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 4, Puente Genil - Jaen, 147.3 kms:

  1. VAN HEESWIJK, Max           NED  RABOBANK               3.50.52
  2. TCHMIL, Andrei              UKR  LOTTO-MOBISTAR       
  3. MARTIN, M. Angel            ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA   
  4. OUTSCHAKOV, Serguei         UKR  TVM-FARM FRITES      
  5. HINCAPIE, Georgo            USA  US POSTAL SERVICE    
  6. JALABERT, Laurent           FRA  ONCE                 
  7. BALDINGER, Dirk             GER  TELEKOM              
  8. PEETERS, Wilfried           BEL  MAPEI-BRICOBI        
  9. VAN PETEGEM, Peter          BEL  TVM-FARM FRITES      
 10. PEERS, Chris                BEL  LOTTO-MOBISTAR       
 11. JULICH, Bobby               USA  COFIDIS              
 12. ARMSTRONG, Lance            USA  US POSTAL SERVICE    
 13. ETXEBARRIA, Unai            ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI    
 14. JAERMAN, Rolf               SUI  CASINO               
 15. DIERCKXENS, Ludo            BEL  LOTTO-MOBISTAR       
 16. MUSEEUW, Johan              BEL  MAPEI-BRICOBI        
 17. HOJ, Frank                  DEN  PALMANS-IDEAL        
 18. MERCADO, Juan M.            ESP  VITALICIO SEGUROS    
 19. FARAZIJN, Peter             BEL  LOTTO-MOBISTAR       
 20. MORIN, Anthony              FRA  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX 
 21. SALMERON, Gines             ESP  VITALICIO SEGUROS    
 22. EKIMOV, Vjatceslav          RUS  US POSTAL SERVICE    
 23. WAUTERS, Marc               BEL  RABOBANK             
 24. VALLS, Tomas                ESP  TROIAMARISCO-P.RAVES 
 25. GARCIA, Marcelino           ESP  ONCE                 
 26. NIERMANN, Grischa           GER  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA  
 27. ETXEBARRIA, David           ESP  ONCE                 
 28. SEVILLA, Oscar              ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA   
 29. BESSY, Frederic             FRA  CASINO               
 30. GONZALEZ, I¤igo             ESP  VITALICIO SEGUROS    
 31. CASTRESANA, Angel           ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI    
 32. CABELLO, Francisco          ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA   
 33. DEN BAKKER, Maarten         NED  RABOBANK             
 34. LAVARINHAS, Rui             POR  TROIAMARISCO-P.RAVES 
 35. VANDENBROUCKE, Frank        BEL  MAPEI-BRICOBI        
 36. GONZALEZ, Ramon             ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI    
 37. MIRANDA, Carmelo            ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC      
 38. MEINERT, Peter              DEN  US POSTAL SERVICE    
 39. HERNANDEZ, Eduardo          ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA   
 40. GOMEZ, Jose Javier          ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA   
 41. RICHARD, Pascal             SUI  CASINO               
 42. BERZIN, Eugeni              RUS  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX
 43. FERNANDEZ, Manuel           ESP  BANESTO                   0.17
 44. HUNDERTMARK, Kai            GER  TELEKOM             
 45. VICARIO, Juan Carlos        ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC           1.47
 46. IVANOV, Serguei             RUS  TVM-FARM FRITES           1.47
 47. LOPEZ, Oscar                ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI         1.47
 48. SIERRA, Roberto             ESP  ONCE                      1.47
 49. DIETZ, Bert                 GER  TELEKOM                   1.47
 50. ELIZBURU, Jose M.           ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC           1.47
 51. CORVERS, Frank              BEL  PALMANS-IDEAL             1.47
 52. VAN HYFTE, Paul             BEL  LOTTO-MOBISTAR            1.47
 53. SORENSEN, Rolf              DEN  RABOBANK                  1.47
 54. LEAZNIBARRUTIA, Albert      ESP  ONCE                      1.47
 55. LEYSEN, Bart                BEL  MAPEI-BRICOBI             1.47
 56. LOMBARDI, Giovanni          ITA  TELEKOM                   1.47
 57. AGGIANO, Elio               ITA  VITALICIO SEGUROS         1.47
 58. SALMON, Benoit              FRA  CASINO                    1.47
 59. GONZALEZ, Igor              ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI         1.47
 60. ROBIN, Jean-Cyril           FRA  US POSTAL SERVICE         1.47
 61. GAUMONT, Philippe           FRA  COFIDIS                   1.47
 62. MATTAN, Nico                BEL  MAPEI-BRICOBI             4.46
 63. GLASNER, Bjorn              GER  TEAM GEROLSTEINER         5.09
 64. MICHAELSEN, Lars            DEN  TVM-FARM FRITES           5.09
 65. VILLANUEVA, Isaac           ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC           5.09
 66. MOLLER, Claus Michael       DEN  TVM-FARM FRITES           5.09
 67. SCHOLZ, Timo                GER  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA       5.09
 68. ALVES, Nuno                 POR  TROIAMARISCO-P.RAVES      5.09
 69. GAMITO, Victor Manuel       POR  TROIAMARISCO-P.RAVES      5.09
