Denis was selected in Rabobank’s final selection of 9 riders for the Tour de France today. The team has six former stage winners in its ranks and relies heavily on experienced riders. The team will be looking at Menchov for the overall General Classification and Rasmussen for the King of the Mountains jersey.

Rabobank Pro Cycling Team - 2007 Tour de France

• Michael Boogerd
• Bram de Groot
• Thomas Dekker
• Juan Antonio Flecha
• Oscar Friere
• Denis Menchov
• Grischa Niermann
• Michael Rasmussen
• Pieter Weening

Denis today finished an encouraging 4th overall at the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré in Annecy. A tough final stage saw Ag2r rider Christophe Moreau take the overall victory on General Classification ahead of Cadel Evans of Predictor-Lotto and Andrey Kashechkin of Astana. Despite attacking on the final run-in to the finish in Annecy, Denis could not grab a stage win in a race in which he has increasingly shown good form in preparation for the Tour de France. He looked comfortable in the high mountains on the roads to Mont Ventoux and Valloire which should see him challenge for a podium place in July.

Stage
1 Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 2.55.33 (44.09 km/h)
2 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 0.37
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor-Lotto
4 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
5 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Lampre-Fondital

General Classification
1 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Ag2r Prévoyance 29.50.35
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor-Lotto 0.14
3 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana 1.27
4 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 1.52
5 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC 2.16

Denis finished in 5th place on the 4th stage of the Dauphiné Libéré at the summit on Mont Ventoux, where he has previously enjoyed victory in 2002 and 2005. Finishing 1′51″ down on stage winner Christophe Moreau, Menchov now stands 25s adrift of Andrey Kascheskin in 3rd place.

Stage
1 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Ag2r Prévoyance 5.51.52 (33.592 km/h)
2 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre-Fondital 1.08
3 Igor Antón (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 1.21
4 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor-Lotto 1.51
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank .st

General Classification
1 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana 16.17.21
2 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Ag2r Prévoyance 0.14
3 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0.25
4 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor-Lotto 0.26
5 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC .st