Ricardo Ricco is the first mountain stage of the Tour

The first mountain stage of the Tour, with two second-rate ports (one of which ended the stage) was used to see how forces go to great favorites. Alejandro Valverde finished second.

There was a change in general but was due to a fall of Schumacher, who had bad luck. Apart from that there was nothing in the face of the general favorite because they all came together to the finish, with a few seconds apart. And all because of the rise to 1500 meters wide gap that had to end.

Riccardo Ricco, the rival Ricco Contador in the Giro d'Italia, won the stage triumph entering the goal a second before Alejandro Valverde, who took his squire and 2006 Tour winner Oscar Pereiro's best ally. Valverde threw the second one with great force and pulled the bunch of bookmarks every mile that can give him.

Cadel Evans was confident. Was third while Alejandro Valverde. Kim Kirchen became the new yellow jersey by finishing fifth to four seconds of Ricco. Carlos Sastre came in seven seconds, like Denis Menchov. Bad day for Damiano Cunego who fell and lost 32 seconds. If the port would have been great, have lost a minute.

Thus, a stage has been used to show the squad as is each of strength. And the great strengths Spanish, Carlos Sastre and, above all, Alejandro Valverde, have a good feeling. However, Cadel Evans still has not shown any weakness. Tomorrow, another half-step mountain with two second-class ports, but does not end up.

Image: EiTB24