Team Discovery riders Yaroslav Popovych and Vladimir Gusev attacked on the harshest day of riding in the Alps during Stage 9 of the Tour.
Seemed the Discovery Channel team decided it was time to make their move. While Popovych and Gusev attacked early on, Alberto Contador rode back in the peloton until time to break free and join the others with hopes of winning the last ride through the Alps. Team Discovery gave it great run, but fell slightly short after what ended up being a fantastic finish to the stage. Contador finished fourth in the stage.
The stage was won by Mauricio Soler, who had a great individual effort.
In what was one of the more bizarre events of the Tour, Marcus Burghardt of the T-Mobile team, hit a spectators dog during the race that had wondered onto the road. Burghardt was thrown from his bike as the wheel seemed to buckle from the dog. Burghardt got back on his bike and did not appear hurt.
Tour Leader: Michael Rasmussen