44th Vuelta Ciclista Andalucia (Ruta del Sol), Cat 2.3

Spain, February 15-19, 1998


The Stages:

  • Stage 1: - Sunday, February 15, Seville - Seville, 157.8 kms.

  • Stage 2: - Monday, February 16, La Rinconada - Malaga, 214.9 kms.

  • Stage 3: - Tuesday, February 17, Puerto Deportivo Benal Madena - Alto Santuario Virgen de Araceli (Lucena), 169.6 kms.

  • Stage 4: -Wednesday, February 18, Puente Genil - Jaen, 147.3 kms.

  • Stage 5: - Thursday, February 19, Ubeda - Granada, 150.3 kms.

Stage 3, Puerto Deportivo Benal Madena - Alto Santuario Virgen de Araceli (Lucena), 169.6 kms:

  1. GARCIA, Marcelino       ESP  ONCE                   4.33.36
  2. JALABERT, Laurent       FRA  ONCE                      0.05
  3. ETXEBARRIA, David       ESP  ONCE                      0.10
  4. VANDENBROUCKE, Frank    BEL  MAPEI-BRICOBI             0.15
  5. CABELLO, Francisco      ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA        0.27
  6. SALMERON, Gines         ESP  VITALICIO SEGUROS         0.32
  7. EKIMOV, Vjatceslav      RUS  US POSTAL SERVICE         0.32
  8. TCHMIL, Andrei          UKR  LOTTO-MOBISTAR            0.36
  9. BESSY, Frederic         FRA  CASINO                    0.36
 10. MERCADO, Juan M.        ESP  VITALICIO SEGUROS         0.36
 11. MARTIN, M. Angel        ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA        0.42
 12. JAERMAN, Rolf           SUI  CASINO                    0.42
 13. VAN PETEGEM, Peter      BEL  TVM-FARM FRITES           0.42
 14. ARMSTRONG, Lance        USA  US POSTAL SERVICE         0.50
 15. FARAZIJN, Peter         BEL  LOTTO-MOBISTAR            0.50
 16. JULICH, Bobby           USA  COFIDIS                   0.50
 17. GONZALEZ, Ramon         ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI         0.55
 18. GONZALEZ, I¤igo         ESP  VITALICIO SEGUROS         0.55
 19. NIERMANN, Grischa       GER  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA       0.59
 20. ETXEBARRIA, Unai        ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI         1.05
 21. PEERS, Chris            BEL  LOTTO-MOBISTAR            1.16
 22. GOMEZ, Jose Javier      ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA        1.16
 23. BOMANS, Carlo           BEL  PALMANS-IDEAL             1.23
 24. CASTRESANA, Angel       ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI         1.23
 25. DIERCKXENS, Ludo        BEL  LOTTO-MOBISTAR            1.26
 26. BALDINGER, Dirk         GER  TELEKOM                   1.26
 27. HOJ, Frank              DEN  PALMANS-IDEAL             1.26
 28. LAVARINHAS, Rui         POR  TROIAMARISCO-P.RAVES      1.26
 29. JAN, Xavier             FRA  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX     1.38
 30. VAN HYFTE, Paul         BEL  LOTTO-MOBISTAR            1.38
 31. LOPEZ, Oscar            ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI         1.38
 32. SEVILLA, Oscar          ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA        1.41
 33. DEN BAKKER, Maarten     NED  RABOBANK                  1.41
 34. WAUTERS, Marc           BEL  RABOBANK                  1.41
 35. HUNDERTMARK, Kai        GER  TELEKOM                   1.47
 36. MIRANDA, Carmelo        ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC           1.47
 37. OSA, Unai               ESP  BANESTO                   1.47
 38. RICHARD, Pascal         SUI  CASINO                    1.47
 39. IVANOV, Serguei         RUS  TVM-FARM FRITES           2.04
 40. HEPPNER, Jens           GER  TELEKOM                   2.10
 41. ROBIN, Jean-Cyril       FRA  US POSTAL SERVICE         2.14
 42. FREIRE, Oscar           ESP  VITALICIO SEGUROS         2.17