 70. JIMENEZ, Eladio             ESP  BANESTO                   5.09
 71. KASPUTIS, Arturas           LTU  CASINO                    5.09
 72. NIETO, German               ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC           5.09
 73. BELTRAN, Manuel             ESP  BANESTO                   5.09
 74. VERZIAGI, Stefano           ITA  ESTEPONA-BREPAC           5.09
 75. BARANOWSKI, Dariusz         POL  US POSTAL SERVICE         5.09
 76. SCHMIDT, Rico               GER  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA       5.09
 77. MOREAU, Francis             FRA  COFIDIS                   5.09
 78. STEELS, Tom                 BEL  MAPEI-BRICOBI             5.09
 79. HEPPNER, Jens               GER  TELEKOM                   9.41
 80. SUNDERLAND, Scott           AUS  PALMANS-IDEAL             9.41
 81. PAUWELS, Karl               BEL  PALMANS-IDEAL             9.41
 82. PLAZA, David                ESP  COFIDIS                   9.41
 83. HORNER, Christopher         USA  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX    12.30
 84. VAN BON, Leon               NED  RABOBANK                 12.30
 85. HIEMSTRA, Bert              NED  RABOBANK                 12.30
 86. ZABEL, Erik                 GER  TELEKOM                  12.30
 87. GARCIA, Jose Vicente        ESP  BANESTO                  12.30
 88. GARCIA, Ignacio             ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA       12.30
 89. WESEMANN, Steffen           GER  TELEKOM                  12.30
 90. SCHAFFRATH, Jan             GER  TELEKOM                  12.30
 91. PEREZ, Cesar                ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC          12.30
 92. SAUERBORN, Andreas          GER  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA      12.30
 93. EDO, Angel                  ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA       12.30
 94. VAN DER WOLF, Michael       NED  TEAM GEROLSTEINER        12.30
 95. FREIRE, Oscar               ESP  VITALICIO SEGUROS        12.30
 96. HEULOT, Stephane            FRA  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX    12.30
 97. JAN, Xavier                 FRA  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX    12.30
 98. BRAMATI, Davide             ITA  MAPEI-BRICOBI            12.30
 99. PARINUSSA, Stefan           GER  TEAM GEROLSTEINER        16.14
100. FERNANDES, Philippe         FRA  TROIAMARISCO-P.RAVES     16.14
101. AGNOLUTTO, Christophe       FRA  CASINO                   16.14
102. GRABSCH, Ralf               GER  TEAM GEROLSTEINER        16.14
103. ZANINI, Stefano             ITA  MAPEI-BRICOBI            16.14
104. DURANT, Jacky               FRA  CASINO                   16.14
105. BRAND, Hans-Kurt            SUI  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA      16.14
106. VAN MALDERGHEM, Steven      BEL  PALMANS-IDEAL            16.14
107. LAFIS, Michael              SWE  TVM-FARM FRITES          16.14
108. VANZELLA, Flavio            ITA  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX    16.14
109. WEGMANN, Christian          GER  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA      16.14
110. RINCON, Oliverio            COL  VITALICIO SEGUROS        16.14
111. BLANCO, Santiago            ESP  VITALICIO SEGUROS        16.14
112. PASCUAL RODRIGUEZ, Jav      ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA       16.14
113. BARRIGON, Josue             ESP  ONCE                     16.14
114. DIAZ, Rafael                ESP  ONCE                     16.14
115. WALZER, Andreas             GER  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA      16.14
116. MAULEON, Javier             ESP  ONCE                     16.14
117. MATIAS, Raul                POR  TROIAMARISCO-P.RAVES     16.14
118. PERON, Andrea               ITA  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX    16.14
119. LIVINGSTON, Kevin           USA  COFIDIS                  16.14
120. HUNT, Jeremy                GBR  BANESTO                  16.14
121. BERMEJO, Andres             ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC          16.14
122. VIERHOUTEN, Aart            NED  RABOBANK                 16.14
123. GWIAZDOWSKI, Grzegorz       POL  COFIDIS                  16.14
124. VANDENBROUCKE, Jean-De      BEL  LOTTO-MOBISTAR           16.14
125. GARMENDIA, Aitor            ESP  BANESTO                  16.14
126. FLORES, Igor                ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI        16.14
127. WILLIEMS, Ludwing           BEL  LOTTO-MOBISTAR           16.14
128. LASTRAS, Pablo              ESP  BANESTO                  16.14
129. CAPELLE, Christophe         FRA  COFIDIS                  16.14
130. SCHLICKAU, Michael          GER  TEAM GEROLSTEINER        16.14
131. KINTANA, Aitor              ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI        16.14
132. HENRIX, Sascha              GER  TEAM GEROLSTEINER        16.14
133. MCEWEN, Robbie              AUS  RABOBANK                 16.14

