Vuelta a Espana, Grand Tour

Spain, September 5-27, 1998


Main Page     Marcel Wust writes

Stage Report

It was the day that Cedric Vasseur, the last of the Credit Agricole riders quit. All his team had abandoned him on earlier days.

As expected, the return to the mountains saw major moves come from the men most likely. Abraham Olano had to withstand a determined effort by Laurent Jalabert and Fernando Escartin in the mountains of the Burgos region and managed to keep an ever decreasing lead in the Vuelta. Until tomorrow maybe .... when the attacks will resume.

Olano kept his lead - now only 22 seconds - but Jalabert's final assault in the last km was perfectly timed to take the biggest slice of time possible of him. Both Jalabert and Escartin (in tow) surged in the last moments of the stage, which was won again by Banesto's Jose Maria Jimenez (4th stage win for 1998 Vuelta). Jimenez won by 33 seconds alone, followed by Jalabert and Escartin with Olano back in 7th at 46 seconds.

Earlier in the day, Banesto spent a lot of effort chasing down moves inspired mostly by Escartin's Kelme-Costa Blanca team. Roberto Heras is also threatening in that team. With only 3 kms to go, Jimenez, who has emerged from the shadow of Marco Pantani (absent from the Vuelta), attacked. The race blew wide open. Early breakaway rider Juan Carlos Dominguez went with Jimenez, who is now in 3rd place on GC and an ideal substitute for final honours for Banesto should Olano stumble in the next 2 hard days of racing in the mountains.

If Olano cannot last until the time trial, Jimenez may be the rider to take the GC for Banesto which gives Olano the chance of regaining it in the ITT on Saturday.

Olano told the press afterwards: "I could not respond to those last attacks but I was close enough to Jalabert and Jimenez. Jalabert tried hard but just could not get enough time on me. There are still two difficult stages to come and it is important to stay in the yellow jersey for Saturday's time trial, especially

Jalabert realising he was up against the Banesto machine said: "Banesto were very strong. It is going to be hard to do anything now. There are few opportunities left."

Jimenez said: "I knew I could win. My team director told me to wait until as late as possible before attacking. Now I believe that Olano has enough in hand to stay in the leader's jersey all the way to Madrid."

Stage 16, Soria - Laguna Negra de Neila, 143.7 kms:

  1. José Maria Jiminez Sastre (Spa) Banesto                        3.28.12 (41.412)
  2. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                         0.33
  3. Fernando Escartin (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                        0.33
  4. Alex Zülle (Swi) Festina-Lotus                                    0.39
  5. Richard Virenque (Fra) Festina-Lotus                              0.39
  6. Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto                             0.46
  7. Abraham Olano Manzano (Spa) Banesto                               0.46
  8. José Joaquim Castelblanco (Col) Avianca-Telecom                   0.58
  9. Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                  0.58
 10. Daniel Clavero Sebastian (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                  1.02
 11. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal                                   1.22
 12. Andrei Zintchenko (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                         1.41
 13. Marco Serpellini (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas                        1.41
 14. Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                  1.41
 15. Pascal Hervé (Spa) Festina-Lotus                                  1.41
 16. Gianluca Valoti (Ita) Polti                                       1.48
 17. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                                    1.49
 18. David Etxebarria Alkorta (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                 1.49
 19. Felix M. Garcia Casas (Spa) Festina-Lotus                         1.55
 20. Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                           1.55
 21. Vitali Kokorin (Rus) Saeco                                        2.00
 22. Niki Aebersold (Swi) Post Swiss Team                              2.09
 23. Oskar Camenzind (Swi) Mapei-Bricobi                               2.09
 24. David Plaza Romero (Spa) Cofidis                                  2.09
 25. Juan Carlos Dominguez (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                     2.09
 26. Angel Castresana (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                          2.15
 27. Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                 2.15
 28. Fabrice Gougot (Fra) Casino                                       2.23
 29. Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                             2.31
 30. Juan Carlos Vicario Barbera (Spa) Estepona-Brepac                 2.37
 31. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Cantina Tollo                               2.37
 32. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                                  2.39
 33. Iñigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                  2.50
 34. Inaki Aiarzaguena Urkidi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                  2.50
 35. Laurent Brochard (Fra) Festina-Lotus                              2.50
 36. Roberto Sgambelluri (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas                     2.50
 37. Julio César Aguirre Cabrera (Col) Avianca-Telecom                 2.58
 38. Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosa (Spa) Estepona-Brepac                  2.58
 39. Federico Muñoz Fernandez (Col) Avianca-Telecom                    3.07
 40. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                  3.09
 41. Ludo Dierickxsens (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                            3.11
 42. Javier Pascual Llorente (Col) Avianca-Telecom                     3.21
 43. Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                               3.21
 44. Pascal Chanteur (Fra) Casino                                      3.29
 45. Vincent Cali (Fra) Casino                                         3.29
 46. Jonathan Vaughters (USA) US Postal                                3.43
 47. Frédéric Bessy (Fra) Casino                                       3.43
 48. Nico Mattan (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi                                   3.43
 49. Marcos Serrano (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                           4.02
 50. Richard Chassot (Swi) Post Swiss Team                             4.02
 51. Arsenio Gonzalez Gutierrez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca               4.02
 52. Mirko Gualdi (Ita) Polti                                          4.18
 53. Rolf Huser (Swi) Post Swiss Team                                  4.34
 54. Bert Dietz (Ger) Telekom                                          4.42
 55. Roberto Sierra (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                           4.52
 56. Michel Lafis (Swe) TVM-Farm Frites                                4.52
 57. Pierre Bourquenoud (Swi) Post Swiss Team                          5.18
 58. José Ramon Uriarte Zubero (Spa) Festina-Lotus                     5.45
 59. Unai Etxebarria Arana (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi                     5.45
 60. Alberto Leanizbarrutia (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                   5.52
 61. José Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                          6.19
 62. Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                         6.25
 63. Melcihor Mauri Prat (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                      6.25
 64. Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto                                6.25
 65. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi                             6.25
 66. Georg Totsching (Aut) Telekom                                     6.25
 67. Franz Hotz (Swi) Post Swiss Team                                  6.40
 68. José Jaime Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                      7.01
 69. Steve De Wolf (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                                7.08
 70. Daniel Paradis (Swi) Post Swiss Team                              7.09
 71. Victor Moratilla Solera (Spa) Estepona-Brepac                     7.09
 72. Rolf Sorensen (Den) Rabobank                                      7.35
 73. Peter Meinert-Nielsen (Den) US Postal                             8.45
 74. Cristiano Frattini (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas                     11.03
 75. Ruslan Ivanov (Rus) Brescialat-Liquigas                          11.03
 76. Herminio Diaz Zabala (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                    11.03
 77. Michael Claus Moller (Den) TVM-Farm Frites                       11.03
 78. Roger Beuchat (Swi) Post Swiss Team                              11.03
 79. Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank                                      11.03
 80. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                               11.03
 81. Martin Rittsel (Swe) Cantina Tollo                               11.03
 82. Kai Hundertmark (Ger) Telekom                                    11.03
 83. Marcus Zberg (Swi) Post Swiss Team                               11.03
 84. Philipp Buschor (Swi) Saeco                                      11.03
 85. Matías Cagigas (Spa) Estepona-Brepac                             11.03
 86. Luis Maria Diaz De Otazu (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                11.03
 87. Manuel Fernandez Gines (Spa) Banesto                             11.03
 88. Peter Van Petegem (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites                          11.03
 89. Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco                                   11.03
 90. José Rodriguez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                          11.40
 91. Martin Hvastija (Slo) Cantina Tollo                              12.22
 92. Francisco Leon Mane (Col) Avianca-Telecom                        13.07
 93. Serguei Outschakov (Ukr) TVM-Farm Frites                         14.56
 94. Marcel Wust (Ger) Festina-Lotus                                  14.56
 95. Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas                        14.56
 96. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                            14.56
 97. Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank                                   14.56
 98. Cristian Salvato (Ita) Polti                                     14.56
 99. Jan Schaffrath (Ger) Telekom                                     14.56
100. Micheal Rich (Ger) Saeco                                         14.56
101. Gianni Bugno (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi                                 14.56
102. Uwe Peschel (Ger) Estepona-Brepac                                14.56
103. Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas                     14.56
104. Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Polti                                       14.56
105. Harald Morscher (Aut) Saeco                                      14.56
106. Serguei Gontchar (Rus) Cantina Tollo                             14.56
107. Alessandro Bertolini (Ita) Cofidis                               14.56
108. Mark Lotz (Ned) Rabobank                                         14.56
109. Francisco Cabello (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                       14.56
110. Joona Laukka (Fin) Lotto-Mobistar                                14.56
111. Chris Peers (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                                 14.56
112. Massimo Giunti (Ita) Cantina Tollo                               14.56
113. Christian Vandevelde (USA) US Postal                             14.56
114. Anthony Rokia (Fra) Polti                                        14.56
115. Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Rabobank                                  14.56
116. Angel Edo Alsina (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                        14.56
117. Maurizio Frizzo (Ita) Cantina Tollo                              14.56
118. Tristan Hoffman (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                            14.56
119. Sven Teutenberg (Ger) US Postal                                  14.56
120. German Nieto Fernandez (Spa) Estepona-Brepac                     14.56
121. Davide Bramati (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi                               14.56
122. Daniele Contrini (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas                       15.40
123. Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Casino                                15.42
124. Guido Trenti (Ita) Cantina Tollo                                 18.07