 43. FERNANDEZ, Manuel       ESP  BANESTO                   2.24
 44. HINCAPIE, Georgo        USA  US POSTAL SERVICE         2.24
 45. MORIN, Anthony          FRA  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX     2.24
 46. SUNDERLAND, Scott       AUS  PALMANS-IDEAL             2.28
 47. NIETO, German           ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC           2.33
 48. VAN HEESWIJK, Max       NED  RABOBANK                  2.36
 49. VICARIO, Juan Carlos    ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC           2.40
 50. PLAZA, David            ESP  COFIDIS                   2.45
 51. GONZALEZ, Igor          ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI         2.45
 52. BELTRAN, Manuel         ESP  BANESTO                   2.55
 53. DIETZ, Bert             GER  TELEKOM                   3.01
 54. MCEWEN, Robbie          AUS  RABOBANK                  3.06
 55. HERNANDEZ, Eduardo      ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA        3.12
 56. SIERRA, Roberto         ESP  ONCE                      3.14
 57. SALMON, Benoit          FRA  CASINO                    3.18
 58. SCHMIDT, Rico           GER  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA       3.20
 59. GAMITO, Victor Manuel   POR  TROIAMARISCO-P.RAVES      3.27
 60. BERZIN, Eugeni          RUS  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX     3.34
 61. MEINERT, Peter          DEN  US POSTAL SERVICE         3.34
 62. SORENSEN, Rolf          DEN  RABOBANK                  3.46
 63. BARANOWSKI, Dariusz     POL  US POSTAL SERVICE         3.55
 64. VANDERAERDEN, Gert      BEL  PALMANS-IDEAL             4.04
 65. HEULOT, Stephane        FRA  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX     4.38
 66. VALLS, Tomas            ESP  TROIAMARISCO-P.RAVES      4.38
 67. PEETERS, Wilfried       BEL  MAPEI-BRICOBI             4.38
 68. ZABEL, Erik             GER  TELEKOM                   4.38
 69. LEYSEN, Bart            BEL  MAPEI-BRICOBI             4.38
 70. KASPUTIS, Arturas       LTU  CASINO                    4.38
 71. CAPELLE, Christophe     FRA  COFIDIS                   4.38
 72. PEREZ, Cesar            ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC           4.38
 73. SCHAFFRATH, Jan         GER  TELEKOM                   4.38
 74. MOREAU, Francis         FRA  COFIDIS                   4.38
 75. MUSEEUW, Johan          BEL  MAPEI-BRICOBI             4.38
 76. OUTSCHAKOV, Serguei     UKR  TVM-FARM FRITES           4.38
 77. VILLANUEVA, Isaac       ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC           4.38
 78. WESEMANN, Steffen       GER  TELEKOM                   5.05
 79. FLORES, Igor            ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI         5.05
 80. AGGIANO, Elio           ITA  VITALICIO SEGUROS         5.11
 81. ANDREU, Frankie         USA  US POSTAL SERVICE         6.16
 82. HENRIX, Sascha          GER  TEAM GEROLSTEINER         6.30
 83. RINCON, Oliverio        COL  VITALICIO SEGUROS         6.30
 84. SCHOLZ, Timo            GER  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA       6.30
 85. BLANCO, Santiago        ESP  VITALICIO SEGUROS         6.30
 86. ANDERSSON, Michael      SWE  TVM-FARM FRITES           6.39
 87. GARMENDIA, Aitor        ESP  BANESTO                   6.39
 88. SAUERBORN, Andreas      GER  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA       6.39
 89. MOLLER, Claus Michael   DEN  TVM-FARM FRITES           6.39
 90. DIAZ, Rafael            ESP  ONCE                      6.39
 91. GARCIA, Ignacio         ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA        6.39
