A short, rolling stage, with two Cat 3s, the last about 35 Km from the finish.

Pasamonte had an escape of over 100 Km, which ended at about Km 136 when he was passed by Noval. He was reabsorbed quickly, and it was a group run to the end.

Just prior to the second Cat 3 summit there was a crash starting about ten back in the peloton. Heras had a cut left knee, but restarted after being patched up by the medical car. Not so Piil, who went off in an ambulance. Not sure of his injuries, but it took a while to get him up, on a stretcher, and into the ambulance. It passed the peloton a few Km before the end with siren wailing.

Stage was Petacchi, Zabel, Zanotti, and Boonen. Overall stays Menchov, Heras +47", and Mancebo +1'53".