THE RACE LIVE

The yellow jersey has returned to the CSC team after the ninth stage of the 2005 Tour. The new top 10 is:
1. Jens Voigt (GER) CSC 1,493.5km in 32h18’23" (46.22km/h)
2. Christophe Moreau (FRA) C.A at 1’50"
3. Lance Armstrong (USA) DSC at 2’18"
4. Mickael Rasmussen (DEN) RAB at 2’43"
5. Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ) TMO at 3’20"
6. Bobby Julich (USA) CSC at 3’25"
7. Ivan Basso (ITA) CSC at 3’44"
8. Jan Ullrich (GER) TMO at 3’54"
9. Carlos Sastre (ESP) CSC 3’54"
10. George Hincapie (USA) DSC 4’05"

Jens Voigt’s third place finish was enough to elevate him from 2nd to first overall. He now leads Christophe Moreau by 1’50" and Lance Armstrong by 2’18".
The German is the second rider from the CSC team to wear the leader’s jersey at the Tour de France.

The top 10 in stage nine of the 2005 Tour de France is:
1. Mickael Rasmussen (DEN) RAB - 171km in 4h08’20" (41.315km/h)
2. Christophe Moreau (FRA) C.A at 3’04"
3. Jens Voigt (GER) CSC at 3’04"
4. Stuart O’Grady (AUS) COF at 6’04"
5. Philippe Gilbert (BEL) FDJ at same time
6. Antony Geslin (FRA) BTL at same time
7. Sebastian Lang (GER) GST at same time
8. Laurent Brochard (FRA) BTL at same time
9. Jerome Pineau (FRA) BTL at same time
10. Gerrit Glomser (AUT) LAM at same time

The peloton was led home by Stuart O’Grady and Brad McGee. The main pack was about 4’15" behind the stage winner.

The peloton has arrived in the final kilometer. The sprint for fourth place is being controlled by the Cofidis and Liquigas teams.

Rasmussen covered the 171km course in 4h08’20" - an average speed of 41.315km/h.

Christophe Moreau led Jens Voigt over the line for second place about 3’30" behind Rasmussen.

Moreau and Voigt continue to share the workload in the race for second place. They are less than 1km from the finish of stage nine. Right now Moreau is leading. Voigt is likely to end the stage wiht a special reward: the yellow jersey.

Mickael Rasmussen has claimed the victory in stage nine. He escaped the peloton at kilometer four of today’s 171km stage and won every climb on the course. This is his first stage win in the Tour de France and Rabobank’s second successive victory in 2005.

Rasmussen is now less than 1,000m from the finish of stage nine. He rode with Dario Cioni for 82km but has been on his own for the last 75km of the stage.

Voigt and Moreau are 3’35" behind the stage leader. The yellow jersey is likely to go to Jens Voigt but Rasmussen has a great reward for his efforts today... he can start to celebrate his first stage victory in the Tour de France.

Rasmussen is now 3km from the end of the 171km ninth stage. He is going to claim the victory after having been on the attack since the 4km mark.

The former MTB world champion (from 1999), Mickael Rasmussen, began his road career in 2001 with the CSC team. He has been with Rabobank since 2003. This will be his first stage victory in the Tour de France.

Unless he falls off his bike in the last 5km, Mickael Rasmussen is going to win the ninth stage. He has a lead of about 4’20" on the riders in second and third place (Voigt and Moreau).
The peloton is 7’50" behind the King of the Mountains.

Jens Voigt is currently 3’30" ahead of the yellow jersey’s peloton. The German began the stage in second place overall, just 1’00" behind Armstrong. He has worn the yellow jersey in the Tour de France before. It was for one day back in 2001 when he was still a member of the Credit Agricole team.

The peloton is 7’50" behind the stage leader as it passes under the 15km to go banner.

Mickael Rasmussen is 9km from the finish of the ninth stage. He was first at the summit of every climb today and appears likely to win the stage. He has also just been voted the Most Aggressive Rider in the stage.

Rasmussen is 10km from the finish of the stage. He began his attack at the 4km mark. He was joined by Dario Cioni after 13km of racing but went ahead on his own on the fifth climb of the stage. He is currently 4’20" ahead of Voigt and Moreau.

There are now just three riders ahead of the peloton which is 20km from the finish.
Rasmussen leads Voigt and Moreau by 3’38" and the peloton by 7’50".

