From OLN's live feed, commenting on how many riders and what contries are
represented .... wonder if the Auzzies like being grouped with the
Americans;-)
"36 - France (Originally 40 but Bessy did not start stage three because of a
knee injury sustained in a crash during stage two; Seigneur finished outside
the time limit in stage four; Hary finished outside the time limit in stage
five; Dumoulin did not start stage nine because of an elbow injury sustained
in a fall near the end of stage eight)
31 - Spain
25 - Italy (Originally 30 but Fagnini abandoned with a broken collarbone in
stage two; Velo abandoned with a broken collarbone in stage three; Petacchi
& Cipollini did not start stage six; Casagranda did not start stage nine)
15 - Germany
7 - USA & Australia (Originally nine but Gates finished outside the time
limit in stage one; McGee abandoned because of back pain during stage five)
& The Netherlands
5 - Belgium (Originally six but Brandt was suspended by his Lotto team after
stage six because traces of methadone were found in a urine sample submitted
to doping control after stage two)
6 - Russia
5 - Switzerland (Originally six but Montgomery abandoned in stage seven
because of a fractured right collarbone)
4 - Austria (Originally five but Haselbacher did not start stage seven
because of injuries sustained in a crash in the final kilometer of stage
six) & Denmark
2 - Estonia, Norway, Czech Republic & Sweden
1 - Colombia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Lithuaniua, Luxembourg, New Zealand,
Poland, Portugal, Ukraine & Venezuela
Slovenia had one rider at the start, but Hvastija did not start the ninth
stage.
Estonia had one rider at the start, but Kirsipuu abandoned on the first
climb of stage nine."