Prologue - February 20: Rhodes ITT, 3.4 km

Cancellara wins the prologue

Swiss time trial specialist Fabian Cancellara the Prologue of the Tour of Rhodes, an individual time trial over 3.4 kilometres. The Mapei-Quick Step Young Group rider averaged 51 km/h and finished with a 6 second advantage over Belgian Marc Streel (Colnago-Landbouwkredit) and Fabian's teammate Michael Rogers.

Cancellara, who won the very same prologue and final classifications at the Tour of Rhodes in 2001, made the most of his expertise as an against the clock rider over the flat parcours that was marked by a very strong wind that hindered the racers' performance over the final 1,500 metres. Even with the strong wind Cancellara finished the race 10" quicker than last year.

"Today's race confirmed that I am ever improving and that I have got over the problems with my back that I had after a car accident I was in last week," said the 21 year old from Bern. "I am also very happy with the excellent performances of my teammates Rogers and Sinkewitz who finished in 3rd and 6th positions respectively. Their results will help us rely on team work in the next stages; our objective is that of winning the Yellow Jersey for the final classification."

1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Mapei-Quick Step 4.00 (51.0 km/h)
2. Marc Streel (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago 0.06
3. Michael Rogers (Aus) Mapei-Quick Step
4. Chris Newton (GBr) Great Britain 0.07
5. Michael Sandstod (Den) Team CSC Tiscali
6. Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) Mapei-Quick Step 0.08
7. Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team fakta 0.09
8. Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Team fakta
9. Dirk Muller (Ger) Team Cologne 0.12
10. Rogdan Bondarlew (Ukr) Mroz Supradyn 0.13

Stage 1 - February 21: Rhodes-Gennadi-Apolakkia-Rhodes, 160 km

1. Nicola Minali (Ita) Tacconi Sport-Vini Caldirola 4.23.31 (36.18 km/h)
2. Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Team fakta
3. Malte Urban (Ger) Team Coast
4. Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team fakta
5. Sebastiano Scotti (Ita) Alexia Alluminio
6. Hendrik Van Dyck (Bel) Palmans Collstrop

Stage 2 - February 22: Rhodes-Kolimpia-Apollona-Empona-Rhodes, 120 km

1. Nicola Minali (Ita) Tacconi Sport-Vini Caldirola 2.47.23
2. Sebastiano Scotti (Ita) Alexia Alluminio
3. Vasilis Anastopoulos (Gre) Hellas National Team
4. Malte Urban (Ger) Team Coast
5. Hendrik Van Dyck (Bel) Palmans Collstrop
6. Juergen Werner (Ger) Team Nürnberger Versicherung
7. Enrico Poitschke (Ger) Wiesenhof
8. Rudi Kemna (Ned) Bankgiroloterij-Batavus
9. Sascha Henrix (Ger) Team Coast
10. Tom Desmet (Bel) Marlux - Ville De Charleroi
11. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Mapei-Quick Step
12. Marco Battiston (Ita) Alexia Alluminio
13. Enrico Nikolai (Ger) Wiesenhof
14. Radoslav Rogina (Cro) Perutnina Ptuj-Krka Telekom
15. Dirk Muller (Ger) Team Cologne
16. Darko Mrvar (Slo) Perutnina Ptuj-Krka Telekom
17. Roger Hammond (GBr) Palmans Collstrop
18. Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team fakta
19. Chris Newton (GBr) Great Britain
20. Nicklas Ekstrom (Swe) Team Malarenergi
21. Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Team fakta

Stage 3 - February 23: Rhodes-Agh. Isidoros-Prof. Ilias-Rhodes, 158 km

1. Vasilis Anastopoulos (Gre) Hellas National Team 3.54.50 (40.599 km/h)
2. Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team fakta
3. Bjorn Glasner (Ger) Team Cologne
4. Darko Mrvar (Slo) Perutnina Ptuj-Krka Telekom
5. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Mapei-Quick Step
6. Sascha Henrix (Ger) Team Coast

Stage 4 - February 24: Rhodes-Butterflies-Psinthos-Faliraki-Rhodes, 136 km

Cancellara notches up second Rhodes win

Swiss time trial specialist Fabian Cancellara (Mapei) has won the 8th Tour of Rhodes that finished today in Rhodes with a 136 kilometre stage. Cancellara had led since day one when he was the fastest in the prologue, and Mapei had few problems defending his jersey.

The final stage, an eight lap circuit race, was won by Dutchman Hendrik Van Dyck (Collstrop-Palmans) from compatriot Rudi Kemna (Bankgiroloterij-Batavus) and Malte Urban (Team Coast) in a bunch sprint.

The general classification was dominated by Mapei-Quick Step (Cancellara, Michael Rogers, Patrik Sinkewitz) and Team fakta (Kurt-Asle Arvesen, Magnus Backstedt, Marcus Ljungqvist and Manu l'Hoir), who filled the top 7 places. The sprints classification was won by British rider Roger Hammond (Collstrop-Palmans), while the mountains was one by Australian Corey Sweet (BankGiroLoterij). Fabian Cancellara also took out the U23 prize.

1. Hendrik Van Dyck (Bel) Palmans Collstrop 3.05.20 (44.158 km/h)
2. Rudi Kemna (Ned) Bankgiroloterij-Batavus
3. Malte Urban (Ger) Team Coast
4. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Mapei-Quick Step
5. Nicola Minali (Ita) Tacconi Sport-Vini Caldirola
6. Tom Desmet (Bel) Marlux - Ville De Charleroi

Final general classification

1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Mapei-Quick Step 14.15.04 (40.678 km/h)
2. Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team fakta 0.06
3. Michael Rogers (Aus) Mapei-Quick Step
4. Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) Mapei-Quick Step 0.08
5. Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Team fakta 0.09
6. Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Team fakta 0.10
7. Manu l'Hoir (Bel) Team fakta 0.14
8. Bjorn Glasner (Ger) Team Cologne
9. Walter Bonca (Slo) Perutnina Ptuj-Krka Telekom
10. Vasilis Anastopoulos (Gre) Hellas National Team

32. Chris Newton (GBr) Great Britain 3.40