The peloton is currently 8’05" behind Rasmussen. There are now just three riders ahead of this group. The five riders who were in an early escape today have returned to the peloton.

Jens Voigt is the virtual leader of the Tour de France. The German was in 2nd overall at the start of the stage 1’00" behind Armstrong. He has acquired time bonuses during stage nine. At the moment he is 4’05" behind Rasmussen (who began the stage in 68th place, 7’05" behind Armstrong).

After a recent puncture, Voigt has caught up with Moreau (at the 20km mark). These two are 4’05" behind Rasmussen.

Three riders from the Cofidis team have come to the front of the peloton.

Rous who crashed recently is now back on his bike and racing to try and catch the peloton.

Jens Voigt has punctured. He has lost contact with his escape companion Moreau.

Didier Rous has crashed at the back of the peloton. He appears to have struck a traffic island. He is still lying on the road and is in considerable pain.

The stage leader is now 22km from the finish in Mulhouse. Rasmussen has been on the attack since the 4km mark. His nearest rivals - Voigt and Moreau - are now 25km from the finish (they are 3’55" behind Rasmussen).
The next group on the road includes remnants of the early escape group (Zandio, Vicioso et al) is 6’30" behind Rasmussen.

There are five Discovery Channel riders at the front of the peloton which, at the last check, was 8’45" behind Rasmussen.

The points for the third intermediate sprint of stage nine were won by:
1. Rasmussen (RAB) 6pts
2. Voigt (CSC) 4pts - at 4’10"
3. Moreau (C.A) 2pts

The rider who is dominating the climbing classification in the 92nd Tour, Mickael Rasmussen, looks like he’s going to win the ninth stage. He has less than 27km to go in the stage and his nearest rivals (Voigt and Moreau) are 4’00" behind.
The former MTB world champion is 175cm tall and weighs just 60kg. He has won a stage of the Vuelta A Espana in the past but today he may well add a Tour stage to his resume.

Rasmussen has taken another six points in the sprint classification. He now has 28km to go in the stage. He currently leads Voigt and Moreau by 4’00".

Voigt and Moreau are sharing the workload in pursuit of Rasmussen but they aren’t making much of a dent in the Danish rider’s lead. The chasers are currently 4’00" behind the leader of the mountains classification.

Rasmussen is now near the town of Lauw. He has about 31km to race and his current advantage over Voigt and Moreau is 4’05". The yellow jersey’s peloton is at 8’45".
The green jersey is in a ’grupetto’ that’s about 17’45" behind the stage leader.

With 40km to go, the peloton is 8’45" behind Rasmussen.

The peloton is now 1km away from the site of the second intermediate sprint (at the 131km mark). The last time check had this group 8’55" behind Rasmussen.

The peloton continues to be led by riders from the Discovery Channel team. This group is now 8’55" behind Rasmussen.

The points for the sprint at Oberbruck (40km from the finish of stage nine) were won by:
1. Rasmussen (RAB) 6pts
2. Voigt (CSC) 4pts - at 3’45"
3. Moreau (C.A) 2pts

The Rabobank team has already won a stage of the 2005 Tour and it appears that they may earn another today. Rasmussen’s current advantage on his nearest rivals (Moreau and Voigt) is 4’05". He is the third rider from the Dutch-registered team to wear the polka-dot jersey.
Rasmussen began the stage with 32 points in the climbing classification and today he won every climb to add another 56 points to his tally.

Rasmussen has claimed six points at the 2nd intermediate sprint of the stage. He leads Moreaau and Voigt by 4’05". The leader is now 40km from the finish of the ninth stage.

It could be that the Rabobank team will win two successive stages. At the moment, Mickael Rasmussen leads Voigt and Moreau by about 4’15", Vicioso by 5’05", Cioni by 5’35"... and the peloton by over nine minutes.

There are about 60 riders in the group that includes the yellow jersey. This pack is 9’30" behind Rasmussen and is led by about six riders from the Discovery Channel team.

The peloton is now over the final climb with a deficit of 9’30" on Rasmussen.

The points for the Ballon d’Alsace were won by:
1. Rasmussen (RAB) 30pts
2. Moreau 26pts - 4’20"
3. Voigt 20pts
4. Vicioso 18pts - at 5’05"
5. Cioni 16pts - 5’12"
6. Moos 14pts - 5’30"
7. Zandio 12pts - 5’35"
8. Landaluze 10pts - 6’02"

Moreau and Voigt are fighting their way through the crowd near the top ofd the Ballon d’Alsace. Moreau was second at the summit 4’20" behind Rasmussen.

