12th Vuelta a Galacia, Cat 2.2

Spain, August 10-14, 1998

1997 Results     Past Winners    

The Stages:

Stage 1, La Corogne - El Ferrol, 113 kms:
Stage 2, El Ferrol - Viveiro, 167 kms:
Stage 3, Viveiro - Ourense, 188 kms:
Stage 4, Ourense - Boiro, 179 kms:
Stage 5, Boiro - Pontevedra, 172 kms:

Brief:

The Spanish riders Abraham Olano and Aitor Garmendia are the major favourites for the Vuelta a Galicia, a Cat 2.2 event running from August 10-14 over 5 stages. Olano, who won the race in 1996, came back into form with a 16th placing after abandoning the Tour de France following a fall. Garmendia, for his part, will defend the title he won last year.

The race, which does not involve an ITT, poses its principal difficulty to the riders on Stage 2 when the Cat 1 Mont San Roque is climbed to the finish. Prior to that on the same stage, the riders encounter the Cat 1, Garita de Herbeira at the 48 kms mark.

There will be 14 teams contesting the 12th edition of the Tour, with a late withdrawal by the Dutch TVM team following their troubles with French authorities. The major part of the list of riders will also be contesting the International classic - the Subida a Urkiola.

Stage 1, La Corogne - El Ferrol, 113 kms:

 1. Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros		     2.48.51
 2. Franck Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi
 3. Marcus Zberg (Swi) Post Swiss Team
 4. Marco Bellini (Ita) Cantina Tollo
 5. Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale
 6. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi
 7. Ludo Dierckxens (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
 8. Jose Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto
 9. Nico Mattan (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi
10. Chris Peers (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar				s.t.

GC after Stage 1 

 1. Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros 		     2.48.46
 2. Franck Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi	 		0.02
 3. Marcus Zberg (Swi) Post Swiss Team				0.04
 4. Nico Mattan (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi
 5. Massimiliano Gentili (Ita) Cantina Tollo
 6. Jose Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto			0.05
 7. Francisco Cabello (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 			0.06
 8. Marco Bellini (Ita) Cantina Tollo
 9. Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale
10. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi			s.t.

Brief:

Serguei Smetanin (Vitalicio Seguros), became the first leader of the 12th Vuelta Ciclista a la Comunidad Gallega after winning the sprint to the finish. This first stage, the shortest of the five, turned out to be very active from the start. But no of the escape attempts were succesful.

On the descent of the Alto de A Bailadora, with 30 kilometers to the finish, the peloton was split into two with 30 riders in the lead group, including Smetanin. The split was caused by a horse, which became agitated by a TV helicopter, ran onto the edge of the road and galloped within metres of the peloton. There were no accidents but the horse gave some riders cause to slow down and stop in some cases. A few riders tried to surprise the rest: Jemison (US Postal), Laiseka (Euskatel-Euskadi), Aitor Osa (Banesto) and Francisco Cerezo (Estepona-Brepac) attacked but the move was thwarted by some nice riding by Saeco. They were setting up the sprint for their fast men - Petito and Piepoli.

But Smetanin attacked from behind, pulling the oldest trick in the book, and he held off Franck Vandenbroucke (Mapei) and Markus Zberg (Post Swiss Team). He also took the overall leadership with Faresin (Mapei) taking the lead in the mountain prize.

Stage 2, Ferrol-Viveiro, 167 kms:

 1. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto 			     4.30.29
 2. Jean Cyril Robin (Fra) US Postal
 3. Marcos Serrano (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
 4. Franck Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi  			0.05 
 5. Fausto Dotti (Ita) Ros Mary 				0.20 
 6. Gianni Faresin (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi 				0.32 
 7. Santi Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros 			0.35 
 8. César Solaun (Spa) Banesto  				0.39 
 9. Dario Frigo (Ita) Saeco 					0.45 
10. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi   			0.49

GC after Stage 2 

 1. Abraham Olano  (Spa) Banesto 			     7.19.14 
 2. Jean Cyril Robin (Fra) US Postal 				0.03 
 3. Marcos Serrano (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 			0.04 
 4. F. Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi 			0.07 
 5. Fausto Dotti (Ita) Ros Mary 				0.26 
 6. Gianni Faresin (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi 				0.38 
 7. Santi Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros 			0.41 
 8. César Solaum (Spa) Banesto 					0.45 
 9. Dario Frigo (Ita) Saeco 					0.51 
10. Giuliano Figueras Mapei-Bricobi 				0.55

Brief:

Spanish rider Abraham Olano (Banesto) celebrated the recent birth of his first son with a great win in Stage 2 of the 12th Tour of Galacia. He won the sprint from Frenchman Jean-Cyril Robin (US Postal) and Marcos Serrano (Kelme-Costa Blanca).

