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 Thursday, September 8th 2005 |
| Stage 8Aurillac > Aurillac - 159 km |
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| Credit Agricole triumph |
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 Wiggins claims the stage ahead of Raisin after a 135 kilometre breakaway. Bak keeps the yellow jersey. |
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 At 12h15, the red flag launched the riders for the day’s 8th stage, a 159,5 kilometre circuit around Aurillac including 7 climbs and 2 intermediate sprint. In the first kilometres, attacks took place but Berges (RAG) is the only riders able to manage a decent break. At the bottom of the col de la Croix de Cheules, the leader enjoyed a 1’ lead on the pack. In the climb, 8 riders counter attacked. At the top of the climb (km 14,5), Berges took first spot with a 20’’ advantage on Di Gregorio (FDJ) , Mederel (AUB), Raisin (C.A), Martin (GER), Bazayev (CAP), Del Nero (ORB) and Myrhe (NOR). The pack made it to the top with a 30” deficit. Eventually Bergès was caught back by Mederel, Wiggins, Raisin, Bazayev and Del Nero.
 In the climb up the col de Légal, Lesvenan (FRA) and Naibo (BJF) broke away from the main field. Behind, the pack broke in several groups and quite a few riders were dropped. At the top, Mederel made it first ahead of Raisin, Bazayev and Del Nero, the first chasing riders were then 25’’ behind while the main pack including the yellow jersey holder remained 1’05 adrift. In the lead, the front group split apart in the downhill portion: Berges, Mederel and Bazayev were dropped. At the top of the côte de Salers (km 43), Raisin clinched first position ahead of Del Nero and Wiggins. Bazayev and Mederel made it to the top 20’’ behind, while Lesvenan and Naibo were at 1’15. Berges was then 1’25 adrift while Dyachenko (CAP) led the pack, at 2’55.
Heading up the Col de Neronne, Berges, Lesvenan and Naibo caught Bazayev and Mederel. In the lead, Raisin again claimed the most mountain points (km 52) in front of Del Nero and Wiggins. The 5 chasing riders were then at 1’55. The pack carried on losing time and had to settle with a 6’10 deficit. The race started really taking shape and the gaps stabilised. At the top of the col d’Aulac (km 69), Raisin led ahead of Del Nero and Wiggins. The first chasers were at 3’, with Mederel leading in front of Lesvenan, Bazayev and Naibo. Bergès followed 3’25 behind. Heyboer (RB3) enjoyed a slim 10’’ lead on a pack then 6’50 adrift.
At the intermediate sprint staged in Trizac (km 78,5), Del Nero proved to be the fastest beating Wiggins and Raisin. The leading riders maintained a 3’30 advantage on the first followers. Meanwhile, Heyboer still on his own carried on his efforts and was then 6’30 behind while the pack remained 7’45 adrift. In Saint-Hippolyte (km 101,5), the front men worked perfectly together and increased their advance to 4’20. The pack led by the RAGT and CSC teams  started moving closer and eventually caught back Heyboer but still had a 6’25 deficit. In the second group Bazayev eased up the pace. Mederel and Bergès were the only to manage and stay in his wheel while Lesvenan and Naibo were dropped.
At the bottom of the climb up the col de Serre, the Crédit Agricole riders at the front of the race took off. Del Nero failed to follow. In the following group, Bazayev started chasing the leaders and dropped Mederel and Bergès. The pack, meanwhile, remained 5’25 adrift. At the top (km 116), Raisin led ahead of Wiggins, Del Nero made it with a 1’10 deficit. Behind the yellow jersey group including the first few chasing riders were 5’ behind led by Bazayev, Mederel, Kvasina (PER), Deignan (A2R) and Schleck (CSC).  Immediately after, Raisin again made it first at the top of the Pas de Peyrol (km 120) in front of Wiggins. Del Nero was then 2’ behind while Kvasina, Monfort (LAN), Deignan, Bazayev were at 4’45. Schleck, Bak and Kostyuk (JAR) remained at 5’.
In the downhill, the followers moved close rand caught Del Nero. The intermediate sprint of St Simon (km 151), went to Wiggins ahead of Raisin and Monfort. Under the last kilometre mark, the two Crédit Agricole men shook hands. Victory was to go to one of them. Eventually the stage was clinched by Wiggins. 3’ behind, Cummings (LAN) claimed the bunched sprint. Bak however keeps his leader’s yellow jersey. Raisin captured the mountain jersey while Del Nero remained the points classification leader. |
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| Stage winner |
WIGGINS Bradley |
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| Overall |
BAK Lars |
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| Points |
DEL NERO Jesus |
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| Best climber |
RAISIN Saul |
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| Best team |
RABOBANK |
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| Starters' list | Time schedules |
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| 1 |
Thursday, September 1st |
141 km |
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Argentré-du-Plessis > Argentré-du-Plessis |
| 2 |
Friday, September 2nd |
173 km |
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Argentré-du-Plessis >
Sainte-Scolasse-sur-Sarthe |
| 3 |
Saturday, September 3rd |
203 km |
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Sainte-Scolasse-sur-Sarthe > Sassay |
| 4 |
Sunday, September 4th |
151 km |
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Sassay > Chauvigny |
| 5 |
Monday, September 5th |
22 km |
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Leignes-sur-Fontaine >
Montmorillon |
C.L.M. ind |
| 6 |
Tuesday, September 6th |
144 km |
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Chauvigny > Guéret |
| 7 |
Wednesday, September 7th |
148 km |
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Guéret > Mauriac |
| 8 |
Thursday, September 8th |
159 km |
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Aurillac > Aurillac |
| 9 |
Friday, September 9th |
154 km |
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Maurs > Carmaux |
| 10 |
Saturday, September 10th |
146 km |
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Blaye-les-mines > Blaye-les-Mines |
| Total |
1 441 km |
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