The peloton is being led by Rubiera. There are six riders from the Discovery Channel team at the front of the pack which is now about 9’40" behind Rasmussen.

Rasmussen has just added another 30 points to his tally in the mountains classification. He was first at each of the six summits today.

The peloton continues to be led by the Discovery team. This group is 9’40" behind Rasmussen.

Cioni is now in fourth place in the stage. He has been dropped by Moreau and Voigt as Rasmussen races over the line at the top of the Ballon d’Alsace.

Rasmussen is now about 500m from the top of the final climb in stage nine. The next riders on the road are Moreau, Voigt and Cioni - at 4’20".

Rasmussen is now 1km from the top of the final climb of the stage. Moreau and Voigt are about to catch Cioni. Vicioso is the next rider on the road.

The peloton is 9’40" behind Rasmussen with 5km to climb to the top of the Ballon d’Alsace.

Rasmussen is out of the saddle and flying towards the top of the Ballon d’Alsace. He is 4’12" ahead of Moreau’s group and 4’35" ahead of Moos, Landaluze and Zandio.

Moreau, Vicioso and Voigt have attacked the chase group. (We don’t know if they have caught Cioni yet.) They have a lead of about 300m on Moos, Landaluze and Zandio.

The pace of the peloton is too much for many of the flat-land specialists. Tom Boonen is amongst the selection of riders which are being dropped by the yellow jersey’s peloton.

Noval’s time of setting the pace for the peloton is over. He has been dropped by the main pack along with a number of sprinters.
The time has come for Armstrong’s foot soldiers to do some serious pace setting at the head of the peloton. Rubiera and Beltran are currently setting the tempo for the yellow jersey’s group.

Rasmussen began his attack on the first climb of the stage. He has been at the front of the stage since the 3km mark. He is now in the lead by 2’50" (ahead of Cioni) at the 111km mark.

With 5km to climb to the summit of the sixth mountain, Rasmussen leads Cioni by 2’50".
Moreau, Zandio, Vicioso, Moos, Landaluze and Voigt are behind the stage leader by 4’00".

Rasmussen is now less than 5km from the summit of the Ballon d’Alsace.

Rasmussen is increasing his advantage on the chasers. Moreau, Zandio, Vicioso, Moos, Landaluze and Voigt are now 3’40" behind the stage leader.

The Ballon d’Alsace is the first cat-one mountain of the 2005 Tour. This 1,171m high climb was the first major mountain pass contested in the history of the Tour de France. The rider who crested the summit first during the race was Rene Pottier in 1905.
The Frenchman won the overall title the next year - and also claimed first place on this mountain in the Vosges region.

With 9km to climb to the summit of the Ballon d’Alsace Rasmussen has a lead of 1’45" on Cioni.

The leader of the ninth stage has begun the sixth climb. Rasmussen has claimed first place at the top of all five preceding climbs.
This mountain is the first cat-1 Col of the 2005 Tour. The Ballon d’Alsace rises for 9.1km at an average gradient of 6.8 per cent.
The peloton is currently 9’35" behind Rasmussen.

The peloton is now at the 97km mark of the stage. It is led by nine Discovery Channel riders and is 9’32" behind Rasmussen.

The points at the top of the Col de Bussang (at 98km) were won by:
1. Rasmussen (RAB) 4pts
2. Cioni (LIQ) 3pts - at 1’05"
3. Moreau (C.A) 2pts - at 3’15"
4. Moos (PHO) 1pt

The peloton is currently 9’10" behind Rasmussen.

Rasmussen has collected the four points for first place at the top of the Col de Bussang (at the 98km mark). He is now 1’05" ahead of Cioni and 3’00" ahead of Voigt’s group.

The stage leader is now 50" ahead of Cioni. Rasmussen has 1km to go before reaching the top of the fifth climb in stage nine.

The stage leader is now 40" ahead of Cioni; 2’45" ahead of Moreau, Zandio, Vicioso, Moos, Landaluze and Voigt; and 8’00" ahead of the peloton.

Without the excess baggage of Cioni, Rasmussen has found extra energy. He is now 40" ahead of the rider who he rode with since the 13km mark. The Rabobank rider dropped the Liquigas rider at the 95km mark.

