WEATHER: Sunny in Spain at departure, but uncertain weather in the French Pyréenés, alternating between sun and cloud & mist, but no rain forecast.

Headwind from north & northwest as far as l'Aubisque--thus discouraging early escape initiatives. Becomes more favorable near end.

Oscar Periero takes lead on the Col de Portalet in front of Haurqch & Guidi. They're joined by 6 others.

At 73 km from finish 9 in lead group, before difficult Aubisque climb.

Franck Van den Broucke abandons.

9 in lead group, none considered great climbers or imminent threat to general standings.

Felix Cardenas leaves the peloton, to boost his mountains points.

Rubiera falls behind peloton, having difficulties.

Caredenas attacks successfully.

Galdeano & Nozal of Once lead peloton.

Nozal attempts to hod off attack of Perez, who is folloed by Beltran.

Heras joins Perez in lead group, including Valverde, Aitor Osa & Pereiro.

Zuelle drops back from peloton, joined by Virenque & Casero.

Perez-Heras group 34" up on Nozal & Galdeano--lead increases to 40".

Pereiro falls back from lead group.

Heras leads group to 55" advantage heading to summit of l'Aubisque.

D. Etxebarria attacks in his turn, followed by Euskaltel teamate Gorka Gonzalez.

Fog & Mist heavy near l'Aubisque summit.

Heras & group, now including Cardenas, leads Nozal & Galdeano peloton by 1'07".

Cardenas falls on descent, but recovers & rejoins lead group.

In the Soulor, Aitor Gonzalez launches escape, but is retaken by Nozal & Galdeano.

Lead group has 58" lead on Nozal Galdeano group, 21 strong, now including Mancebo & Beltran.

During descent, Heras group sees lead reduced to 52", with 35km remaining.

Ahead lies the valley of Gazost, then the last difficult climb to the finish line (Cauterets).

Heras & group possess only 20" advantage.

Heras group retaken in the descent, except for Rasmussen & Aitor Osa, henceforth alone in lead group.

Osa has capacities as team leader for Ibanesto (12th overall),while Rasmussen is ex VTT World Champion.

The 2 extend lead to 1'20".

Rasmussen (Rabobank) drops Oso and heads alone toward Cauterets, where hi faces extreme gradients.

Perez, Beltran & Nozal qttqck in their turn, but Nozal fades at 10km from finish after expending great efforts to folloow Perez & Beltran.

Sevilla attacks in his turn, & is eventually rejoined by the peloton.

Beltran becoming strong menace to Nozal & his Gold Jersey.

Rasmussen arrives at Cauterets, flat for 800 meters followed by a very difficult 10 degree gradient. He has about 1 minute on Beltran & Co.

Van de Wouver manages brief escape, & Ikar Flores a briefer one.

Cardenas attacks anew, to prevent Perez from gaining too many mountain points.

2km left for Rasmussen. Onai Osa escapes from peloton.

Heras stays with Galdeano in group of 10 riders, which is joined by Belli.

Cardenas joins Beltran & Perez at the "Flamme Rouge" just ahead of Osa.

Rasmussen hits finish with a 55" advance on Cardenas, who is 2nd.

Beltran crosses 59" down for 3rd.

Nozal saves his jersey with a 2'45" deficit to leave him safely (for now) 55" ahead of Beltran in general standings.

Frigo mounts a furious assault to finish 6th just behind Osa.


Stage classification

1 - RASMUSSEN
2 - CARDENAS à 55"
3 - BELTRAN à 59"
4 - PEREZ à 1' 08"
5 - OSA unai 1' 10"
6 - FRIGO
7 - MANCEBO

General classification

1 - NOZAL
2 - BELTRAN à 55"
3 - GLEZ GALDEANO 1' 21"
4 - FRIGO à 3' 07"
5 - HERAS à 3' 18"
6 - MANCEBO à 3' 40"
7 - Aitor GONZALEZ à 4'
8 - VALVERDE à 4' 03"
9 - RASMUSSEN à 4' 24"

Mountains

1 - CARDENAS, Felix 86
2 - PEREZ, Luis 58
3 - RASMUSSEN, Michael 33
4 - HORRACH, Joan 23
5 - NOZAL, Isidro 20
6 - HERAS, Roberto 20
7 - OSA, Aitor 18

Points

1 - PETACCHI, Alessandro 50
2 - NOZAL, Isidro 47
3 - GLEZ. GALDEANO, Igor ESP ONE 45
4 - PEREZ, Luis ESP COF 43
5 - ZABEL, Erik GER TEL 42
6 - ETXEBARRIA, David ESP EUS 40
7 - DEAN, Julian NZL CSC 37
8 - CARDENAS, Felix COL L2C 37
9 - BELTRAN, Manuel ESP USP 34

Combined

1 - NOZAL, Isidro 8
2 - PEREZ, Luis 17
3 - RASMUSSEN, Michael 22
4 - BELTRAN, Manuel 27
5 - CARDENAS, Felix 27
6 - VALVERDE, Alejandro 31
7 - GLEZ. GALDEANO, Igor 38

Teams

1 - ONCE - Eroski 60:31:27
2 - IBANESTO.COM a 7:07
3 - EUSKALTEL - Euskadi a 7:16
4 - KELME - Costa Blanca a 10:57
5 - COFIDIS, le credit par telephone a 11:37