Daniele Bennati of Lampre-Caffita roared to his second win of this year’s Tour of Germany, toasting Disco’s Roger Hammond and FdJ’s Baden Cooke in a group sprint. Levi Leipheimer maintained his lead, and not one single rider lost time today, though former GC leader Bram Tankink said “auf Wiedersehen” and failed to start today’s stage. Jan Ullrich, who sits in 3rd, 50 seconds behind Leipheimer, expressed optimism that he could catch the American over the next few days, a sentiment that Leipheimer echoed. Should be an interesting finale.
In contract news, Jacob Piil, who was the most aggressive rider for most of the 2004 Tour (until he aggressived himself right into a knee injury) has renewed with CSC, while Dmitri Fofonov, late of Cofidis, responding to the fact that pretty much every other Kazakh in the pro peloton is switching teams next season, has announced that he will ride for Credit Agricole in 2006.
Finally today, a note for all those who though OLN’s Tour Coverage was good, but lacked Lance-specific content: now you can ride with Lance anytime. Experience the Texan’s trademark stiff and uneasy camera presence while you hammer away in a futile attempt to go faster than him. Yes, this ride will no doubt be an experience to remember.