In short
| Stage winner | Edvalo HAGEN |
 (yellow/white jersey) |
Nicholas ROCHE |
 (green/white jersey) |
Edvalo HAGEN |
 (red polka dotted jersey) |
Edvalo HAGEN |
All classifications
| Stage |
|---|
 |
• Individual time• Individual points • Best climber • Best team |
|
| Overall |
|
• Individual time• Individual points • Best climber • Best team |
Stage by stage
| 1 | Thursday 31 August | 130 km |
| Charleroi - Charleroi | ||
| 2 | Friday 1 September | 180.5 km |
| Charleroi - Mont-Saint-Martin | ||
| 3 | Saturday 2 September | 144.5 km |
| Mont-Saint-Martin - Moyeuvre-Grande | ||
| 4 | Sunday 3 September | 149 km |
| Yutz - Metz | ||
| 5 | Monday 4 September | 151 km |
| Metz - Nancy | ||
| 6 | Tuesday 5 September | 161.5 km |
| Nancy - La Bresse | ||
| 7 | Wednesday 6 September | 163 km |
| La Bresse - Ornans | ||
| 8 | Thursday 7 September | 143.5 km |
| Salins-Les-Bains - Saint-Genis-Pouilly | ||
| 9 | Friday 8 September | 24.5 km |
| Chamonix-Mont-Blanc - Finhaut | ||
| 10 | Saturday 9 September | 145.5 km |
| Saint-Nicolas-La-Chapelle - Marcinelle-en-Montagne | ||
| Total | 1393 km | |
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The race
Monday 4 September 2006| stage 5 | Metz - Nancy - 151 km |  |
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|---|
Hagen does it again
5th stage: Metz – Nancy (151 km). Official start at 12h57 for 121 riders. On the day: 6 climbs and 3 bonus sprints. A second victory for Hagen after a marathon break away started at kilometre 1. He captured the green and polka-dot jerseys while Roche kept the race leadership.
The film of the stage
Attacks started after just a few metres. Clément (BTL) was the first to take off, followed by Kolesnikov (ODB), Pineau (AGR), Hagen (NOR) and Suralev (UKR). They rapidly enjoyed a 25’’ advantage despite the slight reaction of Riblon (A2R) and Zubero (ORB). In the first climb, Suralev was dropped. At the top of the côte de Courcelles-Chaussy (km 13), the four riders confrimed their lead. Hagen made it first at the top ahead of Clément and Pineau while the pack that had caught up with the three other riders remained 45†adrift.
Moving closer to the intermediate sprint in Condé-Nothren (km 21), the advantage of the escapees increased. Clément made it first on the line ahead of Hagen and Kolesnikov, leaving the pack over a minute behind. The gap caried on growing at the top of the Côte de Zimming (45,5), where Hagen again captured the most mountain points ahead of Clément and Kolesnikov and the pack was then 3’ late. At the top of the Côte de Bambiderstroff (km 51), Hagen beat Clément, followed by Pineau and Kolesnikov, while the pack had a 5’40 time deficit.
The lead of the group of four was ever increasing, at kilometre 68, they enjoyed a 6’30 advantage over the pack that then seemed to increase its pace. At the exit of the feeding zone in Baronville (km 71), the main field had slightly moved closer (5’45). And indeed it carried on going that way, the pack under the influence of the Cofidis team closed in on the escapees. At the intermediate sprint in Delme (km 90), Clément followed by Hagen, Pineau and Kolesnikov only had a 4’30 lead over the hungry followers. But the four men carried on giving all they had and stayed put. The gap stabilized at 4’45†at kilometre 100.
Moving closer to the Côte de Moivrons, the Capec, Jartazi and Cofidis teams united their efforts to reduce the gap. At the top of the hill (km 109) the pack only had a 3’25 deficit on a group led by Hagen followed by Kolesnikov, Clément and Pineau. The gap carried on dropping at the the top of the côte de Buzion (km 118): 2’15 despite the efforts of Hagen who made it first at the top in front of Clément and Kolesnikov. It was during that climb that Pineau failed to remain in the leaders’ pace and made it to the top 30†behind. In the leading positions of the pack Delfosse took off, caught and dropped Pineau.
At the bonus sprint in Montenoy (km 128,5) Clément captured the most points ahead of Kolesnikov and Hagen. Delfosse was 2’25’ adrift while the pack including Pineau was 2’50 off the leading pace. The closer they got to the finish line, the faster the pack went. With 15 kilometres to go before the line, Hagen and his companions only had a 2’ lead and it went down to 1’20 at the top of the Côte des Amances (km 138,5) where Hagen made it first in front of Clément and Kolesnikov.
With ten kilometres to go, the pack was only 45†adrift. Under the influence of Hagen, the escapees hung on. They made it together under the 1km mark with a 25†advantage. In the last 200m, Hagen started his sprint and eventually beat Kolesnikov and Clément to claim his second stage win. The young Norwegian therefore captured the green and polka-dot jerseys. Roche however kept the yellow jersey.
The winner interview
"I must be lucky"
"I didn’t expect to win two stages on the Tour de l’Avenir. I must be a bit lucky. Yesterday, I was very very tired and I’m happy to have done well today although it was a dfficult stage. I’m not that bad in the mountains and tomorrow I will try to do my best."