| 09/12/2001 | Racing News for 9/12/01 [infociclismo]+ LA VUELTA A ESPAÑA
STAGE 5: Juan Miguel Mercado (iBanesto.com) was today's big winner on the stage, which finished on the climb of Lagos de Covadonga. Team Kelme's Oscar Sevilla took the Golden Jersey from his teammate Santiago Botero. Mercado, who is in excellent form after recently winning the Vuelta a Burgos and who was not supposed to ride the Vuelta took advantage on the enormous climb. The favorites were late in reacting in this first mountain challenge: Santiago Botero, Igor González de Galdeano, Unai Osa, Abraham Olano, Marco Pantani, Gilberto Simoni, Richard Virenque or Danilo Di Luca. Along with Mercado, Sevilla and Beloki were the strongest and Heras stayed with them until three kilometers from the finish, when he bonked. 'Chava' Jiménez showed good form, launching various attacks, for which he would pay later. Ángel Casero, Fernando Escartín and Manuel Beltrán slowly lost terrain in the
last kilometers. Mercado came in 32 seconds ahead of Sevilla and 57 ahead of Beloki.
It would be iBanesto.com, which would test everyone with a tough ascent of the climb of Fito with Pole Dariusz Baranowski and Spaniards Jose Maria Jimenez, Juan Miguel Mercado and Unai Osa putting the hurting on. Kelme was able to hang on, but ONCE showed a chink in their armor, when they still had the last climb of Lagos to go. Olano crashed and Pantani & Virenque were nowhere to be seen. iBanesto.com repeated the same tactic for the slopes of Los Lagos, with an early effort from Baranowski, then some awesome attacks from "El Chava". Setting up Mercado for the stage win and Sevilla for the Golden Fleece.
STAGE 5, Gijon to Lagos de Covadonga, 160.8 km:
1. MERCADO, Juan Miguel (ESP/BAN) 4:18:37
2. SEVILLA, Oscar (ESP/KEL) at 33s.
3. BELOKI, Joseba (ESP/ONC) at 58s.
4. JIMENEZ, Jose Maria (ESP/BAN) at 1:17
5. RUBIERA, José Luis (ESP/USP) at 1:21
6. PLAZA, David (ESP/FES) s.t.
7. BELTRAN, Manuel (ESP/MAP) s.t.
8. CASERO, Angel (ESP/FES) s.t.
9. HERAS, Roberto (ESP/USP) s.t.
10. ESCARTIN, Fernando (ESP/COA) s.t.
11. OSA, Aitor (ESP/BAN) s.t.
12. LAISEKA, Roberto (ESP/EUS) s.t.
13. MAYO. Iban (ESP/EUS) at 1:37
14. ZBERG, Beat (SUI/RAB) at 2:06
15. DI LUCA, Danilo (ITA/CTA) at 2:10
16. REBOLLO, Jose Luis (ESP/FES) at 2:31
17. OSA, Unai (ESP/BAN) s.t.
18. SASTRE, Carlos (ESP/ONC) s.t.
19. NOE, Andrea (ITA/MAP) s.t.
20. MOLLER, Klaus (DEN/MIL) at 2:36
G.C. after Stage 5:
1. SEVILLA, Oscar (ESP/KEL) 15:22:09
2. MERCADO, Juan Miguel (ESP/BAN) at 15
3. BELOKI, Joseba (ESP/ONC) at 35
4. PLAZA, David (ESP/FES) at 59
5. HERAS, Roberto (ESP/USP) at 1:06
6. CASERO, Angel (ESP/FES) at 1:09
7. RUBIERA, José Luis (ESP/USP) at 1:12
8. LAISEKA, Roberto (ESP/EUS) s.t.
9. MAYO. Iban (ESP/EUS) at 1:37
10. ESCARTIN, Fernando (ESP/COA) s.t.
11. BELTRAN, Manuel (ESP/MAP) at 1:43
12. OSA, Aitor (ESP/BAN) at 1:44
13. JIMENEZ, Jose María (ESP/BAN) at 1:48
14. BOTERO, Santiago (COL/KEL) at 2:04
15. NOE, Andrea (ITA/MAP) at 2:07
16. SASTRE, Carlos (ESP/ONC) at 2:17
17. ZBERG, Beat (SUI/RAB) at 2:23
18. GONZALEZ GALDEANO, Igor (ESP/ONC) at 2:28
19. DI LUCA, Danilo (ITA/CTA) at 2:32
20. GUTIERREZ, José (ESP/KEL) at 2:38
MINUTE OF SILENCE: The Vuelta a España observed today a minute of silence before the start of the fifth stage in sign of respect for the horrible events that unfolded in the US yesterday. The US Postal team wore a sign of mourning on their sleeve.
