39th Vuelta al Pais Vasco, HC

Spain, April 5-9, 1999

1998 Results     Main Page    

Stage 2, Tolosa - Zalla, 204 kms:

The Italian Giuliano Figueras, of the Mapei-Quick Step team won Stage 2 of the 39th Vuelta al Pais Vasco, between the Guipuzcoan town of Tolosa and Zalla a distance of 204 kms. The winning time was 5.15.20. Figueras beat fellow Italian Wladimir Belli (Festina) and overnight leader and Stage 1 winner Laurent Jalabert (ONCE) in a sprint finish. Jalabert retained his placing at the top of the GC.

The real star of Stage 2 was the Spanish rider Jose Vicente "Chenté" García Acosta (Banesto), who attacked on the first climb of the day, the Cat 2 Bidania, and passed over the top with Spaniard Iñigo Cuesta, winner of the last year's race, and teammate of Laurent Jalabert. The stage was only 8 kms old.

García Acosta was able to use the dangerous descent from Bidania which involved very narrow and winding roads to get away from the peloton and by km 56 he had a lead of more than 7 minutes. He was at this point easily the "GC on the Road" as he was only 1.44 down overnight. At this point the alarm in the peloton rang very loudly. P> The ONCE-Deutsche Bank team got the message that Jalabert was now out of the leader's position and they stepped up the tempo and brought the difference down to 4.00 by the end of the first passage past the finish line at km 142. Finally, at km 175, García Acosta threw the towel in with the ONCE-Deutsche Bank riding like a team time trial. Once he was caught, the pace slackened considerably and Jalabert was watchful only of his direct rivals, the Italian Davide Rebellin and the Dutch champion Michael Boogard. Nothing came from either rider and ONCE-Deutsche Bank were content, particularly their Spanish watchman David Etxebarría, to bring back any of the attacks that came. There were some timid attacks from Niki Aebersold and Marcus Zberg but they were in vain.

Giuliano Figueras was set up beautifully for the sprint and easily beat Wladimir Belli and Laurent Jalabert with Marco Pantani showing his good form in 4th.

Tomorrow the riders will leave Zalla and will ride to the Alava capital of Vitoria. The 199 kms stage will involve the climbs of San Cosme (Cat 3), la Barrerilla (Cat 3), Zaldiaran (Cat 3), Ribas de Tereso (Cat 3), La Herrera (Cat 1) and Vitoria (Cat 3). 