GC after Stage 4

  1. GARCIA, Marcelino          ESP  ONCE                    18.01.27
  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. MARTIN, M. Angel           ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA          0.42
 12. JAERMAN, Rolf              SUI  CASINO                      0.42
 13. JULICH, Bobby              USA  COFIDIS                     0.50
 14. ARMSTRONG, Lance           USA  US POSTAL SERVICE           0.50
 15. FARAZIJN, Peter            BEL  LOTTO-MOBISTAR              0.50
 16. GONZALEZ, I¤igo            ESP  VITALICIO SEGUROS           0.55
 17. GONZALEZ, Ramon            ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI           0.55
 18. NIERMANN, Grischa          GER  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA         0.59
 19. VAN PETEGEM, Peter         BEL  TVM-FARM FRITES             1.02
 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. CASTRESANA, Angel          ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI           1.23
 24. HOJ, Frank                 DEN  PALMANS-IDEAL               1.26
 25. DIERCKXENS, Ludo           BEL  LOTTO-MOBISTAR              1.26
 26. LAVARINHAS, Rui            POR  TROIAMARISCO-P.RAVESSA      1.26
 27. BALDINGER, Dirk            GER  TELEKOM                     1.26
 28. WAUTERS, Marc              BEL  RABOBANK                    1.41
 29. SEVILLA, Oscar             ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA          1.41
 30. DEN BAKKER, Maarten        NED  RABOBANK                    1.41
 31. MIRANDA, Carmelo           ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC             1.47
 32. RICHARD, Pascal            SUI  CASINO                      1.47
 33. HINCAPIE, Georgo           USA  US POSTAL SERVICE           2.24
 34. MORIN, Anthony             FRA  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX       2.24
 35. HUNDERTMARK, Kai           GER  TELEKOM                     2.28
 36. FERNANDEZ, Manuel          ESP  BANESTO                     2.41
 37. HERNANDEZ, Eduardo         ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA          3.12
 38. VAN HYFTE, Paul            BEL  LOTTO-MOBISTAR              3.25
 39. LOPEZ, Oscar               ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI           3.25
 40. MEINERT, Peter             DEN  US POSTAL SERVICE           3.34
 41. BERZIN, Eugeni             RUS  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX       3.34
 42. IVANOV, Serguei            RUS  TVM-FARM FRITES             3.51
 43. ROBIN, Jean-Cyril          FRA  US POSTAL SERVICE           4.01
 44. VICARIO, Juan Carlos       ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC             4.27
 45. GONZALEZ, Igor             ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI           4.32
 46. VALLS, Tomas               ESP  TROIAMARISCO-P.RAVESSA      4.38
 47. PEETERS, Wilfried          BEL  MAPEI-BRICOBI               4.38
 48. MUSEEUW, Johan             BEL  MAPEI-BRICOBI               4.38
 49. OUTSCHAKOV, Serguei        UKR  TVM-FARM FRITES             4.38
 50. SIERRA, Roberto            ESP  ONCE                        5.01
 51. SALMON, Benoit             FRA  CASINO                      5.05
 52. SORENSEN, Rolf             DEN  RABOBANK                    5.33
 53. DIETZ, Bert                GER  TELEKOM                     6.06
 54. LEYSEN, Bart               BEL  MAPEI-BRICOBI               6.25
 55. AGGIANO, Elio              ITA  VITALICIO SEGUROS           6.58
 56. NIETO, German              ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC             7.42
 57. BELTRAN, Manuel            ESP  BANESTO                     8.04
 58. SCHMIDT, Rico              GER  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA         8.29
 59. GAMITO, Victor Manuel      POR  TROIAMARISCO-P.RAVESSA      8.36
 60. BARANOWSKI, Dariusz        POL  US POSTAL SERVICE           9.04
 61. LEAZNIBARRUTIA, Alberto    ESP  ONCE                        9.10
 62. LOMBARDI, Giovanni         ITA  TELEKOM                     9.34
 63. GAUMONT, Philippe          FRA  COFIDIS                     9.45
 64. KASPUTIS, Arturas          LTU  CASINO                      9.47
 65. MOREAU, Francis            FRA  COFIDIS                     9.47
 66. VAN HEESWIJK, Max          NED  RABOBANK                   11.30
 67. SCHOLZ, Timo               GER  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA        11.39
 68. HEPPNER, Jens              GER  TELEKOM                    11.51
 69. SUNDERLAND, Scott          AUS  PALMANS-IDEAL              12.09
 70. STEELS, Tom                BEL  MAPEI-BRICOBI              12.19
 71. PLAZA, David               ESP  COFIDIS                    12.26
 72. MICHAELSEN, Lars           DEN  TVM-FARM FRITES            12.36
