Vuelta a Espana, Grand Tour

Spain, September 5-27, 1998


Main Page     Marcel Wust writes

Stage Report

Richard Virenque who says he has a clear conscience over the Festina drug scandal has requested the long-awaited French Cycling Federation disciplinary hearing be delayed so he can finish the Vuelta. The hearing is on Thursday September 24, 3 days before the Vuelta finishes. The hearings will determine what will happen with the careers of Laurent Brochard, Didier Rous, Pascal Herve, and Christophe Moreau. Moreau is already under 6 months suspension for another drug offence. The Festina riders have been allegedly implicated by the admissions of the former manager Bruno Roussel and doctor Eric Ricjkaert as well as their fellow riders. Brochard has made admissions himself.

A laughing Virenque told the press: "Maybe I will leave the Vuelta to go to the commission."

Meanwhile, back to racing, Andrei Zintchenko scored his first victory as a professional three years after first taking out his licence. He rode solo for 88 kms (obviously inspired by Gianni Bugno the day before) and finished 2.20 ahead of 3 chasers. It was also the first stage win in the Vuelta for his team, Vitalicio Seguros. Ludo Dierckxens who has been active in many long attacks during the race came second with Unai Etxebarria (Ven) third.

He told the press later: "We have tried so much for a win, and came close on Thursday. Towards the finish, although I felt safe, I kept trying harder."

Abraham Olano retains the GC leadership with no change to Laurent Jalabert (35 seconds) and Fernando Escartin (51 seconds).

The only other notable feature was the expulsion of Francisco Cerezo (Spa) who held onto his team's car during the stage. The driver, the rider and the car were thrown out of the peloton.

Stage 13, Sabiñanigo - Sabiñanigo, 208.5 kms:

  1. Andrei Zintchenko (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                      5.07.12 (40.723)
  2. Ludo Dierickxsens (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                            2.20
  3. Unai Etxebarria Arana (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi                     2.20
  4. Marco Serpellini (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas                        2.20
  5. Juan Carlos Dominguez (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                     2.25
  6. Alexandre Moos (Swi) Saeco                                        3.29
  7. Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Polti                                        3.39
  8. Bert Dietz (Ger) Telekom                                          3.39
  9. Peter Van Petegem (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites                           3.39
 10. Fabrice Gougot (Fra) Casino                                       3.39
 11. Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                         3.39
 12. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                                3.39
 13. Laurent Brochard (Fra) Festina-Lotus                              3.39
 14. Angel Edo Alsina (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                         3.39
 15. Michel Lafis (Swe) TVM-Farm Frites                                3.39
 16. Tristan Hoffman (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                             3.39
 17. Massimo Giunti (Ita) Cantina Tollo                                3.39
 18. Nico Mattan (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi                                   3.39
 19. Sven Teutenberg (Ger) US Postal                                   3.39
 20. Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                  3.39
 21. Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Rabobank                                   3.39
 22. Chris Peers (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                                  3.39
 23. Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto                             3.39
 24. Rolf Huser (Swi) Post Swiss Team                                  3.39
 25. Roberto Sgambelluri (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas                     3.39
 26. José Ramon Uriarte Zubero (Spa) Festina-Lotus                     3.39
 27. Michael Claus Moller (Den) TVM-Farm Frites                        3.39
 28. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                                  3.39
 29. Pascal Chanteur (Fra) Casino                                      3.39
 30. Abraham Olano Manzano (Spa) Banesto                               3.39
 31. Iñigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                  3.39
 32. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Cantina Tollo                               3.39
 33. Fernando Escartin (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                        3.39
 34. Angel Castresana (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                          3.39
 35. Alex Zülle (Swi) Festina-Lotus                                    3.39
 36. Gianluca Valoti (Ita) Polti                                       3.39
 37. Javier Pascual Llorente (Col) Avianca-Telecom                     3.39
 38. David Plaza Romero (Spa) Cofidis                                  3.39
 39. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                         3.39
 40. Richard Virenque (Fra) Festina-Lotus                              3.39
 41. Daniel Clavero Sebastian (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                  3.39
 42. Marcos Serrano (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                           3.39
 43. Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco                                    3.39
 44. Oskar Camenzind (Swi) Mapei-Bricobi                               3.39
 45. Melcihor Mauri Prat (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                      3.39
 46. Juan Carlos Vicario Barbera (Spa) Estepona-Brepac                 3.39
 47. Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosa (Spa) Estepona-Brepac                  3.39
 48. Vincent Cali (Fra) Casino                                         3.39
 49. Felix M. Garcia Casas (Spa) Festina-Lotus                         3.39
 50. Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                 3.39
 51. Pierre Bourquenoud (Swi) Post Swiss Team                          3.39
 52. Franz Hotz (Swi) Post Swiss Team                                  3.39
 53. Arsenio Gonzalez Gutierrez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca               3.39
 54. Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto                                3.39
 55. Mirko Gualdi (Ita) Polti                                          3.39
 56. José Rodriguez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                           3.39
 57. Alberto Leanizbarrutia (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                   3.39
 58. Steve De Wolf (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                                3.39
 59. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                  3.39
 60. Philipp Buschor (Swi) Saeco                                       3.39
 61. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal                                   3.39
 62. Julio César Aguirre Cabrera (Col) Avianca-Telecom                 3.39
 63. Roberto Sierra (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                           3.39
 64. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                                    3.39
 65. Herminio Diaz Zabala (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                     3.39
 66. Federico Muñoz Fernandez (Col) Avianca-Telecom                    3.39
 67. Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                               3.39
 68. José Joaquim Castelblanco (Col) Avianca-Telecom                   3.39
 69. Luis Maria Diaz De Otazu (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                 3.39
 70. José Maria Jiminez Sastre (Spa) Banesto                           3.39
 71. Rolf Sorensen (Den) Rabobank                                      3.39
 72. David Etxebarria Alkorta (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                 3.39
 73. Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                  3.39
 74. Vitali Kokorin (Rus) Saeco                                        3.39
 75. Inaki Aiarzaguena Urkidi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                  3.39
 76. Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                           3.39
 77. José Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                          3.39
 78. Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas                         7.57
 79. Serguei Gontchar (Rus) Cantina Tollo                             11.28
 80. Maurizio Frizzo (Ita) Cantina Tollo                              14.28
 81. Armand de las Cuevas (Fra) Banesto                               18.08
 82. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) US Postal                                 18.23
 83. Gianni Bugno (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi                                 18.23
 84. Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Casino                                18.23
 85. Mark Lotz (Ned) Rabobank                                         18.23
 86. Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank                                   18.23
 87. Harald Morscher (Aut) Saeco                                      18.23
 88. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi                            18.23
 89. Micheal Rich (Ger) Saeco                                         18.23
 90. Marcel Wust (Ger) Festina-Lotus                                  18.23
 91. Frédéric Bessy (Fra) Casino                                      18.23
 92. Martin Rittsel (Swe) Cantina Tollo                               18.23
 93. Pascal Hervé (Spa) Festina-Lotus                                 18.23
 94. Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Credit Agricole                             18.23
 95. Daniele Contrini (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas                       18.23
 96. Anthony Rokia (Fra) Polti                                        18.23
 97. Cristiano Frattini (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas                     18.23
 98. Alessandro Bertolini (Ita) Cofidis                               18.23
 99. Vjatceslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal                                18.23
100. Jonathan Vaughters (USA) US Postal                               18.23
101. Victor Moratilla Solera (Spa) Estepona-Brepac                    18.23
102. Georg Totsching (Aut) Telekom                                    18.23
103. Peter Meinert-Nielsen (Den) US Postal                            18.23
104. Ruslan Ivanov (Rus) Brescialat-Liquigas                          18.23
105. Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank                                      18.23
106. Francisco Cabello (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                       18.23
107. Richard Chassot (Swi) Post Swiss Team                            18.23
108. Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas                     18.23
109. Serguei Outschakov (Ukr) TVM-Farm Frites                         18.23
110. Guido Trenti (Ita) Cantina Tollo                                 18.23
111. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                            18.23
112. José Jaime Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                     18.23
113. Davide Bramati (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi                               18.23
114. Daniel Paradis (Swi) Post Swiss Team                             18.23
115. Uwe Peschel (Ger) Estepona-Brepac                                18.23
116. Jan Schaffrath (Ger) Telekom                                     18.23
117. Joona Laukka (Fin) Lotto-Mobistar                                18.23
118. Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                            18.23
119. Kai Hundertmark (Ger) Telekom                                    18.23
120. Matías Cagigas (Spa) Estepona-Brepac                             18.23
121. Martin Hvastija (Slo) Cantina Tollo                              18.23
122. Manuel Fernandez Gines (Spa) Banesto                             18.23
123. Cristian Salvato (Ita) Polti                                     18.23
124. German Nieto Fernandez (Spa) Estepona-Brepac                     18.23
125. Niki Aebersold (Swi) Post Swiss Team                             18.23
126. Christian Vandevelde (USA) US Postal                             18.23
127. Francisco Leon Mane (Col) Avianca-Telecom                        18.23
128. Marcus Zberg (Swi) Post Swiss Team                               18.23
129. Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                          18.23
130. Roger Beuchat (Swi) Post Swiss Team                              18.23
131. Leon Van Bon (Ned) Rabobank                                      18.23
132. Jairo Hernandez Montoya (Col) Avianca-Telecom                    27.16
133. Luis Ricardo Mesa (Col) Avianca-Telecom                          27.16

