the peleton down hill stage finnish from L"alpe d"Heuz

i would like to thank the us postal team for a great effort on this stage,knowing what to do once rabobank had made a break away and didnt look like stopping,must of put them in a difficult position,but a brave desciesion was made to close the gap,they could of let rabobank burn themselves out,but at great effort and risk to themselves ,they set off after them.

rabobank was gutted when they closed the gap to the line blame was thrown out at all and any in firing range , a in house inquiry was held by the race director,us postal being one of the best tour teams put together showed their true sporting greatness by getting their man to the line for the sprint finnish.

remembering that they d just done 3 mountain stages prior to this,rabobank lost the stage,but safely got to paris,a new training schedule and fitness regieme as been adopted by them and future stages wins are hoped for.

one final word - thank you to the water carrier