Bernhard Kohl seems to have a subscription on third place. After finishing in that spot in the Tour de France, he also finished third Wednesday in a criterium in Wels, Austria. Christian Pfannberger took the win, with Werner Riebenbauer as second completing the all-Austrian podium.
Some 15,000 fans cheered the cyclists on. Kohl (Gerolsteiner) escaped from the group with nine laps to go, and was later joined by Pfannberger (Barloworld) and Riebenbauer (RC Arbö Resch & Frisch Gourmetfein Wels). After three more laps, the latter two took off and Pfannberger was able to win easily.
There was an all-German podium in the Kriterium von Neuss in Germany. Gerald Ciolek of Team Columbia out-sprinted Robert Förster (Gerolsteiner) and Erik Zabel of Milram.
Another Team Columbia sprinter won in Peer, Belgium. Mark Cavendish, who scored four stages in the Tour de France, out-sprinted final stage winner Gert Steegmans of Quick Step, with Philippe Gilbert (Française des Jeux) coming third.
Oscar Freire of Rabobank won ahead of Robbie McEwen (Silence-Lotto) in Diksmuide, Netherlands. Third was Lars Boom, who led the race for three laps before being overtaken by the two sprinters.
Back in France, Cyril Dessel (AG2R La Mondiale) won the Lisieux Criterium on Tuesday evening. In front of 20,000 spectators, the Tour de France stage winner took the honours in front of Nicolas Vogondy and Gilberto Simoni.
