BRITAIN SECOND BEST NATION AT 2008 TOUR

Britain is ranked second in this year's list of Tour de France stage wins by nation.

All four of Britain's wins were, of course, scored by Team Columbia sprinter Mark Cavendish. Only Spain achieved more stage wins at this year's Tour with a tally of five.

We have discounted the two wins by Italian Riccardo Ricco (Saunier Duval) as he was kicked out of the event after returning a positive test for EPO. Although his team-mate Leonardo Piepoli (Italy) was also sacked by his team, he did not fail a dope test and his result still stands.

Cavendish won the most stages with his four victories (stages five, eight, 12 and 13). Stefan Schumacher (stages two and 20) and Alejandro Valverde (stages 1 and 6) won two stages each and the other victors have one stage apiece.

Team Columbia accounted for the most stage wins per team, with five. Caisse d'Epargne were second with three victories.

2008 TOUR STAGE WINS BY NATION

Spain: 5

Britain: 4

France: 3

Germany: 3

Norway: 2

Australia: 1

Belgium: 1

Italy: 1

Russia: 1

2008 TOUR STAGE WINS: THE RIDERS

Stage one: Alejandro Valverde (Spain) Caisse d'Epargne

Stage two: Thor Hushovd (Norway) Credit Agricole

Stage three: Samuel Dumoulin (France) Cofidis

Stage four: Stefan Schumacher (Germany) Gerolsteiner

Stage five: Mark Cavendish (Great Britain) Team Columbia

Stage six: Alejandro Valverde (Spain) Caisse d'Epargne (second to Riccardo Ricco)

Stage seven: Luis Leon Sanchez (Spain) Caisse d'Epargne

Stage eight: Mark Cavendish (Great Britain) Team Columbia

Stage nine: Vladimir Efimikin (Russia) Ag2r (second to Riccardo Ricco)

Stage 10: Leonardo Piepoli (Italy) Saunier Duval

Stage 11: Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Norway) CSC-Saxo Bank

Stage 12: Mark Cavendish (Great Britain) Team Columbia

Stage 13: Mark Cavendish (Great Britain) Team Columbia

Stage 14: Oscar Freire (Spain) Rabobank

Stage 15: Simon Gerrans (Australia) Credit Agricole

Stage 16: Cyril Dessel (France) Ag2r

Stage 17: Carlos Sastre (Spain) CSC-Saxo Bank

Stage 18: Marcus Burghardt (Germany) Team Columbia

Stage 19: Sylvain Chavanel (France) Cofidis

Stage 20: Stefan Schumacher (Germany) Gerolsteiner

Stage 21: Gert Steegmans (Belgium) Quick Step

2008 TOUR STAGE WINS: THE TEAMS

Team Columbia: 5

Caisse d'Epargne: 3

Cofidis: 2

Credit Agricole: 2

CSC-Saxo Bank: 2

Gerolsteiner: 2

Ag2r: 2

Quick Step 1

Rabobank: 1

Saunier Duval: 1

Sastre wins 2008 Tour de France, Steegmans takes final stage

Stage 20: Sastre sets up overall Tour victory

Stage 19: Chavanel wins, time trial showdown looms

Stage 18: Burghardt shows that Columbia can win without Cav

Stage 17: Sastre wins on Alpe d'Huez, takes lead

Stage 16: Dessel wins

Stage 15: Schleck takes lead in the Alps

Stage 14: Oscar Freire wins in Digne-les-Bains

Stage 13: Cavendish takes fourth win

Stage 12: Cavendish makes it three

Stage 11: Arvesen wins

Stage 10: Evans takes yellow jersey by one second

Stage nine: Ricco wins in the Pyrenees

Stage eight: Cavendish wins again in Toulouse

Stage seven: Sanchez takes action-packed stage

Stage six: Ricco storms to win

Stage five: Cavendish takes first Tour win

Stage four: Schumacher wins TT and takes race lead

Stage three: Dumoulin wins stage from break

Stage two: Hushovd wins chaotic sprint

Stage one: Valverde wins

Sastre dedicates Tour success to late brother-in-law Jimenez

Schlecks' father's car searched

Analysis: tactical battle on L'Alpe d'Huez [stage 17]

Schleck promises to attack main rivals

Schleck ready to defend Tour lead [stage 15]

Rest day news round-up [July 21]

Saunier Duval riders: "We are honest"

Cavendish talks to Cycling Weekly after quitting Tour

Schleck savours first ever Tour de France jersey [stage 15]

Comment: Why Cav is right to go home today

Cavendish pulls out of the Tour

Barloworld to end cycling sponsorship

Ricco speaks on Italian television

Cavendish joins the all-time greats

Saunier Duval sack Ricco and Piepoli

Tour bosses say fight against doping continues

Ricco denies doping at the Tour

Saunier Duval pull out of Tour

Tour's top ten changes

Ricco positive for EPO at Tour

Analysis: Tour de France rest day summary

Cavendish battles through Pyrenees

Evans suffers but takes yellow jersey [stage 10]

Analysis: Hautacam shakes up 2008 Tour

Ricco silences critics with solo attack in Pyrenees [stage nine]

Cavendish talks about his second stage win [stage eight]

Beltran heads home but doubts remain about other Tour riders

David Millar: the dope controls are working

Manuel Beltran tests positive for EPO at the Tour

Comment: How the Tour rediscovered its spirit

Doping back in Tour de France headlines

Millar: close but no cigar in Super-Besse [stage six]

Super-Besse shows form of main contenders [stage six]

Millar to go for yellow [stage six]

Team Columbia's reaction to Cavendish's win [stage five]

Cavendish talks about his Tour stage win

Tour comment: Why Evans should be happy [stage four]

Millar: Still aiming for Tour yellow jersey [stage 4]

Who is Romain Feillu?

Cavendish disappointed with stage two result

Millar too close to Tour yellow jersey

Stage 2 preview: A sprint finish for Cavendish?

Millar happy after gains precious seconds in Plumelec

Valverde delighted with opening Tour stage win

Comment: Is Valverde's win a good thing for the Tour?

Stage 20

Stage 19

Stage 18

Stage 17

Stage 15

Stage 14

Stage 13

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Stage 11

Stage 11

Stage 10

Stage nine

Stage eight

Stage seven

Stage six

Stage five

Stage four

Stage three

Stage two

Stage one

Life at the Tour part five

Life at the Tour part four

Life at the Tour part three

Life at the Tour part two

Life at the Tour part one

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