GC after Stage 16

  1. Abraham Olano Manzano (Spa) Banesto                           68.05.04
  2. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                         0.22
  3. José Maria Jiminez Sastre (Spa) Banesto                           0.31
  4. Fernando Escartin (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                        0.38
  5. Alex Zülle (Swi) Festina-Lotus                                    2.12
  6. Daniel Clavero Sebastian (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                  2.17
  7. Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                  2.36
  8. Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto                             2.52
  9. Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                  3.04
 10. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal                                   3.20
 11. Oskar Camenzind (Swi) Mapei-Bricobi                               4.10
 12. José Joaquim Castelblanco (Col) Avianca-Telecom                   4.24
 13. Richard Virenque (Fra) Festina-Lotus                              4.52
 14. David Plaza Romero (Spa) Cofidis                                  6.01
 15. Marco Serpellini (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas                        6.52
 16. Marcos Serrano (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                           6.54
 17. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                  7.09
 18. Felix M. Garcia Casas (Spa) Festina-Lotus                         8.33
 19. Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                               9.03
 20. Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                10.15
 21. Gianluca Valoti (Ita) Polti                                      10.44
 22. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Cantina Tollo                              11.36
 23. Fabrice Gougot (Fra) Casino                                      14.38
 24. Angel Castresana (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                         16.23
 25. Julio César Aguirre Cabrera (Col) Avianca-Telecom                16.25
 26. Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto                               17.56
 27. Andrei Zintchenko (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                        18.16
 28. Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                          18.18
 29. Mirko Gualdi (Ita) Polti                                         19.11
 30. Roberto Sgambelluri (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas                    20.43
 31. Inaki Aiarzaguena Urkidi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                 21.06
 32. Melcihor Mauri Prat (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                     21.35
 33. Pascal Hervé (Spa) Festina-Lotus                                 22.29
 34. Ludo Dierickxsens (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                           25.16
 35. Michael Claus Moller (Den) TVM-Farm Frites                       25.43
 36. Arsenio Gonzalez Gutierrez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca              30.22
 37. Iñigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                 30.25
 38. David Etxebarria Alkorta (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                31.23
 39. Vitali Kokorin (Rus) Saeco                                       31.35
 40. Juan Carlos Vicario Barbera (Spa) Estepona-Brepac                31.57
 41. Niki Aebersold (Swi) Post Swiss Team                             33.33
 42. Federico Muñoz Fernandez (Col) Avianca-Telecom                   34.25
 43. José Ramon Uriarte Zubero (Spa) Festina-Lotus                    36.18
 44. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                                 37.57
 45. Unai Etxebarria Arana (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi                    40.22
 46. Pascal Chanteur (Fra) Casino                                     43.33
 47. Javier Pascual Llorente (Col) Avianca-Telecom                    44.03
 48. Laurent Brochard (Fra) Festina-Lotus                             45.20
 49. José Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                         49.12
 50. Juan Carlos Dominguez (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                    50.59
 51. Vincent Cali (Fra) Casino                                        51.20
 52. Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosa (Spa) Estepona-Brepac                 52.01
 53. Frédéric Bessy (Fra) Casino                                      52.32
 54. Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                            53.19
 55. Alberto Leanizbarrutia (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                1.00.59
 56. Martin Hvastija (Slo) Cantina Tollo                            1.02.49
 57. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                             1.07.06
 58. Rolf Huser (Swi) Post Swiss Team                               1.07.35
 59. Philipp Buschor (Swi) Saeco                                    1.08.00
 60. Pierre Bourquenoud (Swi) Post Swiss Team                       1.09.09
 61. Roberto Sierra (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                        1.09.49
 62. Marcus Zberg (Swi) Post Swiss Team                             1.12.25
