2005 Tour de France

This Eagle has landed in the south of France atop the Col d'Aubisque! 2005 Tour de France, stage 16. Former Aussie mountain biker Cadel Evans passes over this fabled climb's summit first (16.5 km @ 7%) on his debut Tour de France solo attack on Lance Armstrong and GC contenders. Later, Oscar Pereiro and Cadel are lone leaders taking pull turns for remaining 60km until the last 5 km when Oscar sits on Cadel's wheel allowing more fish in the pan for Oscar's cheap final sprint win. 4th place consolation prize for the courageous 28 year old Cadel is bumping up his GC from 11TH to 7th place and the beginning of a respected storied career, winning the TOUR in 2011, 2009 Road World Champion and Top Ten finisher in 11 Grand Tours. 1  Óscar Pereiro (ESP)Phonak. 4h 38' 40 2  Xabier Zandio (ESP)Illes Balearss.t. 3  Eddy Mazzoleni (ITA)Lampre–Caffitas.t. 4 Cadel Evans (AUS)Davitamon–Lottos.t. 5 Philippe Gilbert (BEL)FDJ + 2' 25"6