Stage Nine Summary

The 171km stage from Gerardmer to Mulhouse began at 12.11pm. There were 180 riders at the sign on. It was 19 degrees Celsius in the air and 22 degrees at road level. _ The ninth stage featured six climbs – the cat-3 Col de Grosse Pierre (at 6.5km), the cat-3 Col des Feignes (at 22km), the cat-3 Col de Bramont (at 32.5km), the cat-2 climb to Le Grand Ballon (at 64km), the cat-3 Col de Bussang (at 98km) and the first cat-1 ascent of the 2005 Tour, Le Ballon d’Alsace (at 115km). _ There were also three intermediate sprints in Husseren-Wesserling (at 87.5km), Oberbruck (at 131km) and Sentheim (at 143km). _ _ Rasmussen Adds To His Mountains Points Tally _ Before the first climb, there was a crash involving Eisel (FDJ), Contador and Gonzalez de Galdeano (LSW). Gonzalez de Galdeano abandoned because of the injuries he sustained. The first attack of the stage came from Grivko at the 3km mark. Rasmussen (RAB) quickly reacted and raced into the lead. He collected first-place the points at the first summit (the minor places went to: Botero, Boogerd and Garzelli). Zabriskie also abandoned on the first climb. On the descent Ullrich crashed. He sustained an injury to his left knee. Four team-mates waited for him and towed him back to the peloton. Cioni chased down Rasmussen and caught him at the 13km mark. The points for the 2nd climb were won by: 1. Rasmussen 4pts; 2. Cioni 3pts; 3. Moreau 2pts – at 2’05”; 4. Zandio 1pt. The two leaders were chased by a group of six – Moreau (C.A), Zandio (IBA), Moos (PHO), Vicioso (LSW), Landaluze (EUS) and Voigt (CSC). The peloton was at 3’10” and led by the Discovery Channel team. _ At the third climb, Rasmussen claimed four points for 1st place. Cioni collected 3pts. Moreau led the group of six chasers over the third summit 2’06” behind the stage leaders. Zberg (GST) was in ninth place at 3’10”. The peloton was behind by 4’25” at the 32.5km mark. The average speed for the first hour was 41.4km/h. _ At the start of the 4th climb, Rasmussen and Cioni led Moreau’s group by 2’37”, Zberg by 3’50” and the peloton by 5’50”. Zberg was caught by the peloton after 54km. There were no attacks at the head of the peloton on Le Grand Ballon. The points were won by: 1. Rasmussen 10pts; 2. Cioni 9pts; 3. Moreau 8pts – at 2’20”; 4. Landaluze 7pts; 5. Voigt 6pts; 6. Moos 5pts. The peloton was behind by 7’50”. _ The points for the 1st intermediate sprint were won by: 1. Cioni 6pts; 2. Rasmussen 4pts; 3. Voigt 2pts – at 2’20”. The average speed for the 2nd hour was 39.6km/h. At the 95km mark, Rasmussen attacked Cioni. At the Col de Bussang summit, Rasmussen claimed 1st place. Cioni was 2nd at 1’05”; Moreau was 3rd at 3’15”. The peloton was behind by 9’35”. _ _ Ballon d’Alsace _ Moreau, Voigt and Viciosi attacked the six-man chase group by on the 6th climb. Vicioso was dropped with about 5km to climb. Six Discovery Channel riders led the peloton. At the top the points were won by: 1. Rasmussen (RAB) 30pts; 2. Moreau 26pts - 4’20"; Voigt 20pts; 4. Vicioso 18pts - at 5’05"; 5. Cioni 16pts - 5’12"; 6. Moos 14pts - 5’30"; 7. Zandio 12pts - 5’35"; 8. Landaluze 10pts - 6’02". The peloton was still led by the Discovery Channel team but it was 9’35” behind Rasmussen. _ _ Voigt Chases The Yellow Jersey _ Rasmussen claimed 1st place points at the 2nd intermediate sprint he was 3’45” ahead of Voigt and Moreau with 40km to go in the stage. The peloton reached the site of the sprint in Oberbruck with a deficit to Rasmussen of 8’45”. At the 3rd sprint, the points were won by: 1. Rasmussen 6pts; 2. Voigt 4pts – at 4’10”; 3. Moreau 2pts. Voigt punctured with 24km to go. He quickly caught up with Moreau. With 20km to go, Rasmussen led Voigt and Moreau by 4’00” and the peloton by 7’50”. All the other earlier escapees returned to the peloton with 22km to go. With 15km to go, Rasmussen led Voigt and Moreau by 4’20” and the peloton by 7’50”. _ _ Rasmussen Wins After An Epic Escape _ Mickael Rasmussen raced with conviction from the moment he escaped the peloton in the 4th kilometre. Although Moreau and Voigt tried to reel him in they couldn’t stop the Rabobank rider from winning his first stage of the Tour de France. The former MTB world champion won the stage by 3’04”. _ _ Jens Voigt finished the stage in third place and inherited the yellow jersey by finishing 3’00” ahead of the peloton. (Armstrong was 28th in the stage and slipped to third overall 2’18” behind Voigt).