THE STAGES
ITT = Individual Time Trial
MF = Mountain Finish
(Stage winner/G.C. leader)
1: Sep 8, Salamanca-Salamanca (ITT) 12 kms (Millar/Millar)
2: Sep 9, Salamanca-Valladolid 147,2 (Zabel/Millar)
3: Sep 10, Valladolid-León 140,5 (Zabel/Millar)
4: Sep 11, León-Gijón 175 (Zabel/Botero)
5: Sep 12, Gijón-Lagos Covadonga (MF) 160,8 (Mercado/Sevilla)
6: Sep 13, Cangas de Onís-Torrelavega 180,6
7: Sep 14, Torrelavega-Torrelavega (ITT) 44,2
8: Sep 15, Reinosa-Alto Demanada (final en alto) 195
9: Sep 16, Logroño-Zaragoza 179,2
Rest Day: Sep 17
10: Sep 18, Sabadell-La Molina (MF) 168,4
11: Sep 19, Alp-Andorra/Pal (MF) 154,2
12: Sep 20, Ordino Arcalís-Andorra (Mountain ITT) 17,1
13: Sep 21, Andorra-Port Aventura (Tarragona) 206
14: Sep 22, Port Aventura-Vinaros 170,5
15: Sep 23, Valencia-Aitana (MF) 207,2
Rest Day: Sep 24
16: Sep 25, Alcoy-Murcia 153,3
17: Sep 26, Murcia-Albacete 159,5
18: Sep 27, Albacete-Cuenca 154,2
19: Sep 28, Cuenca-Guadalajara 168
20: Sep 29, Guadalajara-Alto Abantos (MF) 181
21: Sep 30, Madrid-Madrid (ITT) 38
+ RACING
12.09.2001 12.09.2001 GP Van Steenbergen Aartselaar BEL 1.2 MEL
Belgian Nico Eeckhout won today the 210 km race. Eeckhout attacked with 6 kms to go, coming to the line 13 seconds ahead of compatriot Geert Omloop.
RESULTS
1. Nico Eeckhout (BEL) 4 h 24:00
2. Geert Omloop (BEL) at 13
3. Nicolas Jalabert (FRA) at 15
4. Marc Wauters (BEL) s.t.
5. Paul Van Hyfte (BEL) s.t.
06.09.2001 15.09.2001 Tour de l'Avenir FRA 2.5 MEL
Stage 7, 26 km ITT:
1 L. BODROGI (HON - MAP) 32'48"
2 F. BRARD (FRA - FES) at 5"
3 S. CHAVANEL (FRA - BJR) at 33"
4 E. PETROV (RUS - MAP) at 44"
5 J. MANZANO (ESP - KEL) at 1'02"
6 C. EDALEINE (FRA - DEL) at 1'06"
7 G. ARRIZABALANGA (ESP - EUS) at 1'17"
8 C. LOUE (FRA - COF) s.t.
9 G. AUGER (FRA - BIG) at 1'20"
10 D. MENCHOV (RUS - BAN) at 1'21"
11 F. SALANSON (FRA - BJR) at 1'24"
12 B. POILVET (FRA - C.A) at 1'28"
13 F. LARA RUIZ (ESP - FES) at 1'31"
14 C. KERN (FRA - BJR) at 1'39"
15 B. COOKE (AUS - MCY) at 1'40"
G.C.
1 J. CUENCA (ESP - KEL) 26h50'42"
2 E. JIMENEZ (ESP - BAN) at 24"
3 B. COOKE (AUS - MCY) at 31"
4 D. MENCHOV (RUS - BAN) at 48"
5 S. CHAVANEL (FRA - BJR) s.t.
6 J. MANZANO (ESP - KEL) at 50"
7 F. LARA RUIZ (ESP - FES) at 52"
8 C. EDALEINE (FRA - DEL) at 1'07"
9 L. BODROGI (HON - MAP) at 1'08"
10 F. BRARD (FRA - FES) s.t.
11 E. LEMBO (FRA - DEL) at 1'10"
12 M. GIGLI (ITA - COL) at 1'17"
13 P. LASTRAS (ESP - BAN) at 1'18"
14 I. ISASI (ESP - EUS) at 1'22"
15 G. GONZALEZ (ESP - EUS) at 1'25"
US TEAM WITHDRAWS: The members of the American national team decided to withdraw from the race, due to the "Attack on America" that occurred yesterday in New York City and Washington D.C..
+ NEWS
BOBBY J SIGNS: German team Deutsche Telekom has signed American Bobby Julich (Credit Agricole) for the next season. The team has also shown interest in Kazak Serguei Jakolew. "Julich really wanted to join our team. He is a complete rider, good in long flat races against the clock", said director Walter Godefroot. He added that even considering Julich's third place at the Tour in 1998, the American is not a rider for the overall in the grand tours, because of his difficulty with the high mountains. This could mean that Julich's part at Telekom could be that of Jan Ullrich's domestique.
UNABLE TO BREAK THE HOUR RECORD: Dutch Leontien van Moorsel-Zijlaard was unable to break the Hour Record in an attempt that she made today at the Manchester Velodrome. Van Moorsel was short by 1,619 meters from the
current record of 45.095 kilometers set by French Jeannie Longo in Mexico last December 7.
+ INTERVIEW
FRANCO BALLERINI, NATIONAL SELECTOR FOR THE ITALIAN ROAD TEAM
Mr. Ballerini after Veneto and Friuli, it was a comforting Melinda race. Do you already have an idea of who will be part of the Blue Team (Italian national)?
"Casagrande has given me another conformation of his form. Faresin has done very well. Also Nardello has impressed me, considering that he is coming back from a period of not riding, like Belli".
Any surprises from the Lombard Trio of races (Trittico Lombardo)?
"I think that everything proceeded in a very lineal manner. Fassa Bortolo controlled the race and Casagrande easily won".
What about the absent riders?
"Bartoli rode the Gp di Plouay on Sunday and he didn't do well. Next week he will have to give some signal to show his real condition".
If Simoni is chosen, will he have a role as team leader?
"If it we were talking about the Simoni from the Giro d'Italia, there wouldn't be a problem, a rider can adapt to any route when they are in such good form. But I have seen Gilberto in the last races and right now he's still chasing his best form. He is a determined rider that will give his best. I think that the Vuelta will be the right preparation.
Twenty days of racing could return the strength to him that he's missing right now".
The Pantani enigma?
"I've seen him very serene and smiling, but I really couldn't evaluate his physical condition at Friuli. But I think that the same thing that I said about Simoni applies to him. We will have to wait and see how he does at the Vuelta".www.infociclismo.com
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