Rasmussen has attacked his escape companion Cioni. The Rabobank rider now leads the Liquigas rider by 20".

Jose Angel Gomez (SDV) who crashed in the feedzone has been forced to abandon the Tour de France. He is in an ambulance at the moment. It appeared as though he may have broken a collarbone in the crash.

At the feedzone (84km) the peloton was 8’15" behind Rasmussen and Cioni.

The chase by Moreau, Zandio, Vicioso, Moos, Landaluze and Voigt is losing time to the two stage leaders. Moreau and Voigt are doing most of the work in the chase but they are now 2’30" behind Cioni and Rasmussen.
Zandio and Vicioso are not taking any turns at the front of the chase group.

The average speed for the second hour of racing in stage nine is 39.6km/h. The average for the first two hours is 40.5km/h.

The points for the sprint in Husseren-Wesserling were won by:
1. Dario Cioni (LIQ) 6pts/6"
2. Mickael Rasmussen (RAB) 4pts/4"
3. Jens Voigt (CSC) 2pts - at 2’20".

After the recent crash, Commesso has remounted his bike but the other rider involved is Jose Angel Gomez of the Saunier Duval team. He doesn’t appear to be in a good state.

There are two riders down on the road after a crash in the feedzone. The riders involved are Commesso and one of the Saunier Duval riders...

The riders who have been 2’20" behind the two stage leaders are:
Christophe Moreau (Fra - C.A)
Xabier Zandio (Spa - IBA)
Angel Vicioso (Spa - LSW)
Inigo Landaluze (Spa - EUS)
Alexandre Moos (Sui - PHO)
Jens Voigt (Ger - CSC)

Moreau, Zandio, Vicioso, Moos, Landaluze and Voigt have just entered the feedzone at the 84km mark. These six riders are now 2’20" behind Rasmussen and Cioni.

Cioni and Rasmussen are less than 5km from the site of the first intermediate sprint of stage nine.

One rider in this year’s Tour has a birthday today. Wilfried Cretskens of the Quickstep team is 29.

The only Colombian rider to have worn the yellow jersey in the Tour de France is Victor Hugo Pena. He turns 31 today. He is not in the race this year but he led the Tour on his birthday two years ago as a member of Lance Armstrong’s team.
This year he rides for the Phonak squad.

Moreau, Zandio, Vicioso, Moos, Landaluze and Voigt are now 2’25" behind Cioni and Rasmussen.
The peloton is at 7’50" as it passed the 71km mark.

The peloton continues to be led by the Discovery Channel team. This group is currently on the 20km descent from Le Grand Ballon - a road that features some sections of cobbles.

Rasmussen and Cioni are near Goldbach-Haltenbach at the 73.5km mark of the stage. They are still 2’20" ahead of the six-man chase group.
Rasmussen has added 22 points to his tally in the climbing classification already today. The final ascent is a cat-one rise.
A rule that was introduced last year, states that if the last climb of a stage is ranked cat-2, cat-1 or ’Hors Category’, then double points are awarded. That will therefore be the case for Le Ballon d’Alsace.

Rasmussen and Cioni are holding their advantage on the chase group of six riders. Moreau, Zandio, Vicioso, Moos, Landaluze and Voigt are still 2’20" behind the two stage leaders.
The peloton was 7’50" behind Rasmussen and Cioni at the top of Le Grand Ballon.

The points for the 4th climb of stage nine were won by:
1. Rasmussen (RAB) 10pts
2. Cioni (LIQ) 9pts
3. Moreau (C.A) 8pts - at 2’20"
4. Landaluze (EUS) 7pts
5. Voigt (CSC) 6pts
6. Moos (PHO) 5pts
...the peloton is currently 8’05" behind the two escapees.

The points allocation for cat-2 climbs is:
1st - 10pts
2nd - 9pts
3rd - 8pts
4th - 7pts
5th - 6pts
6th - 5pts

Rasmussen has taken first place points at the top of Le Grand Ballon. He led Cioni by about 20 meters at the summit.

The peloton continues to be led by the Discovery Channel team. This group is now 5km from the summit of Le Grand Ballon. It is 7’55" behind Cioni and Rasmussen.

Rasmussen and Cioni are now less than 1km from the summit of Le Grand Ballon (which peaks at the 64km mark). They are 2’36" ahead of Moreau’s group and 7’45" ahead of the peloton.

