Stage 9 - close but no cigar

uberwolf

unfortunate for todays escapee's caught so close to glory...



160 km McEwen wins ahead of Hushovd and O'Grady. The two escapees were caught 50 meters before the finish.

1. McEwen
2. Hushovd
3. O'Grady
4. Pineau
5. Zabel
6. Tombak
7. Boonen
8. Hondo
158 km Two kilometers to go, the peloton still chasing, but it is probably too late.
155 km Five kilometers to go. The peloton has regrouped, but still two riders in the lead.
154 km Fassa Bortolo attacks in the peloton. Flecha. Voigt was also involved in the crash, but is also on his way back to the peloton.
152 km Crash at the back of the peloton. Team CSC's Kurt-Asle Arvesen is in pain. But he is back on his bike.
150 km 10 kilometers to go.
148 km fdjeux.com now leading the peloton.
145 km 15 kilometers to go. The peloton is getting nearer.
140 km 20 kilometers to go for the leaders, who are getting very tired.
138 km Still Quick Step, Cofidis, Credit Agricole and Lotto-Domo leading the peloton.
135 km 25 kilometers to go. Now less than four minutes between the leaders and the peloton.
132 km Cofidis now also leading the peloton.
130 km 30 kilometers to go. The peloton still hopes to reel in the leaders.
120 km Jimmy Casper takes the last two bonus points at the final intermediate sprint.
111 km Quick Step, Credit Agricole and Lotto-Domo lead the peloton. Is it still possible to reel the two escapees in? Less than 50 kilometers to go.
105 km "We had Voigt, Peron, Bartoli and Arvesen in various break away attempts at the beginning of the stage, but we were not represented in the break that got away. It's obvious that the other teams are looking out for us after our numerous attacks last week," says Team CSC's sports director Kim Andersen.
102 km Quick Step is also helping at the front of the peloton, but it must be too late with under 60 kilometers to go and a gap of almost 10 minutes.
100 km Credit Agricole leads the peloton, as Kroon is caught.
98 km Karsten Kroon gives up, and is now just waiting for the peloton to catch up with him.
96 km The leaders have an advantage of more than 10 minutes on the peloton, and if they can avoid crashes, they will make it all the way to the finish.
90 km The two leaders are on the final categorized climb.
85 km Only 75 kilometers to go, and the leaders have almost nine minutes on the peloton. It looks like they could make it all the way.
82 km Kroon seems to be on a mission impossible. The three escapees have passed the second intermediate sprint.
71 km Ullrich is having trouble with his bike, but he is on his way back to the peloton.
70 km Karsten Kroon is not getting any closer to the leading duo.
61 km A rider from Rabobank attacks. Karsten Kroon is trying to bridge up to the leaders.
60 km The peloton is taking it easy at the moment.
54 km The two leaders increase their advantage on the peloton, which is now controlled by Brioches La Boulangére. Landaluze and Simeoni pass the first intermediate sprint. McEwen beats Hushovd in the sprint for the last two points.
52 km Brioches a Boulangére tries to control the peloton, but the two leaders are not increasing their advantage at the moment, due to numerous attacks.
48 km Brioches La Boulangére leads the peloton. But several riders are on the attack.
45 km Have a look at Jens Voigt's biometric readouts
44 km The two escapees increase their lead.
38 km Two riders have escaped; Inigo Landaluze of Euskaltel and Filippo Simeoni from Domina Vacanze.
37 km Jaan Kirsipuu has abandoned the race.
34 km At the summit of today's first categorized climb the peloton has regrouped. Virenque was the first rider at the summit ahead of Iban Mayo and Igor Galdeano.
31 km Two riders escape. Benoit Salmon (Credit Agricole) and Jean Cyril Robin (fdjeux.com). At the back of the peloton, Gerrit Glomser (Saeco) is in trouble.
30 km Five riders try to escape. But they are back in the peloton.
28 km The peloton is all together at the foot of today's first categorized mountain.
23 km Virenque is caught by the peloton.
19 km Richard Virenque on the attack. He is joined by Patrice Halgand, who is quickly caught by the peloton.
18 km The peloton has regrouped, Jaan Kirsipuu is in trouble at the back of the peloton.
16 km A trio with, among others, Team CSC's Andrea Peron, tries to escape. Several other riders join them.
15 km Another Euskaltel rider tries to get away, but he is immediately caught by the peloton.
12 km The peloton, led by Rabobank and Phonak, has regrouped.
9 km Unai Etxebarria of Euskaltel and Marcos Serrano from Liberty Seguros have escaped. They have been joined by Team CSC's Jens Voigt and two others.
5 km Two riders try to escape. But the peloton is all together again.
2 km Today's first break away with, among others, Team CSC's Jens Voigt and yellow jersey Thomas Voeckler. But they are soon caught by the peloton.
1 km Today's stage from Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat to Guéret has started.
0 km The weather bureau has forecast dry conditions for the entire stage. It's slightly overcast but no rain is expected.