49th GP Llodio, Cat 1.4

Spain, August 23, 1998


1997 Results     Past Winners

Brief:

Russian Serguei Smetanine (Vitalicio Seguros) outsprinted the other contenders to win the 49th edition of the GP de Llodio-IV Clásica de Alava, which started and finished in the Alava locality. Smetanine outpointed the Italians Iván Cerioli (Estepona-Brepac) and Mario Traversoni (Mercatone One). 99 riders began the race in Llodio and it was in the last hour that the damage was done to the leading riders like Abraham Olano (Banesto) and Iván Gotti (Saeco), among others.

The race over 195 kms was divided into two circuits - one small and one large. For the first third of the race the peloton stayed together. At the first intermediate sprint at Murgia it was Igor Flores from Euskaltel-Euskadi, who took the prize. From Legutiano to Ollerías, and before arriving at the port of Altube, the attacks began. Riders were trying to get a gap before the major hurdle of the day - the climb of Gárate - came, some 5 kms from the end. But as in previous editions of this race the climb of Gárate did not have any significant bearing on the race and 18 riders came into the sprint together. Smetanine was the quickest.

Llodio - Llodio, 195 kms:

 1. Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros 		4.52.00 (40.274) 
 2. Iván Cerioli (Ita) Estepona-Brepac  
 3. Mario Traversoni (Ita) Mercatone Uno  
 4. Fausto Dotti (Ita) Ros Mary  
 5. Angel Edo (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca  
 6. Harald Morscher (Aut) Saeco  
 7. David Etxebarría (Spa) Once-Deutsche Bank 
 8. José Vicente García (Spa) Banesto  
 9. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar  
10. Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar  
11. Geert Verheyen (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 
12. Stéfano Checchin (Ita) Mercatone Uno  
13. Igor Flores (Spa) Euskatel
14. Miguel Angel Peña (Spa) Banesto
15. Daniel Clavero (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros   

Team: Lotto Mobistar 
Mountain: Jose Manuel Uria (Spa) Ros Mary 
Special Sprint: Jose Vicente Garcia (Spa) Banesto

Past Winners

1988 Carlos Hernandez (Spa)
1989 Manuel-Jorge Dominguez (Spa) 
1990 Aitor Garmendia (Spa)
1991 Juan-Carlos Martin (Spa)
1992 Angel Edo (Spa)
1993 Miguel-A. Martinez-Torres (Spa)
1994 Asiat Saitov (Rus)
1995 Marino Alonso (Spa)
1996 David Etxebarria (Spa)
1997 José Rodriguez-Garcia (Spa)
Past winners are from Mario Stiehl, Berlin