 73. MATTAN, Nico               BEL  MAPEI-BRICOBI              12.58
 74. JAN, Xavier                FRA  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX      14.08
 75. FREIRE, Oscar              ESP  VITALICIO SEGUROS          14.47
 76. VILLANUEVA, Isaac          ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC            16.21
 77. PAUWELS, Karl              BEL  PALMANS-IDEAL              16.32
 78. ZABEL, Erik                GER  TELEKOM                    17.08
 79. SCHAFFRATH, Jan            GER  TELEKOM                    17.08
 80. HEULOT, Stephane           FRA  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX      17.18
 81. WESEMANN, Steffen          GER  TELEKOM                    18.54
 82. SAUERBORN, Andreas         GER  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA        19.09
 83. GARCIA, Ignacio            ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA         19.09
 84. MCEWEN, Robbie             AUS  RABOBANK                   19.20
 85. EDO, Angel                 ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA         19.25
 86. MOLLER, Claus Michael      DEN  TVM-FARM FRITES            20.39
 87. HORNER, Christopher        USA  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX      20.48
 88. CAPELLE, Christophe        FRA  COFIDIS                    20.52
 89. VAN BON, Leon              NED  RABOBANK                   21.08
 90. FLORES, Igor               ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI          21.19
 91. CORVERS, Frank             BEL  PALMANS-IDEAL              22.03
 92. HENRIX, Sascha             GER  TEAM GEROLSTEINER          22.44
 93. BLANCO, Santiago           ESP  VITALICIO SEGUROS          22.44
 94. DIAZ, Rafael               ESP  ONCE                       22.53
 95. GARMENDIA, Aitor           ESP  BANESTO                    22.53
 96. PEREZ, Cesar               ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC            23.42
 97. MAULEON, Javier            ESP  ONCE                       23.42
 98. HUNT, Jeremy               GBR  BANESTO                    24.29
 99. BERMEJO, Andres            ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC            24.38
100. VERZIAGI, Stefano          ITA  ESTEPONA-BREPAC            25.25
101. ALVES, Nuno                POR  TROIAMARISCO-P.RAVESSA     25.25
102. JIMENEZ, Eladio            ESP  BANESTO                    25.25
103. BRAMATI, Davide            ITA  MAPEI-BRICOBI              26.58
104. ELIZBURU, Jose M.          ESP  ESTEPONA-BREPAC            28.37
105. BARRIGON, Josue            ESP  ONCE                       29.02
106. PERON, Andrea              ITA  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX      29.02
107. PASCUAL RODRIGUEZ, Javier  ESP  KELME-COSTA BLANCA         30.42
108. VAN MALDERGHEM, Steven     BEL  PALMANS-IDEAL              30.58
109. RINCON, Oliverio           COL  VITALICIO SEGUROS          31.38
110. HIEMSTRA, Bert             NED  RABOBANK                   32.46
111. VAN DER WOLF, Michael      NED  TEAM GEROLSTEINER          32.46
112. ZANINI, Stefano            ITA  MAPEI-BRICOBI              32.46
113. DURANT, Jacky              FRA  CASINO                     33.35
114. GARCIA, Jose Vicente       ESP  BANESTO                    33.38
115. GRABSCH, Ralf              GER  TEAM GEROLSTEINER          36.30
116. FERNANDES, Philippe        FRA  TROIAMARISCO-P.RAVESSA     36.30
117. LIVINGSTON, Kevin          USA  COFIDIS                    36.30
118. VANZELLA, Flavio           ITA  LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX      36.30
119. SCHLICKAU, Michael         GER  TEAM GEROLSTEINER          36.30
120. WEGMANN, Christian         GER  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA        37.22
121. LASTRAS, Pablo             ESP  BANESTO                    43.04
122. MATIAS, Raul               POR  TROIAMARISCO-P.RAVESSA     43.04
123. KINTANA, Aitor             ESP  EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI          43.15
124. LAFIS, Michael             SWE  TVM-FARM FRITES            45.16
125. WILLIEMS, Ludwing          BEL  LOTTO-MOBISTAR             45.24
126. WALZER, Andreas            GER  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA        45.27
127. GLASNER, Bjorn             GER  TEAM GEROLSTEINER          48.16
128. GWIAZDOWSKI, Grzegorz      POL  COFIDIS                    52.49
129. BRAND, Hans-Kurt           SUI  CONTINENTAL-OLYMPIA        57.26
130. VANDENBROUCKE, Jean-Denis  BEL  LOTTO-MOBISTAR             59.13
131. VIERHOUTEN, Aart           NED  RABOBANK                   59.51
132. AGNOLUTTO, Christophe      FRA  CASINO                   1.00.06
133. PARINUSSA, Stefan          GER  TEAM GEROLSTEINER        1.03.17
Brief