 92. PAUWELS, Karl           BEL  PALMANS-IDEAL             6.51
 93. EDO, Angel              ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA        6.55
 94. MICHAELSEN, Lars        DEN  TVM-FARM FRITES           7.07
 95. STEELS, Tom             BEL  MAPEI-BRICOBI             7.10
 96. LEAZNIBARRUTIA, Albert  ESP  ONCE                      7.23
 97. MAULEON, Javier         ESP  ONCE                      7.28
 98. ZANINI, Stefano         ITA  MAPEI-BRICOBI             7.36
 99. LOMBARDI, Giovanni      ITA  TELEKOM                   7.47
100. GAUMONT, Philippe       FRA  COFIDIS                   7.58
101. MATTAN, Nico            BEL  MAPEI-BRICOBI             8.12
102. HUNT, Jeremy            GBR  BANESTO                   8.15
103. PLANCKAERT, Jo          BEL  LOTTO-MOBISTAR            8.15
104. HORNER, Christopher     USA  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX     8.18
105. BERMEJO, Andres         ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC           8.24
106. DURANT, Jacky           FRA  CASINO                    8.27
107. VAN BON, Leon           NED  RABOBANK                  8.38
108. PERON, Andrea           ITA  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX    12.48
109. BARRIGON, Josue         ESP  ONCE                     12.48
110. BRAMATI, Davide         ITA  MAPEI-BRICOBI            14.28
111. PASCUAL RODRIGUEZ, Jav  ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA       14.28
112. VAN MALDERGHEM, Steven  BEL  PALMANS-IDEAL            14.44
113. ALVES, Nuno             POR  TROIAMARISCO-P.RAVES     20.16
114. ELIZBURU, Jose M.       ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC          20.16
115. GARCIA, Jose Vicente    ESP  BANESTO                  20.16
116. VANZELLA, Flavio        ITA  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX    20.16
117. HIEMSTRA, Bert          NED  RABOBANK                 20.16
118. LAFIS, Michael          SWE  TVM-FARM FRITES          20.16
119. JIMENEZ, Eladio         ESP  BANESTO                  20.16
120. FERNANDES, Philippe     FRA  TROIAMARISCO-P.RAVES     20.16
121. WEGMANN, Christian      GER  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA      20.16
122. WILLIEMS, Ludwing       BEL  LOTTO-MOBISTAR           20.16
123. SCHLICKAU, Michael      GER  TEAM GEROLSTEINER        20.16
124. LASTRAS, Pablo          ESP  BANESTO                  20.16
125. CORVERS, Frank          BEL  PALMANS-IDEAL            20.16
126. GRABSCH, Ralf           GER  TEAM GEROLSTEINER        20.16
127. DE CLERCQ, Hans         BEL  PALMANS-IDEAL            20.16
128. LIVINGSTON, Kevin       USA  COFIDIS                  20.16
129. VERZIAGI, Stefano       ITA  ESTEPONA-BREPAC          20.16
130. VAN DER WOLF, Michael   NED  TEAM GEROLSTEINER        20.16
131. MATIAS, Raul            POR  TROIAMARISCO-P.RAVES     20.16
132. BELOKI, Joseba          ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI        20.27
133. KINTANA, Aitor          ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI        20.27
134. WALZER, Andreas         GER  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA      20.27
135. VANDENBROUCKE, Jean-De  BEL  LOTTO-MOBISTAR           34.13
136. GLASNER, Bjorn          GER  TEAM GEROLSTEINER        34.13
137. BRAND, Hans-Kurt        SUI  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA      34.28
138. VIERHOUTEN, Aart        NED  RABOBANK                 34.43
139. AGNOLUTTO, Christophe   FRA  CASINO                   34.58
140. GWIAZDOWSKI, Grzegorz   POL  COFIDIS                  36.35
141. PARINUSSA, Stefan       GER  TEAM GEROLSTEINER        38.17