GC after Stage 13

  1. Abraham Olano Manzano (Spa) Banesto                           57.38.21
  2. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                         0.35
  3. Fernando Escartin (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                        0.51
  4. José Maria Jiminez Sastre (Spa) Banesto                           1.17
  5. Daniel Clavero Sebastian (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                  2.01
  6. Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                  2.09
  7. Alex Zülle (Swi) Festina-Lotus                                    2.19
  8. Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                  2.24
  9. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal                                   2.44
 10. Oskar Camenzind (Swi) Mapei-Bricobi                               2.47
 11. Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto                             2.52
 12. Marcos Serrano (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                           3.38
 13. José Joaquim Castelblanco (Col) Avianca-Telecom                   4.12
 14. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                  4.46
 15. Richard Virenque (Fra) Festina-Lotus                              4.59
 16. David Plaza Romero (Spa) Cofidis                                  5.31
 17. Marco Serpellini (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas                        5.57
 18. Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                               6.28
 19. Felix M. Garcia Casas (Spa) Festina-Lotus                         7.24
 20. Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                 8.46
 21. Gianluca Valoti (Ita) Polti                                       9.42
 22. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Cantina Tollo                               9.45
 23. Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto                               12.17
 24. Fabrice Gougot (Fra) Casino                                      12.34
 25. Julio César Aguirre Cabrera (Col) Avianca-Telecom                14.13
 26. Melcihor Mauri Prat (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                     14.53
 27. Angel Castresana (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                         14.54
 28. Michael Claus Moller (Den) TVM-Farm Frites                       14.59
 29. Mirko Gualdi (Ita) Polti                                         15.39
 30. Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                          17.09
 31. Andrei Zintchenko (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                        18.17
 32. Roberto Sgambelluri (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas                    18.39
 33. Inaki Aiarzaguena Urkidi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                 19.02
 34. Pascal Hervé (Spa) Festina-Lotus                                 21.34
 35. Ludo Dierickxsens (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                           22.51
 36. Arsenio Gonzalez Gutierrez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca              27.06
 37. Iñigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                 27.54
 38. Juan Carlos Vicario Barbera (Spa) Estepona-Brepac                30.06
 39. David Etxebarria Alkorta (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                30.20
 40. Vitali Kokorin (Rus) Saeco                                       30.21
 41. José Ramon Uriarte Zubero (Spa) Festina-Lotus                    31.19
 42. Federico Muñoz Fernandez (Col) Avianca-Telecom                   32.04
 43. Niki Aebersold (Swi) Post Swiss Team                             32.10
 44. Unai Etxebarria Arana (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi                    35.23
 45. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                                 35.37
 46. Jairo Hernandez Montoya (Col) Avianca-Telecom                    40.09
 47. Pascal Chanteur (Fra) Casino                                     40.50
 48. José Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                         41.22
 49. Javier Pascual Llorente (Col) Avianca-Telecom                    41.28
 50. Luis Ricardo Mesa (Col) Avianca-Telecom                          42.42
 51. Laurent Brochard (Fra) Festina-Lotus                             43.16
 52. Alexandre Moos (Swi) Saeco                                       45.12
 53. Juan Carlos Dominguez (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                    47.19
 54. Vincent Cali (Fra) Casino                                        47.34
 55. Martin Hvastija (Slo) Cantina Tollo                              48.13
 56. Frédéric Bessy (Fra) Casino                                      49.08
 57. Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosa (Spa) Estepona-Brepac                 49.49
 58. Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                            50.16
 59. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                               53.49
 60. Alberto Leanizbarrutia (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                  54.35
 61. Philipp Buschor (Swi) Saeco                                      57.16
 62. Marcus Zberg (Swi) Post Swiss Team                             1.02.08
 63. Pierre Bourquenoud (Swi) Post Swiss Team                       1.03.34
 64. Rolf Huser (Swi) Post Swiss Team                               1.03.34
 65. Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Polti                                     1.03.35
 66. Roberto Sierra (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                        1.05.43
