On the first alpine climbing stage of the 2008 Tour De France, Agritubel’s top rider, diminutive Spanish climber Eduardo Gonzalo Ramirez suffered from the cold, rain and wind to finish 45th on the stage to Prato Nevoso and lost time on the leaders, but the Agritubel rider actually came up one place on gc into 31st, 24″27″ behind new race leader Franck Schleck.

Best Agritubel rider on the day was Frenchman David Lelay, who was 39th on Stage 15, 9′ behind winner Simon Gerrans.

In the general classification race to Paris, Eduardo Gonzalo Ramirez is steady at 31st position, with David Lelay mid-pack at 79th, 1h 19′ 54″ behind the Maillot Jaune.

Gonzalo Ramirez is hoping to go on the attack on Tuesday after Monday’s Tour Rest Day.

Tuesday 22 July’s Stage 16 from Cuneo to Jausiers over 157km is perfect for climbers Gonzalo Ramirez and Lelay. A short, intense stage that heads from Cuneo, up and over the 21.2km, seven-percent gradient of the Col de la Lombarde back into France, then up the barren slopes of the Col de la Bonnette-Restefond (the highest pass in Europe: 2802 meters) and finishes with a 24km long, twisting descent to the mountain village of Jausiers in the Durance River valley. Look for Agritubel riders to bring their SRAM Red equipped Team Agritubel Kuota to the front on Tuesday.

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