The stage, held in very hot temperatures, was enlivened early by the Avianca Telecom rider Aitor González, who went out to a lead of 9 minutes by the 50 kms mark. The Kelme-Costa Blanca squad worked hard to reduce the gap. A smaller group went off the front including Mancebo, Faresin, Dierckexens, Amstrong, Zberg, Aitor Osa, Jemison, Hair, Diaz Justo, Vidal and Etxebarría.

By the time the riders reached the last difficulty - the 4 kms climb of the Cat 1 alto de San Roque, Belgian Ludo Dierckxens (Lotto-Mobistar) had established his own breakaway of more than a minute. The pursuit was on and Santo Blanco, Marcos Serrano and Jean Cyril Robin caught him. Vitalicio Seguros was working hard by now. Serrano and Robin lead in the final stages but with great strength, Abraham Olano caught them just on the line to win.

Stage 3, Viveiro y Ourense, 188 kms:

 1. Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) ONCE 			    4.17.37 (43.786) 
 2. Marcus Zberg (Swi) Post Swiss 
 3. Santi Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros			0.01 
 4. Dario Frigo (Ita) Saeco 					0.03 
 5. David Etxebarria (Spa) ONCE 				0.05 
 6. M. Gentili (Ita) Cantina Tollo 				0.05 
 7. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto 				0.05 
 8. Alessandro Baronti (Ita) Cantina Tollo 			0.19 
 9. Ludo Dierckxens (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 			0.19 
10. Marcos Serrano (Spa) Kelme 					0.19

GC after Stage 3 

 1. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto  			    11.36.56 
 2. Jean Cyril Robin (Fra) US Postal 				0.03 
 3. Marcos Serrano (Spa) Kelme 					0.04 
 4. Franck Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi 			0.07
 5. Fausto Dotti (Ita) Ros Mary 				0.26
 6. Santi Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros 			0.29 
 7. Peter Farazijn (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 			0.38
 8. César Solaun (Spa) Banesto 					0.45 
 7. Dario Frigo (Ita) Saeco 					0.49 
10. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi			0.55

Brief:

Rafael Díaz Justo (Once-Deustche Bank) won the sprint for Stage 3 between Viveiro and Orense (188 kms), while Abraham Olano (Banesto) retains the overall lead. Today's stage, which is the longest in this Tour, saw Santi Blanco (Vitalicio Seguros) attacking from the 14 kms mark together with Leanizbarrutia (ONCE), Juan Carlos Vicario (Estepona) and Roberto Laiseka (Euskatel).

The four went at the climb of A Gañidoira (Cat 3) and started to open a gap over the peloton which did not react. Banesto however controlled the flight. The gap went out to a maximum of 2.30 plus the 6 seconds that he gained in intermediate bonuses. This gave him the leader's jersey on the road. This status did not last long however as the top group stopped cooperating and the gap slowly dissipated. Kelme's Pepe Gomez Gozalo took advantage and attacked to join Santi Blanco who was by now alone in front.

The two worked well together and passed the climb of Pereira (Cat 3), with a little over a minute, ahead of Olano, who had Chente González, César Solaum and Aitor Costa working in the front of the peloton. There was still 16 kms to go. The last kms saw Blanco still trying to win the stage although any hope of gaining the overall had now gone. He had been away for 170 kms. However, with only 50 metres to go he was passed Rafael Diaz Justo (ONCE) and Marcus Zberg (Post Swiss), who crossed the finish ahead of him.

Stage 4, Ourense - Boiro, 179 kms:

 1. Franck Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi 		     4.11.17
 2. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
 3. Marcus Zberg (Swi) Post Swiss
 4. David Etxeberria (Spa) ONCE 
 5. Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale
 6. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto 
 7. Dario Frigo (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale
 8. Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros 
 9. Igor Flores (Spa) Euskatel-Euskadi
10. Marco Bellini (Ita) Cantina Tollo

GC after Stage 4 

 1. Franck Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi 		    15.48.11
 2. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto
 3. Marcos Serrano (Spa) Kelme					0.05
 4. Jean Cyril Robin (Fra) US Postal 				0.05
 5. Fausto Dotti (Ita) Ros Mary 				0.28
 6. Santi Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros 			0.31 
 7. Peter Farazijn (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 			0.37
 8. César Solaum (Spa) Banesto 					0.47 
 9. Dario Frigo (Ita) Saeco 					0.51
10. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi 			0.57

Brief:

A points advantage helped today's stage winner, Belgian Franck Vandenbroucke (Mapei), to take over the general classification, with the same time as Abraham Olano (Banesto). Today's stage between Orense and Boiro (179 kms) started with a minute of silence in honor of Jesús Loroño, who died on Wednesday.

Vandenbroucke's intentions were clear from the start, when he took three seconds from an intermediate prize at Barbantes, at only 10 kms from the start. There was an attempt on the part of Lotto's Farazijn, together with Cabello (Kelme) and Baronti (Cantina Tollo) and they opened a maximum gap of four minutes over the peloton, with Farazijn becoming the virtual leader on the road.