 67. Cristiano Frattini (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas                   1.06.08
 68. Manuel Fernandez Gines (Spa) Banesto                           1.06.31
 69. Rolf Sorensen (Den) Rabobank                                   1.07.39
 70. Maurizio Frizzo (Ita) Cantina Tollo                            1.08.18
 71. Chris Peers (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                               1.08.46
 72. Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco                                 1.10.13
 73. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                                 1.12.06
 74. Steve De Wolf (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                             1.12.29
 75. Georg Totsching (Aut) Telekom                                  1.12.35
 76. Franz Hotz (Swi) Post Swiss Team                               1.14.00
 77. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi                          1.15.27
 78. Herminio Diaz Zabala (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                  1.15.40
 79. Nico Mattan (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi                                1.15.52
 80. Angel Edo Alsina (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                      1.17.02
 81. Massimo Giunti (Ita) Cantina Tollo                             1.19.02
 82. José Rodriguez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                        1.22.02
 83. Peter Van Petegem (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites                        1.26.29
 84. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) US Postal                               1.27.23
 85. Joona Laukka (Fin) Lotto-Mobistar                              1.27.27
 86. Francisco Cabello (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                     1.28.01
 87. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                          1.28.16
 88. Bert Dietz (Ger) Telekom                                       1.28.25
 89. Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                      1.29.20
 90. Serguei Gontchar (Rus) Cantina Tollo                           1.29.44
 91. Luis Maria Diaz De Otazu (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank              1.30.19
 92. Kai Hundertmark (Ger) Telekom                                  1.30.26
 93. José Jaime Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                   1.33.08
 94. Alessandro Bertolini (Ita) Cofidis                             1.34.11
 95. Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank                                    1.34.31
 96. Michel Lafis (Swe) TVM-Farm Frites                             1.35.28
 97. Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas                      1.36.52
 98. Martin Rittsel (Swe) Cantina Tollo                             1.39.04
 99. Gianni Bugno (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi                               1.39.09
100. Peter Meinert-Nielsen (Den) US Postal                          1.41.29
101. Matías Cagigas (Spa) Estepona-Brepac                           1.43.34
102. Armand de las Cuevas (Fra) Banesto                             1.44.12
103. Cristian Salvato (Ita) Polti                                   1.44.27
104. Vjatceslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal                              1.44.58
105. Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Rabobank                                1.46.12
106. Uwe Peschel (Ger) Estepona-Brepac                              1.49.26
107. Micheal Rich (Ger) Saeco                                       1.50.34
108. Sven Teutenberg (Ger) US Postal                                1.51.29
109. Francisco Leon Mane (Col) Avianca-Telecom                      1.53.23
110. Harald Morscher (Aut) Saeco                                    1.54.06
111. Richard Chassot (Swi) Post Swiss Team                          1.55.26
112. Guido Trenti (Ita) Cantina Tollo                               1.55.51
113. Tristan Hoffman (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                          1.56.05
114. Ruslan Ivanov (Rus) Brescialat-Liquigas                        1.56.25
115. Christian Vandevelde (USA) US Postal                           1.57.20
116. Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas                   1.59.07
117. Daniel Paradis (Swi) Post Swiss Team                           1.59.24
118. Jan Schaffrath (Ger) Telekom                                   2.00.55
119. Roger Beuchat (Swi) Post Swiss Team                            2.03.30
120. Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Casino                              2.06.18
121. Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                        2.09.03
122. Marcel Wust (Ger) Festina-Lotus                                2.10.05
123. Mark Lotz (Ned) Rabobank                                       2.12.09
124. Serguei Outschakov (Ukr) TVM-Farm Frites                       2.14.04
125. Anthony Rokia (Fra) Polti                                      2.16.17
126. Victor Moratilla Solera (Spa) Estepona-Brepac                  2.16.52
127. Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank                                 2.19.36
128. Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Credit Agricole                           2.19.53
129. Davide Bramati (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi                             2.20.08
130. Daniele Contrini (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas                     2.26.31
131. Leon Van Bon (Ned) Rabobank                                    2.32.45
132. Jonathan Vaughters (USA) US Postal                             2.41.51
133. German Nieto Fernandez (Spa) Estepona-Brepac                   2.44.50