78th Volta Catalunya, Cat HC

Spain, June 18-25, 1998


Other Stages    

Brief:

Colombian rider, Hernan Buenahora (Vitalicio Seguros), became today the new overall leader of la Vuelta a Cataluńa, after winning stage 7 between Caldes Boí and Ordino Arcalís (231,7 kms).

The 'Queen Stage' was a bit disappointing, without the expected battle between the leaders eventuating. Several smaller teams mounted persistent attacks which seemed to downgrade the bigger picture. The rider who benefitted most from all of this was Abraham Olano, who didn't have to waste any energy prior to the climb of Ordino Arcalis, where the finish was located.

The Alto Túnel de Viella, the Bonaigua and the Canto, with its 20 kms of climbing were not enough to animate the race. The favorites started to show their cards at the foot of the Orlino Arcalís (10 kms of climbing at 2,240m), with Vitalicio trying their luck. Dominguez and Ferrigato imposed a high tempo which helped to launch their teammate, Colombian Oliverio Rincón. This led to the main contenders having to show their hands. GC leader Olano was dropped on the first slopes and his most direct rivals, Escartín, Totsching and Podenzana worked together to speed things up and ensure that Olano would lose lots of time. With 4 kilometers to the finish, Colombian Hernán Buenahora took advantage and attacked alone in search of the finish line, to finish off the excellent work by his team. Buenahora won the stage and took the leader's jersey. The overall leader was determined by the 100ths of a second, since Olano and Buenahora finished with the same overall time. Olano had 130 and Buenahora 33.

Colombian Hernán Buenahora commented that everything worked out perfectly. "In the morning we had set up the tactics to win the stage. I don't recall any conversation about taking the overall. I think that it has been a sort of reward for the great work in the Pyrenean stages, where I've been the king with two victories", said Buenahora. "I was surprised by the way Olano was dropped, since we were all together at the foot of the climb. When I saw that he was having some difficulties, I didn't pay much attention to it, since we had a plan to carry on and I was in charge of the final blow". The Colombian finished: "I'm not afraid of anything and I can see myself winning the overall. I have been told that the descent of La Rabassa is long and dangerous, but I'm not afraid of anything right now".

Stage 7, Vall de Boi - Andorra, 231.7 kms:

