olson (USA), Colavita-Sutter Home, Presented by Cooking Light, at 1:01:23
83. Tyler Hamilton (USA), Rock Racing, at 1:03:56
84. Andy Guptill (USA), Colavita-Sutter Home, Presented by Cooking Light, at 1:09:46

Final overall points<-h2>
1. Mark Cavendish (GBr), Columbia-High Road, 36 points
2. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita), Liquigas, 22
3. Frank Schleck (Lux), Saxo Bank, 19
4. Pieter Weening (Ned), Rabobank, 18
5. Tyler Farrar (USA), Garmin-Slipstream, 16
6. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita), Ag2r La Mondiale, 15
7. Thomas Peterson (USA), Garmin-Slipstream, 15
8. Markus Zberg (Swi), BMC Racing, 15
9. Martin Elmiger (Swi), Ag2r La Mondiale, 15
10. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Astana, 14
11. George Hincapie (USA), Columbia-High Road, 14
12. Grischa Niermann (Ger), Rabobank, 13
13. Jurgen van de Walle (Bel), Quick Step, 12
14. Hayden Roulston (NZl), Cervélo TestTeam, 12
15. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg), Colavita-Sutter Home, Presented by Cooking Light, 12
16. Michael Rogers (Aus), Columbia-High Road, 11
17. Pedro Horrillo (Spa), Rabobank, 11
18. Christopher Horner (USA), Astana, 10
19. Carlos Barredo (Spa), Quick Step, 10
20. Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel), Quick Step, 9
21. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr), Astana, 9
22. Jason Mccartney (USA), Saxo Bank, 9
23. Oscar Sevilla (Spa), Rock Racing, 8
24. Janez Brajkovic (Slo), Astana, 7
25. Rory Sutherland (Aus), OUCH, Presented by Maxxis, 7
26. Lance Armstrong (USA), Astana, 6
27. Bauke Mollema (Ned), Rabobank, 6
28. Serge Pauwels (Bel), Cervélo TestTeam, 6
29. Tyler Hamilton (USA), Rock Racing, 6
30. José Luis Rubiera (Spa), Astana, 5
31. Brett Lancaster (Aus), Cervélo TestTeam, 5
32. Chris Baldwin (USA), Rock Racing, 5
33. Jeffry Louder (USA), BMC Racing, 5
34. Brian Vandborg (Den), Liquigas, 5
35. Thomas Danielson (USA), Garmin-Slipstream, 4
36. Addy Engels (Ned), Quick Step, 4
37. Valeriy Kobzarenko (Ukr), Type 1, 4
38. Timothy Johnson (USA), OUCH, Presented by Maxxis, 4
39. Jens Voigt (Ger), Saxo Bank, 3
40. Robert Gesink (Ned), Rabobank, 3
41. Bradley White (USA), OUCH, Presented by Maxxis, 3
42. Christian Vande Velde (USA), Garmin-Slipstream, 2
43. David Zabriskie (USA), Garmin-Slipstream, 1
44. Andy Schleck (Lux), Saxo Bank, 1
45. Karl Menzies (Aus), OUCH, Presented by Maxxis, 1
46. Hubert Dupont (Fra), Ag2r La Mondiale, 1
47. Mathias Frank (Swi), BMC Racing, 1

Final KOM standings<-h2>
1. Jason Mccartney (USA), Saxo Bank, 39 points
2. Tyler Hamilton (USA), Rock Racing, 22
3. Serge Pauwels (Bel), Cervélo TestTeam, 21
4. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Astana, 20
5. Bauke Mollema (Ned), Rabobank, 15
6. Jens Voigt (Ger), Saxo Bank, 12
7. Timothy Johnson (USA), OUCH, Presented by Maxxis, 10
8. Frank Schleck (Lux), Saxo Bank, 9
9. Steven Cozza (USA), Garmin – Slipstream, 9
10. Robert Gesink (Ned), Rabobank, 8
11. Andy Schleck (Lux), Saxo Bank, 8
12. Brian Vandborg (Den), Liquigas, 8
13. Bradley White (USA), OUCH, Presented by Maxxis, 8
14. Jeffry Louder (USA), BMC Racing, 8
15. Michael Rogers (Aus), Columbia-High Road, 7
16. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita), Liquigas, 7
17. José Luis Rubiera (Spa), Astana, 7
18. Christopher Horner (USA), Astana, 7
19. David Zabriskie (USA), Garmin-Slipstream, 6
20. Carlos Barredo (Spa), Quick Step, 6
21. Valeriy Kobzarenko (Ukr), Type 1, 6
22. Chris Baldwin (USA), Rock Racing, 6
23. Thomas Danielson (USA), Garmin-Slipstream, 5
24. Hayden Roulston (NZl), Cervélo TestTeam, 5
25. Thomas Peterson (USA), Garmin-Slipstream, 5
26. George Hincapie (USA), Columbia-High Road, 4
27. Pieter Weening (Ned), Rabobank, 3
28. Glen Chadwick (NZl), Rock Racing, 3
29. Lance Armstrong (USA), Astana, 2
30. Michael Barry (Can), Columbia-High Road, 2
31. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe), Columbia-High Road, 1
32. Stef Clement (Ned), Rabobank, 1

Final Best Young Rider<-H2>
1. Robert Gesink (Rabobank), 31:30:15
2. Kevin Seeldraeyers (Quick Step), at 1:03
3. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank), at 3:50
4. Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank), at 17:18
5. Thomas Peterson (Garmin-Slipstream), at 21:29
6. Steven Cozza (Garmin-Slipstream), at 25:41
7. Mathias Frank (BMC Racing ), 26:59
8. Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia-High Road), at 44:35
9. Matthew Crane (Jelly Belly Cycling ), at 47:16
10. Kiel Reijnen (Jelly Belly Cycling ), at 47:38

Final Team Standings<-h2>
1. Astana 94:28:50
2. Saxo Bank, at 1:40
3. Garmin-Slipstream, at 1:49
4. Columbia-High Road, at 2:46
5. Rabobank, at 4:45
6. Quick Step, at 7:18
7. Rock Racing, at 7:54
8. Cervelo TestTeam, at 34:55
9. Ag2r La Mondiale, at 36:22
10. OUCH, Presented by Maxxis, at 39:50
11. BMC Racing, at 40:22
12. Bissell Pro Cycling, at 44:29
13. Liquigas, at 51:20
14. Type 1, at 1:40:59
15. Jelly Belly Cycling, at 1:46:59
16. Colavita-Sutter Home, Presented by Cooking Light, at 1:52:37