Spanish rider Marcelino García, from Team ONCE is the virtual winner of the 44th edition of la Vuelta a Andalucía after the excellent control exercised by his ONCE team throughout the penultimate stage. Dutchman Max van Heeswijk, from Team Rabobank won the stage.

The 147kms of the fourth stage, between Puente Genil & Jaén, were covered by Van Heeswijk in 3:50:52, at an average speed of 38.2 km/hr. The general classification didn't suffer any changes in the top places, with the ONCE riders dominating.

ONCE's strength was obvious from the first kilometers, and they worked to prevent their closest rivals from making things harder. This would be the theme for most of the stage - monotony ruled while they waited for the climb of Alto de La Pandera, a category 1, which was located 28kms from the finish. The peloton was stirred into action in the first kilometers of thi 8km climb, which in some sections was around 8%. But ONCE didn't want any surprises and they kept vigilant throughout.

Team Kelme launched García Camacho, who was able to open a gap of up to 3 minutes, but ONCE maintained a high tempo up front, the proof of this being that the first to make the top of the climb was Laurent Jalabert. The descent was rough and the most significant thing was a flat tire by David Etxeberría, teammate of leader Marcelino García. He quickly rejoined the group.

Almost at the finish, Kelme moved to the front to try to setup their sprinter for a good finish. But Van Heeswijk, who usually is the setup man for McEwen, would take advantage of Kelme's work and make it two wins for Team Rabobank.

The fifth and last stage will be tomorrow between Ubeda and Granada, over 150 kms, which should be a mere formality for overall leader Marcelino García.