GC after Stage 3

  1. GARCIA, Marcelino           ESP  ONCE                      14.10.35
  2. JALABERT, Laurent           FRA  ONCE                          0.05
  3. ETXEBARRIA, David           ESP  ONCE                          0.10
  4. VANDENBROUCKE, Frank        BEL  MAPEI-BRICOBI                 0.15
  5. CABELLO, Francisco          ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA            0.27
  6. SALMERON, Gines             ESP  VITALICIO SEGUROS             0.32
  7. EKIMOV, Vjatceslav          RUS  US POSTAL SERVICE             0.32
  8. TCHMIL, Andrei              UKR  LOTTO-MOBISTAR                0.36
  9. MERCADO, Juan M.            ESP  VITALICIO SEGUROS             0.36
 10. BESSY, Frederic             FRA  CASINO                        0.36
 11. JAERMAN, Rolf               SUI  CASINO                        0.42
 12. MARTIN, M. Angel            ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA            0.42
 13. VAN PETEGEM, Peter          BEL  TVM-FARM FRITES               0.42
 14. JULICH, Bobby               USA  COFIDIS                       0.50
 15. ARMSTRONG, Lance            USA  US POSTAL SERVICE             0.50
 16. FARAZIJN, Peter             BEL  LOTTO-MOBISTAR                0.50
 17. GONZALEZ, I¤igo             ESP  VITALICIO SEGUROS             0.55
 18. GONZALEZ, Ramon             ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI             0.55
 19. NIERMANN, Grischa           GER  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA           0.59
 20. ETXEBARRIA, Unai            ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI             1.05
 21. PEERS, Chris                BEL  LOTTO-MOBISTAR                1.16
 22. GOMEZ, Jose Javier          ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA            1.16
 23. BOMANS, Carlo               BEL  PALMANS-IDEAL                 1.23
 24. CASTRESANA, Angel           ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI             1.23
 25. HOJ, Frank                  DEN  PALMANS-IDEAL                 1.26
 26. DIERCKXENS, Ludo            BEL  LOTTO-MOBISTAR                1.26
 27. LAVARINHAS, Rui             POR  TROIAMARISCO-P.RAVESSA        1.26
 28. BALDINGER, Dirk             GER  TELEKOM                       1.26
 29. VAN HYFTE, Paul             BEL  LOTTO-MOBISTAR                1.38
 30. LOPEZ, Oscar                ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI             1.38
 31. JAN, Xavier                 FRA  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUXX        1.38
 32. WAUTERS, Marc               BEL  RABOBANK                      1.41
 33. SEVILLA, Oscar              ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA            1.41
 34. DEN BAKKER, Maarten         NED  RABOBANK                      1.41
 35. OSA, Unai                   ESP  BANESTO                       1.47
 36. MIRANDA, Carmelo            ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC               1.47
 37. RICHARD, Pascal             SUI  CASINO                        1.47
 38. IVANOV, Serguei             RUS  TVM-FARM FRITES               2.04
 39. HEPPNER, Jens               GER  TELEKOM                       2.10
 40. ROBIN, Jean-Cyril           FRA  US POSTAL SERVICE             2.14
 41. FREIRE, Oscar               ESP  VITALICIO SEGUROS             2.17
 42. HINCAPIE, Georgo            USA  US POSTAL SERVICE             2.24
 43. FERNANDEZ, Manuel           ESP  BANESTO                       2.24
 44. MORIN, Anthony              FRA  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUXX        2.24
 45. SUNDERLAND, Scott           AUS  PALMANS-IDEAL                 2.28
 46. HUNDERTMARK, Kai            GER  TELEKOM                       2.28
 47. NIETO, German               ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC               2.33
 48. VICARIO, Juan Carlos        ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC               2.40
 49. GONZALEZ, Igor              ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI             2.45
 50. PLAZA, David                ESP  COFIDIS                       2.45
 51. BELTRAN, Manuel             ESP  BANESTO                       2.55
 52. MCEWEN, Robbie              AUS  RABOBANK                      3.06
 53. HERNANDEZ, Eduardo          ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA            3.12
 54. SIERRA, Roberto             ESP  ONCE                          3.14
 55. SALMON, Benoit              FRA  CASINO                        3.18
 56. SCHMIDT, Rico               GER  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA           3.20
 57. GAMITO, Victor Manuel       POR  TROIAMARISCO-P.RAVESSA        3.27
 58. MEINERT, Peter              DEN  US POSTAL SERVICE             3.34
 59. BERZIN, Eugeni              RUS  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUXX        3.34
 60. SORENSEN, Rolf              DEN  RABOBANK                      3.46
 61. BARANOWSKI, Dariusz         POL  US POSTAL SERVICE             3.55
 62. VANDERAERDEN, Gert          BEL  PALMANS-IDEAL                 4.04
 63. DIETZ, Bert                 GER  TELEKOM                       4.19
 64. ZABEL, Erik                 GER  TELEKOM                       4.38
 65. CAPELLE, Christophe         FRA  COFIDIS                       4.38
 66. VALLS, Tomas                ESP  TROIAMARISCO-P.RAVESSA        4.38
 67. HEULOT, Stephane            FRA  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUXX        4.38
 68. PEETERS, Wilfried           BEL  MAPEI-BRICOBI                 4.38
 69. KASPUTIS, Arturas           LTU  CASINO                        4.38
 70. MUSEEUW, Johan              BEL  MAPEI-BRICOBI                 4.38