The peloton is currently being led by Pavel Padrnos of the Discovery Channel team. All eight of Lance Armstrong’s team-mates are at the front of the main group on the fourth climb of the stage.
This peloton is about five minutes behind the counter-attacking group of Moreau, Zandio, Vicioso, Moos, Landaluze and Voigt.

Cioni and Rasmussen lead Moreau, Zandio, Vicioso, Moos, Landaluze and Voigt by 2’30" with 5km to ride to the summit of the fourth climb today.

Angel Vicioso has not been able to match the pace set by Christophe Moreau at the front of the chase group. He was dropped for a little while but has rejoined the six-man group that’s currently 3’00" behind Rasmussen and Cioni.

One traditional element of the early mountain stages since 1999 is that Jaan Kirsipuu calls it quits. The Estonian champion has won four stages during his time in the Tour but he’s never finished the race. He’s kept his record of retirement in tact and has just stepped off his bike and abandoned the 2005 race.

Rasmussen and Cioni lead the six-man chase group (Moreau, Zandio, Vicioso, Moos, Landaluze and Voigt) by 3’00".
The counter-attack by Zberg has been caught by the peloton which is now 7’50" behind the two stage leaders.

Mickael Rasmussen who is the current King of the Mountains as well as one of two riders on the attack today (with a lead of 7’40" on the peloton at the 50km mark) won a rainbow jersey at the mountain bike world championships in 1999.
He began the stage in 68th place in the general classification (7’05" behind Armstrong).
His escape companion Dario Cioni is also a former MTB racer. He began the stage in 54th place (5’54" behind Armstrong).

The situation after 50km of racing in stage nine is as follows:
Rasmussen and Cioni lead Moreau, Zandio, Vicioso, Moos, Landaluze and Voigt by 3’10".
The peloton is being led by the Discovery Channel team. The latest time check has this group 7’25" behind the two escapees.

The Discovery Channel team is leading the peloton up Le Grand Ballon. The pace of the pack is being set by Noval at the moment. This group is currently 7’00" behind Cioni and Rasmussen.
In between the stage leaders and the yellow jersey’s peloton is a group of six riders (Moreau, Zandio, Vicioso, Moos, Landaluze and Voigt). This group is 2’45" behind.

Cioni and Rasmussen have increased their lead on the peloton. The two riders who joined forces at the 13km mark are now 6’40" ahead of the peloton which is being led by the Discovery Channel team.

Jens Voigt began the stage in second place overall. He is in the second group on the road at the start of the 4th climb. His advantage over Armstrong’s group is currently 3’50". This means the CSC rider is the virtual leader of the Tour de France.

Moreau, Zandio, Vicioso, Moos, Landaluze and Voigt are now 2’35" behind Cioni and Rasmussen.

At the 39.5km mark, Rasmussen and Cioni led Moreau, Zandio, Vicioso, Moos, Landaluze and Voigt by 2’37", Zberg by 3’50" and the peloton by 5’50".

The two escapees - Rasmussen and Cioni - lead the six-man chase group by 2’37" at the start of the fourth climb today. The ascent of le Grand Ballon is 21.6km at an average gradient of 3.6 per cent.
The peloton is being led by the Discovery Channel team 5’50" behind Rasmussen and Cioni.

Cioni (LIQ) and Rasmussen (RAB) lead Moreau (C.A), Zandio (IBA), Vicioso (LSW), Moos (PHO), Landaluze (EUS) and Voigt (CSC)by 2’10".
At 3’05" is Beat Zberg (GST).
At 4’50" is the peloton that’s led by the Discovery Channel team.

The average speed for the first hour of racing in stage nine is 41.4km/h.

Cioni and Rasmussen - two former mountain bike champions who joined forces around the 13km mark of today’s stage - are now at the 39.5km mark. They have a lead of about 4’35" on the peloton.

In between the six-man counter-attack group and the peloton is Zberg (GST). He is 4’10" behind Cioni and Rasmussen.

Moreau, Zandio, Vicioso, Moos, Landaluze and Voigt are now 3’10" behind the two stage leaders - Cioni and Rasmussen.

The peloton has crested the summit of the Col de Bramont 4’25" behind Cioni and Rasmussen.

The ninth rider over the third summit is Beat Zberg. He was 3’10" behind the leading pair at the 32.5km mark.