 1. BUENAHORA, Hernan             COL   VITALICIO SEGUROS           6.51.37 (33.77)
 2. TOTSCHING, Georg              AUT   TELEKOM                        0.15
 3. HAMBURGER, Bo                 DEN   CASINO                         0.24
 4. CASTELBLANCO, Jose J.         COL   AVIANCA-TELECOM                0.27
 5. ELLI, Alberto                 ITA   CASINO                         0.41
 6. ESCARTIN, Fernando            ESP   KELME-COSTA BLANCA             0.41
 7. CASERO, Angel Luis            ESP   VITALICIO SEGUROS              0.41
 8. PODENZANA, Massimo            ITA   MERCATONE-UNO-BIANCH           0.41
 9. CONTRERAS, Carlos Albe        COL   KELME-COSTA BLANCA             0.51
10. ROBIN, Jean-Cyril             FRA   U.S.POSTAL SERVICE             0.54
11. CONTI, Roberto                ITA   MERCATONE-UNO-BIANCH           1.03
12. PEĽA, Victor Hugo             COL   AVIANCA-TELECOM                1.05
13. HAMILTON, Tyler               USA   U.S.POSTAL SERVICE             1.05
14. HERNANDEZ, Jairo              COL   AVIANCA-TELECOM                1.05
15. DI GRANDE, Giuseppe           ITA   MAPEI-BRICOBI                  1.05
16. PEREZ, Luis                   ESP   ONCE-DEUTSCHE BANK             1.10
17. BELTRAN, Manuel               ESP   BANESTO                        1.19
18. OLANO, Abraham                ESP   BANESTO                        1.19
19. MIRANDA, Carmelo              ESP   ESTEPONA-BREPAC                1.21
20. VASSEUR, Cedric               FRA   GAN                            1.39
21. MASSI, Rodolfo                ITA   CASINO                         1.39
22. KOKORINE, Vitali              RUS   SAECO MACHINE DA CAF           2.30
23. GONZALEZ, Alvaro              ESP   EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI              2.48
24. SIBONI, Marcello              ITA   MERCATONE-UNO-BIANCH           3.02
25. LEFEVRE, David                FRA   CASINO                         3.54
26. SIERRA, Roberto               ESP   ONCE-DEUTSCHE BANK             3.54
27. SERRANO, Marcos               ESP   KELME-COSTA BLANCA             4.16
28. CEREZO, Fco. Javier           ESP   ESTEPONA-BREPAC                4.16
29. FRATTINI, Francesco           ITA   TELEKOM                        4.35
30. LAFIS, Michael                SWE   T.V.M.-FARM FRITES             4.39
31. BENITEZ, Francisco            ESP   VITALICIO SEGUROS              4.39
32. CHAURREAU, I¤igo              ESP   EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI              4.39
33. SEVILLA, Oscar                ESP   KELME-COSTA BLANCA             4.39
34. MAULEON, Javier               ESP   ONCE-DEUTSCHE BANK             4.39
35. OSORIO, Carlos Andres         COL   AVIANCA-TELECOM                4.39
36. LEON, Francisco               ESP   AVIANCA-TELECOM                6.07
37. ARMSTRONG, Lance              USA   U.S.POSTAL SERVICE             6.31
38. AGUIRRE, Julio Cesar          COL   AVIANCA-TELECOM                7.26
39. RODRIGUES, Orlando S.         POR   BANESTO                        7.58
40. BOLTS, Udo                    GER   TELEKOM                        8.00
41. DIETZ, Bert                   GER   TELEKOM                        9.44
42. LOPEZ, Oscar                  ESP   EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI              9.50
43. LAISEKA, Roberto              ESP   EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI             10.02
44. ZARRABEITIA, Mikel            ESP   ONCE-DEUTSCHE BANK            10.02
45. FONTANELLI, Fabiano           ITA   MERCATONE-UNO-BIANCH          11.24
46. ARRIETA, Jose Luis            ESP   BANESTO                       11.24
47. VICARIO, Juan Carlos          ESP   ESTEPONA-BREPAC               11.24
48. CUESTA, I¤igo                 ESP   ONCE-DEUTSCHE BANK            11.24
49. MAURI, Melchor                ESP   ONCE-DEUTSCHE BANK            11.24
50. GONZALEZ, Igor                ESP   EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI             11.24
51. RINCON, Oliverio              COL   VITALICIO SEGUROS             11.24
52. GOMEZ, Jose Javier            ESP   KELME-COSTA BLANCA            14.18
53. FERRIGATO, Andrea             ITA   VITALICIO SEGUROS             15.44
54. PEERS, Chris                  BEL   LOTTO-MOBISTAR                15.48
55. EKIMOV, Vjatceslav            RUS   U.S.POSTAL SERVICE            15.48
56. TAFI, Andrea                  ITA   MAPEI-BRICOBI                 15.48
57. HINCAPIE, George              USA   U.S.POSTAL SERVICE            15.48
58. MORATILLA, Victor Manu        ESP   ESTEPONA-BREPAC               15.48
59. DERAME, Pascal                FRA   U.S.POSTAL SERVICE            15.48
60. DOMINGUEZ, Juan Carlos        ESP   VITALICIO SEGUROS             15.48
61. GARCIA, Fco. Jose             ESP   ONCE-DEUTSCHE BANK            15.48
62. GONZALEZ, Ramon               ESP   EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI             15.48
63. DURAND, Jacky                 FRA   CASINO                        15.48
64. DE LOS ANGELES, Juan J        ESP   KELME-COSTA BLANCA            15.48
65. ALONSO, Marino                ESP   BANESTO                       15.48
66. HENN, Christian               GER   TELEKOM                       15.48
67. MEINERT, Peter                DEN   U.S.POSTAL SERVICE            15.48
68. ANGUITA, Eleuterio            ESP   ESTEPONA-BREPAC               15.48
69. MARICHAL, Thierry             BEL   LOTTO-MOBISTAR                16.26
70. MICHAELSEN, Lars              DEN   T.V.M.-FARM FRITES            18.08
71. GARCIA, Jose Vicente          ESP   BANESTO                       20.12
72. CALCATERRA, Guiseppe          ITA   SAECO MACHINE DA CAF          24.39
73. FAGNINI, Gian Matteo          ITA   SAECO MACHINE DA CAF          24.39
74. FORNACIARI, Paolo             ITA   SAECO MACHINE DA CAF          24.39
75. FLORES, Igor                  ESP   EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI             24.39
76. BARBOSA, Candido              POR   BANESTO                       24.39
77. EDO, Angel                    ESP   KELME-COSTA BLANCA            24.39
78. ETXEBARRIA, Unai              VEN   EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI             24.39
79. VOSKAMP, Bart                 NED   T.V.M.-FARM FRITES            24.39
80. PRETOT, Arnaud                FRA   GAN                           24.39
81. POLI, Eros                    ITA   GAN                           24.39
82. GONZALEZ, Santos              ESP   KELME-COSTA BLANCA            24.39
83. PEETERS, Wilfried             BEL   MAPEI-BRICOBI                 24.39
84. BOS, Cyril                    FRA   GAN                           24.39
85. MORI, Massimiliano            ITA   SAECO MACHINE DA CAF          24.39
86. BOARDMAN, Christopher         GBR   GAN                           24.39
87. MULLER, Dirk                  GER   TELEKOM                       24.39
88. BLIJLEVENS, Jeroen            NED   T.V.M.-FARM FRITES            24.39
89. ZANINI, Stefano               ITA   MAPEI-BRICOBI                 24.39
90. FEYS, Wim                     BEL   LOTTO-MOBISTAR                24.39
91. LEYSEN, Bart                  BEL   MAPEI-BRICOBI                 24.39
92. TCHMIL, Andrei                BEL   LOTTO-MOBISTAR                24.39
93. OUTSCHAKOV, Serguei           UKR   T.V.M.-FARM FRITES            24.39
94. HOFFMAN, Tristan              NED   T.V.M.-FARM FRITES            24.39
95. BRAMATI, Davide               ITA   MAPEI-BRICOBI                 24.39
96. VAN PETEGEM, Peter            BEL   T.V.M.-FARM FRITES            24.39
97. STEELS, Tom                   BEL   MAPEI-BRICOBI                 24.39