 71. LEYSEN, Bart                BEL  MAPEI-BRICOBI                 4.38
 72. SCHAFFRATH, Jan             GER  TELEKOM                       4.38
 73. OUTSCHAKOV, Serguei         UKR  TVM-FARM FRITES               4.38
 74. MOREAU, Francis             FRA  COFIDIS                       4.38
 75. FLORES, Igor                ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI             5.05
 76. AGGIANO, Elio               ITA  VITALICIO SEGUROS             5.11
 77. WESEMANN, Steffen           GER  TELEKOM                       5.54
 78. ANDREU, Frankie             USA  US POSTAL SERVICE             6.16
 79. SCHOLZ, Timo                GER  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA           6.30
 80. HENRIX, Sascha              GER  TEAM GEROLSTEINER             6.30
 81. BLANCO, Santiago            ESP  VITALICIO SEGUROS             6.30
 82. ANDERSSON, Michael          SWE  TVM-FARM FRITES               6.39
 83. SAUERBORN, Andreas          GER  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA           6.39
 84. DIAZ, Rafael                ESP  ONCE                          6.39
 85. GARMENDIA, Aitor            ESP  BANESTO                       6.39
 86. GARCIA, Ignacio             ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA            6.39
 87. PAUWELS, Karl               BEL  PALMANS-IDEAL                 6.51
 88. EDO, Angel                  ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA            6.55
 89. MICHAELSEN, Lars            DEN  TVM-FARM FRITES               7.07
 90. STEELS, Tom                 BEL  MAPEI-BRICOBI                 7.10
 91. LEAZNIBARRUTIA, Alberto     ESP  ONCE                          7.23
 92. MAULEON, Javier             ESP  ONCE                          7.28
 93. LOMBARDI, Giovanni          ITA  TELEKOM                       7.47
 94. GAUMONT, Philippe           FRA  COFIDIS                       7.58
 95. MATTAN, Nico                BEL  MAPEI-BRICOBI                 8.12
 96. HUNT, Jeremy                GBR  BANESTO                       8.15
 97. PLANCKAERT, Jo              BEL  LOTTO-MOBISTAR                8.15
 98. HORNER, Christopher         USA  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUXX        8.18
 99. BERMEJO, Andres             ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC               8.24
100. VAN BON, Leon               NED  RABOBANK                      8.38
101. PEREZ, Cesar                ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC              11.12
102. VILLANUEVA, Isaac           ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC              11.12
103. VAN HEESWIJK, Max           NED  RABOBANK                     11.30
104. BARRIGON, Josue             ESP  ONCE                         12.48
105. PERON, Andrea               ITA  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUXX       12.48
106. PASCUAL RODRIGUEZ, Javier   ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA           14.28
107. BRAMATI, Davide             ITA  MAPEI-BRICOBI                14.28
108. VAN MALDERGHEM, Steven      BEL  PALMANS-IDEAL                14.44
109. RINCON, Oliverio            COL  VITALICIO SEGUROS            15.24
110. MOLLER, Claus Michael       DEN  TVM-FARM FRITES              15.30
111. ZANINI, Stefano             ITA  MAPEI-BRICOBI                16.32
112. DURANT, Jacky               FRA  CASINO                       17.21
113. VAN DER WOLF, Michael       NED  TEAM GEROLSTEINER            20.16
114. HIEMSTRA, Bert              NED  RABOBANK                     20.16
115. VERZIAGI, Stefano           ITA  ESTEPONA-BREPAC              20.16
116. GRABSCH, Ralf               GER  TEAM GEROLSTEINER            20.16
117. ALVES, Nuno                 POR  TROIAMARISCO-P.RAVESSA       20.16
118. CORVERS, Frank              BEL  PALMANS-IDEAL                20.16
119. FERNANDES, Philippe         FRA  TROIAMARISCO-P.RAVESSA       20.16
120. JIMENEZ, Eladio             ESP  BANESTO                      20.16
121. DE CLERCQ, Hans             BEL  PALMANS-IDEAL                20.16
122. LIVINGSTON, Kevin           USA  COFIDIS                      20.16
123. VANZELLA, Flavio            ITA  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUXX       20.16
124. SCHLICKAU, Michael          GER  TEAM GEROLSTEINER            20.16
125. BELOKI, Joseba              ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI            20.27
126. WEGMANN, Christian          GER  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA          21.08
127. GARCIA, Jose Vicente        ESP  BANESTO                      21.08
128. LASTRAS, Pablo              ESP  BANESTO                      26.50
129. ELIZBURU, Jose M.           ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC              26.50
130. MATIAS, Raul                POR  TROIAMARISCO-P.RAVESSA       26.50
131. KINTANA, Aitor              ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI            27.01
132. LAFIS, Michael              SWE  TVM-FARM FRITES              29.02
133. WILLIEMS, Ludwing           BEL  LOTTO-MOBISTAR               29.10
134. WALZER, Andreas             GER  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA          29.13
135. GWIAZDOWSKI, Grzegorz       POL  COFIDIS                      36.35
136. BRAND, Hans-Kurt            SUI  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA          41.12
137. VANDENBROUCKE, Jean-Denis   BEL  LOTTO-MOBISTAR               42.59
138. GLASNER, Bjorn              GER  TEAM GEROLSTEINER            43.07
139. VIERHOUTEN, Aart            NED  RABOBANK                     43.37
140. AGNOLUTTO, Christophe       FRA  CASINO                       43.52
141. PARINUSSA, Stefan           GER  TEAM GEROLSTEINER            47.03
Brief

