Kirchen from Luxembourg gains excellent seventh place - Hushovd benefits from Nordic ski-ing training with Björndalen

Hanover, 27th July 2007. Only two more days and then the 94th edition of the world's toughest cycle race, the Tour de France, will be history. On July 7th, four racing teams equipped with racing tyres hand-made by Continental, the only bicycle tyre manufacturer producing in Germany, set off from London in a race that would take them over 3,000 kilometres (1860 miles), to be covered in 20 stages. On Saturday, before the second time-trial stage of 55.5 kilometres (34 miles) from Cognac to Angoulême, it is less clear than ever who will have a chance of finally winning the 'grande boucle'.

Alongside the winner of the Le Grand-Bornand stage, 24-year-old Linus Gerdemann, one of the most interesting and welcome appearances in this year's Team T-Mobile, which has for many years specifically chosen top-class products from Korbach in the German federal state of Hesse, is Kim Kirchen from Luxembourg. 'Young Siegfried' Gerdemann, a truly popular figure whom many hope will win, is fighting for the 'white jersey' awarded to the best young professional in the Tour and in the battle against the clock is currently in eighth position, striving for a place among the first ten.

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For Kirchen, though, this year's Tour is particularly important for personal reasons. "He is an excellent team player, a man who always puts his own interests after those of the team, but who also successfully manages to sprint ahead when the opportunity arises" comments team manager Bob Stapleton. Just six weeks before the Tour de France Luxembourg's Kim Kirchen married his girlfriend Caroline. Before the second 'contre la montre' time-trial stage, he is in an excellent seventh place in the overall classification. 'Kiki' is not a particularly proven time-trial rider, but his racing bike, with its Continental tyres, is undoubtedly able to get him to Paris as one of the top ten cyclists. Just ahead of him in sixth place is the Spaniard Alejandro Valverde from the Team Caisse d'Epargne, also cycling on racing tyres made in Korbach. Known as a good 'rouleur', Valverde is not likely to give up his place among the top ten in the 'Classement général' this year. In the team rankings, his is currently in second place, a position they are determined to defend tooth and nail right up until Sunday.

The beefy Norwegian Thor Hushovd from the Team Crédit Agricole once again demonstrated his fighting spirit on the flat stages; Hushovd also relies on the proven qualities of Continental's 'black gold'. Having trained in the Scandinavian forests with his friend Ole Einar Björndalen, an outstanding biathlete, during the winter doing Nordic ski-ing to achieve the necessary level of competitive fitness, fifth-ranking Hushovd is again one of the best sprinters in this Tour. In the standings for the green jersey, the 'Viking' will undoubtedly manage to shine on Sunday during the last stage along the Champs-Elysées, with time allowances and a further stage win. That would then be his second stage win this year after his successful performance in the fourth leg - the 193 kilometres (119 miles) from Villers to Cotterêts-Joigny.

The Continental Corporation is a leading automotive supplier of tyres, brake systems, chassis components, vehicle electronics and technical elastomers. In 2006 the corporation posted consolidated sales of EUR14.9 billion. It currently has a worldwide workforce of around 85,000 employees.

Continental has been carrying bicycle tires since 1882 and is today Germany’s sole manufacturer of bicycle tires, which it produces in Korbach, in the German state of Hessen. In addition to hand-sewn racing tires, bicycle tires for nearly all purposes are also manufactured. With its own development team, the bicycle tire business unit sees to it that the products are consistently state-of-the-art.

Continental’s tire divisions are official sponsor of UEFA Euro 2008™, which will take place in Austria and Switzerland in June 2008. Detailed information on this is available at www.ContiSoccerWorld.de, www.contifanworld.com and www.conti-online.com.