GC after Stage 7

 1. BUENAHORA, Hernan             COL   VITALICIO SEGUROS          28.08.38
 2. OLANO, Abraham                ESP   BANESTO                        s.t.
 3. TOTSCHING, Georg              AUT   TELEKOM                        0.08
 4. ESCARTIN, Fernando            ESP   KELME-COSTA BLANCA             0.16
 5. PODENZANA, Massimo            ITA   MERCATONE-UNO-BIANCHI          0.29
 6. CASERO, Angel Luis            ESP   VITALICIO SEGUROS              0.50
 7. ELLI, Alberto                 ITA   CASINO                         1.01
 8. PEĽA, Victor Hugo             COL   AVIANCA-TELECOM                1.18
 9. CASTELBLANCO, Jose J.         COL   AVIANCA-TELECOM                1.19
10. BELTRAN, Manuel               ESP   BANESTO                        1.43
11. PEREZ, Luis                   ESP   ONCE-DEUTSCHE BANK             1.49
12. HERNANDEZ, Jairo              COL   AVIANCA-TELECOM                2.41
13. HAMBURGER, Bo                 DEN   CASINO                         2.55
14. ROBIN, Jean-Cyril             FRA   U.S.POSTAL SERVICE             3.01
15. CONTI, Roberto                ITA   MERCATONE-UNO-BIANCHI          3.13
16. HAMILTON, Tyler               USA   U.S.POSTAL SERVICE             3.19
17. MIRANDA, Carmelo              ESP   ESTEPONA-BREPAC                3.37
18. DI GRANDE, Giuseppe           ITA   MAPEI-BRICOBI                  3.41
19. MASSI, Rodolfo                ITA   CASINO                         4.40
20. GONZALEZ, Alvaro              ESP   EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI              5.18
21. VASSEUR, Cedric               FRA   GAN                            5.34
22. SIBONI, Marcello              ITA   MERCATONE-UNO-BIANCHI          5.56
23. CEREZO, Fco. Javier           ESP   ESTEPONA-BREPAC                6.01
24. SERRANO, Marcos               ESP   KELME-COSTA BLANCA             6.14
25. CONTRERAS, Carlos Alberto     COL   KELME-COSTA BLANCA             6.29
26. KOKORINE, Vitali              RUS   SAECO MACHINE DA CAFFE         7.16
27. FRATTINI, Francesco           ITA   TELEKOM                        7.47
28. MAULEON, Javier               ESP   ONCE-DEUTSCHE BANK             8.40
29. BENITEZ, Francisco            ESP   VITALICIO SEGUROS              9.08
30. SIERRA, Roberto               ESP   ONCE-DEUTSCHE BANK             9.29
31. CHAURREAU, I¤igo              ESP   EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI             10.13
32. LEFEVRE, David                FRA   CASINO                        10.31
33. SEVILLA, Oscar                ESP   KELME-COSTA BLANCA            10.41
34. OSORIO, Carlos Andres         COL   AVIANCA-TELECOM               12.16
35. BOLTS, Udo                    GER   TELEKOM                       12.20
36. LEON, Francisco               ESP   AVIANCA-TELECOM               12.27
37. LAFIS, Michael                SWE   T.V.M.-FARM FRITES            12.29
38. LAISEKA, Roberto              ESP   EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI             13.20
39. MAURI, Melchor                ESP   ONCE-DEUTSCHE BANK            14.05
40. AGUIRRE, Julio Cesar          COL   AVIANCA-TELECOM               14.08
41. DIETZ, Bert                   GER   TELEKOM                       14.51
42. LOPEZ, Oscar                  ESP   EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI             17.48
43. VICARIO, Juan Carlos          ESP   ESTEPONA-BREPAC               18.07
44. RODRIGUES, Orlando S.         POR   BANESTO                       19.05
45. GONZALEZ, Igor                ESP   EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI             19.09
46. EKIMOV, Vjatceslav            RUS   U.S.POSTAL SERVICE            19.51
47. DOMINGUEZ, Juan Carlos        ESP   VITALICIO SEGUROS             20.22
48. ARMSTRONG, Lance              USA   U.S.POSTAL SERVICE            21.46