The stage from Benalmadena to the Santuario de la Virgen Arceli finished near the Cloister at the Sanctuary after a first category climb. This was the so-called 'Queen Stage' of the La Ruta del Sol, and became a show case for ONCE, who took the first three places for the stage and the overall GC.

The average speed for the stage was 37.06 kms/hr.

The stage lived up to the expected hype and very quickly different teams started to make moves. The first to come were from Frenchman Jacky Durand, Spaniard Andrés Bermejo and Dutchman Van Bon, who took off at kilometer 13. They opened a gap of up to nine minutes since they worked well together and there was no organized chase. That was until Kelme and ONCE decided to take matters in their hands to bring them back. Van Bon was able to drop his breakaway companions at kilometer 130, but he was caught 20kms later, with 15kms to go. As they reached the streets of Lucena, the real race began with the Vandenbroucke and his fellow Mapei riders imposing the climbing rhythm off the front. But the two teams that until then had worked the most joined in an exciting duel up the last 12 kilometers of climbing. Things went the way of ONCE, mostly because of the strength of their riders and Jalabert's experience, who time and time again interrupted the rivals rhythm.

Marcelino García escaped from the group with some four kilometers to go and without opening a big gap, was able to maintain a good rhythm which allowed him to get to the finish five seconds ahead of Jalabert. Jalabert had to counter attack the many escape attempts from their group. Nine seconds further back in third was García's ONCE teammate David Etxeberria.