In a time trial in the Tour de France the last cyclist in the overall rankings starts first and the first cyclist will start last. Usually the times will be bad in the beginning and progress to better times when the favorites start. Today's first starter Gaumont surprised everybody by riding a supurb time which could only be beaten by two cyclists in the field: Jan Ullrich of Germany and Abraham Olano of Spain. Olano was the fastest and took first place in this 63 km time trial stage. Bjarne Riis of Denmark had a very bad day.
Today there were some Tour favorites in the top 10 of the stage so it was easier to obtain points in the game. John Norman of Germany won this stage. Hans Dekker of The Netherlands became second and the third place was shared by three people: Femke Hanssen (The Netherlands), Poirot (France) and Rene Marechal (Canada).
Kees Winder from The Netherlands remains in the lead in the overall rankings but number two René Leerdam of the same country is only two points behind. Two Dutchmen follow at 9 points: Reint Jan Renes and Wim Hoefs. It is almost certain that one of these four will win the game since number five Rene Marechal is 33 points behind the leader. The final Tour stage of tomorrow will determine the result of the game.
More detailed stage report by Velonews. More detailed stage results by Nando SportServer.
1. 64 John Norman (Germany)
2. 58 Hans Dekker (The Netherlands)
3. 55 Femke Hanssen (The Netherlands)
55 Poirot (France)
55 Rene Marechal (Canada)
6. 54 Victor M. Francisco-Suarez (Spain)
7. 53 Chris Minns (Canada)
53 Jan Pedersen (Denmark)
53 Lantz Indergard (USA)
53 Martin Joest (Germany)
11. 52 Ans Dekker (The Netherlands)
52 Dennis Klein (The Netherlands)
52 Edmund Ward (UK)
52 Thomas Hulshof (The Netherlands)
15. 51 Daisy Rood-Bakker (The Netherlands)
51 Liz (UK)
17. 50 Eelco Mulder (The Netherlands)
50 Jowahir Vishal (Australia)
50 Lex Bergers (The Netherlands)
50 Roberts' Razende Rooie Rakkers (The Netherlands)
50 Ron Kesselmans (The Netherlands)
50 Xavier Oliva Suarez (Spain)
23. 49 Bertus ten Brinke (The Netherlands)
49 J. Gale (USA)
49 J. Kolderman (The Netherlands)
49 Kees van de Kolk (The Netherlands)
49 Reint Jan Renes (The Netherlands)
49 Wil Custers (The Netherlands)
29. 48 Andy Starsky (USA)
48 Andy Wright (USA)
48 Anita en Roel van Wijk (The Netherlands)
48 Edmond Huntjens (The Netherlands)
48 Frank Kornips (The Netherlands)
48 Hans van Nijnatten (The Netherlands)
48 Mark Legg (USA)
48 Tad Zgoda (USA)
37. 47 Albert Kuipers (The Netherlands; Borger)
47 Be Kuipers (The Netherlands; Borger)
47 C. Vroom (The Netherlands)
47 Gerard Creemers (The Netherlands)
47 Jennie Knuts (Sweden)
47 Principles (The Netherlands)
47 Robert van Lunteren (The Netherlands)
47 Teun de Jong (Canada)
45. 46 Aarts (The Netherlands)
46 David Wilkinson (UK)
46 George Ellis (Australia)
46 Jeff Stenquist (USA)
46 Kenneth Mason (USA)
46 Pasin (France)
46 Rich Visscher (USA)
46 Steve Roy (USA)
46 Thomas Munch (Denmark)
54. 45 Anders Oland (Denmark)
45 Bas Cordewener (The Netherlands)
45 Carlos Girao (Portugal)
45 Chris Paalvast (The Netherlands)
45 Evelien Koridon (The Netherlands)
45 Greg Hunt (USA)
45 Kevin Albertson (USA)
45 Leslie Radford (UK; England)
45 Mark McClure (USA)
45 Pim Ketelaar (The Netherlands)
45 Richard Braeken (Canada)
45 Tank's Target Mark III (UK)
66. 44 Brent Soderberg (USA)
44 Brett Glah (USA)
44 Erik TKS (Sweden)
44 Frank Achten (The Netherlands)
44 Fred Fitchett (USA)
44 Gabriella Ekstroem (Sweden)
44 Jeff Felice (USA)
44 Kleinjj (France)
44 Marius Rouwenhorst (The Netherlands)
44 Mark S. Mingelgreen (USA)
44 Mr. Skinner (UK)
44 René Sleijpen (The Netherlands)
44 Rick van der Veen (The Netherlands)
44 Roberto Reno' (Italy)
44 Steve Poteat (USA)
44 Tom De Boeck (Belgium)
44 Wim Hoefs (The Netherlands)
83. 43 Alex Bussulegas (Greece)
43 Bart van Roosmalen (The Netherlands)
43 Carina Arvidsson (Sweden)
43 Christiaan Muller (The Netherlands)
43 Christian Rudloff (UK; England)
43 Dick de Ruiter (The Netherlands)
43 Eibert Jongsma (The Netherlands)
43 Eric Baker (USA)
43 Erwin Munsterman (The Netherlands)
43 Fabian van den Barselaar (The Netherlands)
43 Frans Vos (The Netherlands)
43 Hans Lindfors (Sweden)
43 Kai Ludwig (Germany)
43 Maarten Van Segbroeck (Belgium)
43 Martin Bloch (Switzerland)
43 Maurice Hellenbrand (The Netherlands)
43 Mike Papini (USA)
43 Patric Owen-Meehan (UK; England)