The points for the Col de Bramont at the 32.5km mark were won by:
1. Rasmussen (RAB) 4pts
2. Cioni (LIQ) 3pts
3. Moreau (C.A) 2pts - at 2’06"
4. Voigt (CSC) 1pt

Moreau’s group is 2’06" behind Cioni and Rasmussen at the top of the Col de Bramont (32.5km).

The peloton is being led by the Discovery Channel team. This group is now in the final kilometer of the Col de Bramont.

Rasmussen has led Cioni over the third summit of the stage. The King of the Mountains was followed over the line by a running spectator who seemed to think that the world wanted to see him without his trousers...

Cioni and Rasmussen are now in the final kilometer of the Col de Bramont. They are being chased by Moreau, Zandio, Vicioso, Moos, Landaluze and Voigt at 2’00".
Beat Zberg (GST) is on his own 2’50" behind Rasmussen and Cioni.
The peloton is 3’50" behind the two stage leaders.

The peloton is now 2’55" behind the two escapees.

Cioni and Rasmussen are now 1’55" ahead of Moreau, Zandio, Vicioso, Moos, Landaluze and Voigt.

Cioni and Rasmussen are currently 2’35" ahead of the six-man chase group.

The points for the second climb were won by:
1. Rasmussen (RAB) 4pts
2. Cioni (LIQ) 3pts
3. Moreau (C.A) 2pts - at 2’05"
4. Zandio (IBA) 1pt

Rasmussen and Cioni leads the six-man chase group by 2’05" at the summit. The peloton is at 2’35".

The counter attack has just gone over the top of the second climb. Moreau led Zandio and Voigt at the summit. We await confirmation of their deficit to the leading pair.

Moreau has attacked the group that includes Voigt. These riders are 1km from the second summit of the stage.

Rasmussen and Cioni have just collected the points for first and second place at the top of the Col des Feignes. They are 2’15" ahead of a chase by six riders and 3’10" ahead of the peloton.

The rider in second place overall, Jens Voigt, has attacked the peloton. He has been joined by Zandio (IBA), Vicioso (LSW), Landaluze (EUS), Moreau (C.A) and Moos (PHO). They are 2’15" behind the two stage leaders.

The peloton is now 2’55" behind Cioni and Rasmussen. There are now two riders on the attack. It’s Becke (IBA) and Moreau (C.A). They are only about 50m ahead of the peloton.

The counter-attack has been caught by the peloton.

There is a group of eight riders in pursuit of the two stage leaders. The riders are 2’40" behind Rasmussen and Cioni. Those involved include Bernucci (FAS), Gilbert (FDJ), Voigt (CSC), Quinziato (SDV), Caucchioli (C.A).

Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano has quit the Tour de France. The Liberty Seguros rider was involved in the crash at the 3km mark.

The peloton is being led by riders from Saunier Duval, T-Mobile, Bouyges and Phonak. The bunch doesn’t appear interested in chasing down the escapees, Dario Cioni and Mickael Rasmussen.

The second climb of the stage is the 9km ascent of the Col des Feignes. The summit is at the 22km mark. Right now Rasmussen and Cioni lead the peloton by 2’10". These two escapees are about to start the second climb.

Alberto Contador was also mixed up in the crash that involved Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano and Bernhard Eisel. He is now with the race doctor.

The two escapees - Mickael Rasmussen (RAB) and Dario Cioni (LIQ) - have a lead of 1’35" on the peloton which is now being led by the yellow jersey. This time check was taken at the 13.5km mark.

Race radio has confirmed that Ullrich did fall on the first climb. He has injured his left knee but he is now back with the yellow jersey’s peloton.

Jan Ullrich is working his way through the convoy following the peloton. It looks as though he crashed on the first climb of the stage.

Cioni has caught Rasmussen at the 13km mark. These two have a lead of 58" on the yellow jersey’s peloton.

Dario Cioni is now second in the stage. At the 12km mark is is 12" behind Rasmussen. The peloton is 40" behind the stage leader.

The winner of stage one has stepped off his bike. Dave Zabriskie’s race numbers are being pulled off and he is about to step into his CSC team. He has retired from his first Tour de France at the 10km mark of stage nine.

There are three T-Mobile riders waiting on the descent of the Col de Gross Pierre. It looks like Jan Ullrich has crashed near the top of the climb. He has caught up with his colleagues and is now being helped to rejoin the peloton.