Banesto tried to control the race, but with 9 riders with small differences in the G.C., it made things complicated. But the Spanish team found unexpected allies in Estepona and then in Ros Mary. With their help, the group of Farazijn, Cabello and Baronti was caught with 20 kms to go.

With 15 kms to the finish another group was formed up front. There were escape attempts by Kelme's José Angel Vidal and Roberto Laiseka and Alvaro González, both from Euskatel Euskadi, which didn't prosper. Mori (Saeco) and Dotti (Ros Mary) were the last ones to try their luck, but they were caught. In the final sprint, it was Vandenbroucke who showed his strength, taking the stage and the six bonus seconds, after beating Planckaert, Zberg, Etxebarria and Mori. Since Olano didn't earn any bonus points, Vandenbroucke took the leader's jersey.

Stage 5, Boiro - Pontevedra, 172 kms:

 1. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (Spa) Euskaltel Euskadi 	     3.58.57 
 2. Jo Planckaert (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 				0.05 
 3. Marcus Zberg (Swi) Post Swiss
 4. Ludo Dierckxens (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
 5. Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Saeco
 6. Alvaro Gonzalez de Galdeano (Spa) Euskatel Euskadi
 7. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto
 8. M. Gentili (Ita) Cantina Tollo
 9. Marcos Serrano (Spa) Kelme Costa Blanca
10. J. Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto				s.t.

Final GC 

 1. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi 		    19.47.13 
 2. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto
 3. Marcos Serrano (Spa) Kelme Costa Blanca 			0.05 
 4. Jean Cyril Robin (Fra) US Postal 				0.05 
 5. Fausto Dotti (Ita) Ros Mary		 			0.28 
 6. Santi Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros 			0.31 
 7. Peter Farazijn (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 			0.37 
 8. César Solaum (Spa) Banesto 					0.47 
 9. Darío Frigo (Ita) Saeco 					0.51 
10. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi 			0.57

The next 10 places were interpolated and no times are known:

11. Massimiliano Gentili (Ita) Cantina Tollo
12. Gianni Faresin (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi
13. Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
14. Txema Del Olmo (Spa) Euskadi
15. Niki Aebersold (Swi) Post Swiss Team
16. Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
17. Alessandro Baronti (Ita) Cantina Tollo
18. José Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto
19. Alvaro Gonzalez de Galdeano (Spa) Euskadi
20. Melchior Mauri Prat (Spa) ONCE

Past Winners

1984:

 1. Vicente Belda (Spa)
 2. José Recio (Spa)
 3. Jokin Muijka (Spa)

1985:

 1. Jesus Blanco-Villar (Spa)
 2. Vicente Belda (Spa)
 3. Reimund Dietzen (Ger)

1987:

 1. Jokin Muijka (Spa)

1988:

 1. Marino Lejarreta (Spa)		    22.45.24
 2. Alvaro Pino (Spa)				0.13
 3. Miguel Indurain (Spa)   			0.22

1989:

 1. Vicenta Ridaura (Spa)		    22.49.37
 2. Federico Echave (Spa)			0.28
 3. Inaki Gaston (Spa)   			0.28

1990:

 1. Marino Lejarreta (Spa)  		    19.51.16
 2. Martinez-Torres (Spa)  			0.53
 3. Miguel Indurain (Spa)  			0.56

1991:

 1. Alvaro Meija (Col) 			    22.48.26
 2. Pjotr Ugrumov (Rus) 			0.28
 3. Fabian Fuchs (Swi)  			0.40

1992:

 1. Fabian Jeker (Swi)  		    18.42.52
 2. Federico Echave (Spa)  			0.08
 3. Oliverio Rincon (Col)  			0.38

1993:

 1. Andrew Hampsten (USA)  		    21.50.58
 2. Stefano Della-Santa (Ita) 			1.03
 3. Alvaro Meija (Col) 				2.56

1994:

 1. Laudelino Cubino (Spa)  		    20.30.45
 2. Claudio Chiappucci (Ita)  			0.07
 3. Stefano Della-Santa (Ita) 			0.41

1995:

 1. Miguel Indurain (Spa)  		    20.40.16
 2. Maarten Den Bakker (Ned)  			0.02
 3. Manuel Fernandez-Gines (Spa)	 	4.17

1996:

 1. Abraham Olano (Spa) 		    17.55.26
 2. Andrej Tchmil (Ukr) 			0.05
 3. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) 			0.11

1997:

 1. Aitor Garmendia (Spa)  		    17.51.58
 2. Gianluca Bortolami (Ita) 			0.06
 3. Armand de las Cuevas (Fra) 			0.19
Past winners are from Mario Stiehl, Berlin