49. TAFI, Andrea                  ITA   MAPEI-BRICOBI                 22.38
50. GARCIA, Fco. Jose             ESP   ONCE-DEUTSCHE BANK            22.44
51. GONZALEZ, Ramon               ESP   EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI             22.56
52. FONTANELLI, Fabiano           ITA   MERCATONE-UNO-BIANCHI         23.21
53. GOMEZ, Jose Javier            ESP   KELME-COSTA BLANCA            23.52
54. MORATILLA, Victor Manuel      ESP   ESTEPONA-BREPAC               25.10
55. ZARRABEITIA, Mikel            ESP   ONCE-DEUTSCHE BANK            25.32
56. HINCAPIE, George              USA   U.S.POSTAL SERVICE            25.57
57. ARRIETA, Jose Luis            ESP   BANESTO                       26.11
58. ANGUITA, Eleuterio            ESP   ESTEPONA-BREPAC               26.50
59. CUESTA, I¤igo                 ESP   ONCE-DEUTSCHE BANK            27.07
60. ALONSO, Marino                ESP   BANESTO                       31.42
61. RINCON, Oliverio              COL   VITALICIO SEGUROS             32.02
62. PEERS, Chris                  BEL   LOTTO-MOBISTAR                32.18
63. DE LOS ANGELES, Juan J.       ESP   KELME-COSTA BLANCA            32.27
64. OUTSCHAKOV, Serguei           UKR   T.V.M.-FARM FRITES            32.33
65. MEINERT, Peter                DEN   U.S.POSTAL SERVICE            32.34
66. DERAME, Pascal                FRA   U.S.POSTAL SERVICE            33.17
67. MICHAELSEN, Lars              DEN   T.V.M.-FARM FRITES            33.56
68. GARCIA, Jose Vicente          ESP   BANESTO                       34.19
69. FERRIGATO, Andrea             ITA   VITALICIO SEGUROS             34.38
70. MARICHAL, Thierry             BEL   LOTTO-MOBISTAR                34.42
71. MULLER, Dirk                  GER   TELEKOM                       34.56
72. TCHMIL, Andrei                BEL   LOTTO-MOBISTAR                35.15
73. HENN, Christian               GER   TELEKOM                       35.36
74. MORI, Massimiliano            ITA   SAECO MACHINE DA CAFFE        37.12
75. FORNACIARI, Paolo             ITA   SAECO MACHINE DA CAFFE        38.34
76. DURAND, Jacky                 FRA   CASINO                        38.38
77. BOARDMAN, Christopher         GBR   GAN                           39.48
78. GONZALEZ, Santos              ESP   KELME-COSTA BLANCA            41.26
79. ETXEBARRIA, Unai              VEN   EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI             42.32
80. VOSKAMP, Bart                 NED   T.V.M.-FARM FRITES            43.09
81. PEETERS, Wilfried             BEL   MAPEI-BRICOBI                 43.18
82. LEYSEN, Bart                  BEL   MAPEI-BRICOBI                 43.19
83. VAN PETEGEM, Peter            BEL   T.V.M.-FARM FRITES            43.24
84. EDO, Angel                    ESP   KELME-COSTA BLANCA            43.38
85. BRAMATI, Davide               ITA   MAPEI-BRICOBI                 43.58
86. FLORES, Igor                  ESP   EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI             44.06
87. POLI, Eros                    ITA   GAN                           44.33
88. HOFFMAN, Tristan              NED   T.V.M.-FARM FRITES            44.44
89. FAGNINI, Gian Matteo          ITA   SAECO MACHINE DA CAFFE        44.46
90. STEELS, Tom                   BEL   MAPEI-BRICOBI                 45.08
91. CALCATERRA, Guiseppe          ITA   SAECO MACHINE DA CAFFE        47.00
92. PRETOT, Arnaud                FRA   GAN                           47.38
93. BARBOSA, Candido              POR   BANESTO                       48.33
94. BLIJLEVENS, Jeroen            NED   T.V.M.-FARM FRITES            49.42
95. BOS, Cyril                    FRA   GAN                           50.20
96. FEYS, Wim                     BEL   LOTTO-MOBISTAR                50.25
97. ZANINI, Stefano               ITA   MAPEI-BRICOBI                 50.33