 63. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                                 1.13.09
 64. Rolf Sorensen (Den) Rabobank                                   1.14.28
 65. Cristiano Frattini (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas                   1.17.43
 66. Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Polti                                     1.17.45
 67. Manuel Fernandez Gines (Spa) Banesto                           1.18.06
 68. Nico Mattan (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi                                1.18.49
 69. Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco                                 1.20.30
 70. Georg Totsching (Aut) Telekom                                  1.20.31
 71. Steve De Wolf (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                             1.20.56
 72. Franz Hotz (Swi) Post Swiss Team                               1.21.12
 73. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi                          1.22.24
 74. Maurizio Frizzo (Ita) Cantina Tollo                            1.24.04
 75. Chris Peers (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                               1.24.14
 76. Herminio Diaz Zabala (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                  1.27.15
 77. Angel Edo Alsina (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                      1.31.12
 78. José Rodriguez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                        1.32.56
 79. Bert Dietz (Ger) Telekom                                       1.33.39
 80. Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                      1.34.59
 81. Massimo Giunti (Ita) Cantina Tollo                             1.35.29
 82. Peter Van Petegem (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites                        1.36.46
 83. Michel Lafis (Swe) TVM-Farm Frites                             1.39.34
 84. José Jaime Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                   1.40.41
 85. Luis Maria Diaz De Otazu (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank              1.41.54
 86. Kai Hundertmark (Ger) Telekom                                  1.43.00
 87. Francisco Cabello (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                     1.43.29
 88. Joona Laukka (Fin) Lotto-Mobistar                              1.43.54
 89. Serguei Gontchar (Rus) Cantina Tollo                           1.45.12
 90. Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank                                    1.45.51
 91. Alessandro Bertolini (Ita) Cofidis                             1.49.24
 92. Peter Meinert-Nielsen (Den) US Postal                          1.50.46
 93. Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas                      1.51.18
 94. Martin Rittsel (Swe) Cantina Tollo                             1.51.38
 95. Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                          1.53.57
 96. Gianni Bugno (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi                               1.54.37
 97. Matías Cagigas (Spa) Estepona-Brepac                           1.56.47
 98. Cristian Salvato (Ita) Polti                                   1.59.55
 99. Richard Chassot (Swi) Post Swiss Team                          2.00.00
100. Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Rabobank                                2.00.22
101. Uwe Peschel (Ger) Estepona-Brepac                              2.05.53
102. Micheal Rich (Ger) Saeco                                       2.06.02
103. Sven Teutenberg (Ger) US Postal                                2.06.57
104. Daniel Paradis (Swi) Post Swiss Team                           2.07.05
105. Ruslan Ivanov (Rus) Brescialat-Liquigas                        2.07.55
106. Francisco Leon Mane (Col) Avianca-Telecom                      2.08.01
107. Harald Morscher (Aut) Saeco                                    2.09.34
108. Tristan Hoffman (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                          2.11.33
109. Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas                   2.13.17
110. Christian Vandevelde (USA) US Postal                           2.13.47
111. Jan Schaffrath (Ger) Telekom                                   2.17.22
112. Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Casino                              2.22.32
113. Victor Moratilla Solera (Spa) Estepona-Brepac                  2.23.15
114. Roger Beuchat (Swi) Post Swiss Team                            2.23.53
115. Mark Lotz (Ned) Rabobank                                       2.27.37
116. Serguei Outschakov (Ukr) TVM-Farm Frites                       2.30.31
117. Marcel Wust (Ger) Festina-Lotus                                2.34.21
118. Davide Bramati (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi                             2.36.35
119. Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank                                 2.36.40
120. Anthony Rokia (Fra) Polti                                      2.40.33
121. Guido Trenti (Ita) Cantina Tollo                               2.41.59
122. Jonathan Vaughters (USA) US Postal                             2.44.48
123. Daniele Contrini (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas                     2.51.31
124. German Nieto Fernandez (Spa) Estepona-Brepac                   3.01.17