Valiant Victory Valverde!

The Progress Report _ The 197.5km first stage, from Brest to Plumelec, began at 12.29pm. There were 180 riders at the sign on. The opening day boasted four category-four climbs: the cote de Ty-Jopic (at 29.5km), cote de Kerivarc’h (at 48.5km), the col de Toullaeron (at 85.5km) and the cote de Guenerve (at 146.5km). There were three intermediate sprints: in Plonevez-du-Fauo (at 62km), Gourin (90.5km), and Remungol (157km). The weather was cool with the temperature at the start 18 degrees Celsius but the roads were dry and the threat of rain never eventuated. There was a strong wind, with gusts up to 50km/h, blowing from the south west. _ _ Eight-Man Escape Group _ The first attack of the 2008 race was from Lilian Jegou (FDJ) at the 3km mark. He was joined by Perez (EUS), Voeckler (BTL), Schroder (MRM), De La Fuente (SDV), Arrieta (ALM), Lequatre (AGR), and Auge (COF). At 10km, their advantage was 2’20” and it grew rapidly. At the summit of the first climb, the advantage of the eight was 8’15”. This was the maximum gain of the escape. Voeckler attacked on the cote de Ty-Jopic but was outsprinted by Schroder at the top. An array of teams – primarily Liquigas, Credit Agricole, Rabobank and Caisse d’Epargne – led the peloton for most of the day. _ The average speed for the first hour was 43.1km/h. At the second climb the peloton was 6’55” behind. The advantage diminished relatively quickly and, by the third climb, the bunch was behind by 4’55”. The average speed for the second hour was 40.4km/h. _ _ First Retirement… _ In the feedzone (with 100km to go), Duclos-Lassalle (COF) crashed and fractured his left wrist. He was the first to abandon the 2008 Tour. _ _ The third hour was raced at an average of 42.5km/h. The advantage continued to drop slowly: with 60km to go 3’55”; 3’10 with 45km to go, etc. De La Fuente led Schroder and Voeckler over the final categorized climb meaning the German and Frenchman were equal on points, so the best placed in the stage was awarded the polka-dot jersey. There was a crash involving Popovych, Chavanel, Casper, F. Schleck and a number of others with about 55km to go in the stage. All quickly remounted and rejoined the peloton. At the third sprint, Lequatre, Perez and Jegou claimed the points and their group was just 2’05” ahead of the peloton. _ _ The attacks in the lead group began with 36km to go when the peloton was just 1’30” behind. With 30km to go Jegou and De La Fuente found themselves in the lead by 20”. The others were caught by the peloton with 26km to go, when the two leaders had an advantage of 1’25” but it would diminish… 35” with 15km to go; 15” 10km from the line; and all over with 7km to go. Soler (BAR) was involved in a crash. He would suffer the biggest losses of the day. _ _ Columbia dominated the head of the peloton in the closing kilometers and set Kirchen up to launch an attack on the final climb. He built a good lead but was caught by Valverde after the final turn. The Spanish champion outsprinted Philippe Gilbert on the Belgian’s 26th birthday to take the win, his second after victory at Courchevel in his Tour debut in 2005.