The points at the top of the Col de Grosse Pierre were won by:
1. Rasmussen (RAB) 4pts
2. Botero (PHO) 3pts - at 18"
3. Boogerd (RAB) 2pts
4. Garzelli (LIQ) 1pt

One of the riders involved in the crash early today, Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano, has stopped and looks like he’s about to abandon the Tour de France. He’s holding his hip and does not appear to be in a healthy state.

Rasmussen leads the peloton by 20". He has just claimed first place points on the Col de Grosse Pierre.

Dave Zabriskie has been dropped by the peloton early in the ninth stage. The winner of stage one was last in stage eight but he refuses to submit to the injuries he sustained in a crash at the end of stage three.

There is a group of about 18 riders in pursuit of Mickael Rasmussen. The chase is currently being led by Botero. Also in this group is Boogerd, Cioni, Landis...

Rasmussen is intent on adding to his climbing points tally. He has a lead of about 100m on the group that includes Voigt, Botero, Moreau and Garate.

Jens Voigt, Mickael Rasmussen, Christophe Moreau, Juan Manuel Garate are some of the riders who have attacked the peloton in the first five kilometers.

There has been a crash in the peloton involving Allan Davis and Bernhard Eisel. There is also another Liberty Seguros rider involved - it’s Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano. He doesn’t look like he’s in good shape. (We’ll report on his injuries when news comes to hand.)

The first attack of the stage has come from Andriy Grivko of the Domina Vacanze team.

The summit of the first climb is at the 6.5km mark. The Col de Grosse Pierre is a 3.1km ascent with an average gradient of 6.4 per cent. At the front of the peloton is the rider in the polka-dot jersey, Mickael Rasmussen (RAB). Next to him is Jens Voigt (CSC) who is second overall.

The peloton is still together at the 1km mark. Unlike yesterday when Jorg Ludewig launched an attack at the moment the flag dropped, the peloton seems content to ride to the first climb as one group.

Christian Prudhomme has dropped the white flag to signal the official start of the ninth stage at 12.11pm. There are 180 riders still in the race.

Vladimir Karpets (IBA) inherited the white jersey by finishing the eighth stage 58” ahead of the former leader of the Best Young Rider classification, Yaroslav Popovych (DSC). The Russian now leads the Ukranian by just one second. The rider who finished third in stage eight, Alejandro Valverde (IBA) is third 1’11” behind his team-mate.

Mickael Rasmussen (RAB) wears the polka-dot jersey as the leader of the mountains classification. He is the third Rabobank rider to lead this category during the 2005 Tour. The Danish rider has 32 points, 12 more than Kloden and 14 more than the winner of stage eight, Pieter Weening (RAB).

Tom Boonen (QST) is still in the green jersey as leader of the points classification. He leads Thor Hushovd by 5pts and Robbie McEwen by 37pts.

There was a shake up to the top order in the general classification after the eighth stage. The rider in second overall before the day to Gerardmer, George Hincapie (DSC), moved down the order to eighth. Another big move came from Andreas Kloden (TMO) who finished second place in the stage and elevated himself up the overall rankings from 24th to ninth.
Lance Armstrong (DSC) still wears the yellow jersey. He has a lead of 1’00” over Jens Voigt (CSC) who acquired a time bonus at the first intermediate sprint in stage eight. Third overall is Alexandre Vinokourov (TMO), 1’02” behind Armstrong.

There are three intermediate sprints during the ninth stage. They are in Husseren-Wesserling (at 87.5km), Oberbruck (at 131km) and Sentheim (at 143km).

The ninth stage features the first category-one climb of the 92nd Tour. The categorized climbs today are: the cat-3 Col de Grosse Pierre (at 6.5km), the cat-3 Col des Feignes (at 22km), the cat-3 Col de Bramont (at 32.5km), the cat-2 climb to Le Grand Ballon (at 64km), the cat-3 Col de Bussang (at 98km) and the cat-1 Ballon d’Alsace (at 115km).

The weather bureau reports that the temperature at the start of stage nine is 19 degrees Celsius in the air and 22 degrees at road level. There is a very small chance of rain today but the high cloud which lingers above Gerardmer does not look too threatening.

The 171km ninth stage of the 2005 Tour de France is scheduled to begin at 12.08pm. There is a 2km neutral zone before the riders reach the site of the official start. Live coverage of the race from Gerardmer to Mulhouse will commence once the flag has dropped to signal the start of the action.