In short
| Stage winner | José Alberto MARTINEZ |
 (yellow jersey) |
Ivan BASSO |
 (green jersey) |
Ivan BASSO |
 (red polka dot jersey) |
David LOPEZ GARCIA |
 (white jersey) |
Andriy GRIVKO |
Starters' list | Time schedules
All classifications
| Stage |
|---|
 |
• Individual time• Individual points • Best climber • Best young • Best team |
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| Overall |
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• Individual time• Individual points • Best climber • Best young • Best team |
Stage by stage
| 1 | Saturday 25 March | 192 km |
| Sedan > Charleville-Mezieres | ||
| 2 | Sunday 26 March | 101 km |
| Les Vieilles Forges (Les Mazures) > Montherme | ||
| 3 | Sunday 26 March | 8.3 km |
| Charleville-Mezieres > Charleville-Mezieres | ||
| Total | 301.3 km | |
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The race
Sunday 26 March 2006| stage 3 | Charleville-Mezieres > Charleville-Mezieres - 8.3 km |  |
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First triumph for Basso
After clinching the second stage this morning, Ivan Basso confirmed he was at the height of expectations by winning the overall event. The Italian captures his first victory this season and proves that he is already in shape early in the year for his first kilometre on French soil. Second of last year’s Tour de France, the CSC rider’s main goal will come later this year with the Giro d’Italia in May and the Tour in July, but made the best of his strong CSC team and his tactical skills on the three stages of the event. Winner of the morning hill race, Basso impressed on the final 8.3 km time-trial around the city of Charleville-Mézières. The 28-year-old rider finished second on the afternoon, only beaten by José-Alberto Martinez (AGR), already a winner of the overall event back in 2002.
The film of the stage
Kashechkin hits hard early
Usually, the time-trial stages offer a succession of leaders before a rider clocks a reference time. Today the drama stopped rapidly when Andreï Kashechkin (Kaz – LSW), started his effort in sixth position. Second of the Paris-Nice prologue just a few weeks ago, Kashechkin established the provisional best time on the line in 10’18. With an encouraging time at the only check point on the course (km 3.6) Contador (LSW) looked to be in position to capture the stage win and beat his team mate but failed for only 4”. Jens Voigt, a three-time winner of the Criterium time-trial also looked in shape halfway through before missing out on the best time at that moment for 1”.
Martinez, not that much of a surprise
Despite having won the overall event four long years, Alberto Martinez still surprised everyone but proved he was a specialist on this kind of course. Second in 2002 of the time-trial stage, the Agritubel rider clocked a winning time of 10’08, some 10” faster than Kashechkin. Among the last ten riders to take off, Andrei Grivko impressed but remained 4” adrift. His effort gave him 3rd position on the day as well as third spot overall.
Basso 2’’ adrift
The final battle between Erik Dekker and Ivan Basso, only 11” apart in the overall didn’t really take place in the streets of Charleville-Mézières. The decision seemed to have occurred during the morning stage. On the finish line, Dekker finished 18” behind the day’s winner. Ivan Basso did a lot better: 2” adrift and conquered overall success.
The winner interview
Ivan Basso (ITA – CSC)
Satisfied with your shape so early in the season?
I know that I’m in good shape and it’s very important for my preparation before the Giro and the Tour de France. But I believe that I’m not quite ready enough to win the Giro. But it’s important to have won today.
It looked to be a perfect race for you but you still had to battle hard against Dekker?
Dekker is a great rider, a great champion and the 11” gap between us wasn’t that much before the time-trial. I managed a very good race this afternoon and I’m rather satisfied. This morning I asked my team mates to ride hard for me and I claimed the stage. I’m globally very satisfied.
Your main goals remain the Giro and Tour?
I believe that the Giro and the Tour are very tough goals. I first want t focus on the Giro. I’ll start thinking of the Tour on the 29th of June.
The newsflashes
Martinez wins stage, Basso captures overall victory
Best time for Martinez
Current Top 5
2. Voigt, at 1’’
3. Contador, at 4’’
4. Menchov, at 11’’
5. Ziegler, at 12’’
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