Tour De France 2006

[Ben Lauer]

Stage 9

The 169.5km ninth stage from Bordeaux to Dax is scheduled to start at 1.15pm. The road that hugs the coastline is pancake flat; there’s no hill to be found on the route that begins in the Girone department and concludes in Landes.
The conditions are warm and, at the start of the stage, relatively still.

- An attack in the early km of the following three riders gained an almost 8 minute lead before being brought back in with just 3.5 km to go.
1. Walter Beneteau (BTL)
2. Stephane Auge (COF)
3. Christian Knees (MRM)
- The Group claimed all three sprints in the stage for valuable points.

There was a very close finish today, but Oscar Freire holds off McEwen, Zabel, and Boonen for the stage win.

The distance you are seeing seperating them is about 5 cm.

There is no change in the overall standings.