  1. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                5.15.21
  2. Wladimir Belli (Ita) Festina
  3. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) ONCE-Deutsche Bank
  4. Marco Pantani (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi
  5. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale
  6. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Team Polti
  7. Geert Verheyen (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
  8. Udo Bölts (Ger) Telekom
  9. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
 10. Txema Del Olmo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
 11. Darío Frigo (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale
 12. Niki Aebersold (Swi) Rabobank
 13. Bingen Fernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
 14. Javier Otxoa (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
 15. Juan Carlos Domínguez (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros
 16. Daniel Atienza (Ita) Team Polti
 17. Axel Merckx (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step
 18. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
 19. Roberto Heras (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
 20. Felice Puttini (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips
 21. Andrea Noé (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step
 22. Iñigo Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
 23. Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros
 24. Massimiliano Gentili (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia
 25. Ramón Gonzalez Arrieta (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
 26. Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros
 27. Enrico Zaina (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi
 28. Vladislav Bobrik (Rus) Riso Scotti-Vinavil
 29. Michele Coppolillo (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi
 30. Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank
 31. Daniel Clavero (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros
 32. Peter Luttenberger (Aut) ONCE-Deutsche Bank
 33. David Etxebarria (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank
 34. Massimo Donati (Ita) Vini Caldilora
 35. Richard Virenque (Fra) Team Polti
 36. Beat Zberg (Swi) Rabobank
 37. Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank
 38. Marco Velo (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi                     s.t.
 39. Sergei Gontchar (Ukr) Vini Caldilora                       0.52
 40. Félix García (Spa) Festina                                 0.52
 41. Aitor Osa (Spa) Banesto                                    0.52
 42. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) Festina                               0.52
 43. Abraham Olano (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                     0.52
 44. Eugeni Berzin (Rus) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips              0.52
 45. Francesco Secchiari (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                 1.17
 46. Ivan Gotti (Ita) Team Polti                                1.17
 47. Roberto Pettito (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                     1.17
 48. Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips          1.17
 49. Vjatceslav Ekimov (Rus) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips          1.17
 50. Roberto Conti (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi                  1.17
 51. Alexandre Moos (Swi) Festina                               1.32
 52. Stefano Della Della Santa (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica C      1.32
 53. Daniele De Paoli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips           1.49
 54. Juan Carlos Vicario (Spa) Fuenlabrada                      2.28
 55. Mauro Ganetti (Ita) Vini Caldilora                         2.28
 56. Sébastien Demarbaix (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                   2.28
 57. Unai Osa (Spa) Banesto                                     2.28
 58. Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                    2.28
 59. Harald Morscher (Aut) Saeco-Cannondale                     2.28
 60. Marc Lotz (Ned) Rabobank                                   2.28
 61. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                             2.28
 62. Laurent Madouas (Fra) Festina                              2.28
 63. Alain Turicchia (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                  2.28
 64. Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros           2.28
 65. Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank                             2.28
 66. César Solaun (Spa) Banesto                                 2.28
 67. Peter Wuyts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                           2.28
 68. Patrick Jonker (Aus) Rabobank                              2.28
 69. Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                            2.28
 70. Miguel Angel Peña (Spa) Banesto                            2.28
 71. Gianni Faresin (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                      2.28
 72. Pablo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                       2.28
 73. Oscar Pellicioli (Ita) Team Polti                          2.28
 74. Aitor Garmendia (Spa) Banesto                              2.28
 75. Stéphane Goubert (Fra) Team Polti                          2.28
 76. David Latasa (Spa) Banesto                                 2.28
 77. Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                        2.28
 78. Carlos Sastre (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                     2.28
 79. Oscar Cavagnis (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia                  2.28
 80. Bo Hamburger (Den) Cantina Tollo-Alexia                    2.28
 81. Kurt Van de Wouwer (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                    2.28
 82. Ruggiero Borghi (Ita) Vini Caldilora                       2.28
 83. Tobias Steinhauser (Ger) Mapei-Quick Step                  2.28
 84. Andreas Kloden (Ger) Telekom                               2.28
 85. Eduardo Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                 2.28
 86. Marco Magnani (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia                   2.28
 87. Alberto Lopez De Munain Ruiz (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi       2.28
 88. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi               2.28
 89. Massimo Prodenzana (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi             2.28
 90. Stefano Cattai (Ita) Team Polti                            2.28
 91. José Manuel Uría (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                  2.28
 92. Jorg Jaksche (Ger) Telekom                                 2.28
 93. Alekandre Shefer (Kaz) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                 2.28
 94. José Javier Gomez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                 2.28
 95. Jens Heppner (Ger) Telekom                                 2.28
 96. Alberto Elli (Ita) Telekom                                 2.28
 97. Marco Fincato (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi                  2.28
 98. Filipo Casagrande (Ita) Vini Caldilora                     2.28
 99. José Jaime Gonzalez Pico (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca          2.28
100. José Luis Rubiera Kelme-Costa Blanca                       2.28
101. Manu L'Hoir (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                           3.09
102. José Miguel Elizburu (Spa) Fuenlabrada                     3.09
103. Francesco Frattini (Ita) Telekom                           3.09
104. Georg Totsching (Aut) Telekom                              3.09
105. Cristian Salvato (Ita) Polti                               3.09
106. Jan Ullrich (Ger) Telekom                                  3.09
107. Mikel Pradera (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                      3.09
108. Andrés Bermejo (Spa) Fuenlabrada                           3.30
109. José Ramon Uriarte Zubero (Spa) Festina                    3.30
110. Vitali Kokorine (Rus) Saeco-Cannondale                     3.30
111. José Luis Arrieta (Spa) Banesto                            3.30
112. Jonathan Hall (Aus) Festina                                4.10
113. Patrice Halgand (Fra) Festina                              6.17
114. Iñaki Barrenetxea (Spa) Fuenlabrada                        6.17
115. Iñigo Gonzalez Heredia (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros             6.17
116. Ginés Salmerón (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                     6.17
117. Filippo Simeoni (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                  8.46
118. Emanuele Lupi (Ita) Vini Caldilora                         8.46
119. Fabio Malberti (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                   8.46
120. Federico Giabbecucci (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia            8.46
121. Matias Cagigas (Spa) Fuenlabrada                           8.46
122. Amikare Tronca (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips             8.46
123. Guido Trentin (Ita) Vini Caldilora                         8.46
124. Unai Etxebarria (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                    8.46
125. Andrea Perón (Ita) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                      8.46
126. Oscar Pozzi (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                      8.46
127. Saúl Morales (Spa) Fuenlabrada                             9.46
128. Pedro Jiménez (Spa) Fuenlabrada                            9.46
129. Marcelino García (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                  9.46
130. Cristian Gasperoni (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia             12.27
131. Alessio Bongioni (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                12.27
132. Igor Pugaci (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                        12.27
133. Emmanuelle Negrini (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia             12.27
134. Mauro Bartoli (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                   12.27
135. Mauro Zanetti (Ita) Vini Caldilora                        12.27
136. José Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                  12.27
137. Armand De las Cuevas (Fra) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips      19.29

There were 137 classified but 138 are still in the GC. The error
is with the official data.

GC after Stage 2: 

  1. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) ONCE-Deutsche Bank               8.07.08
  2. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Team Polti
  3. Bingen Fernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                   0.21
  4. Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                   0.32
  5. Udo Bölts (Ger) Telekom                                    0.32
  6. Niki Aebersold (Swi) Rabobank                              0.32
  7. Mario Aerts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                           0.32
  8. Juan Carlos Domínguez (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros              0.32
  9. Txema Del Olmo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                     0.32
 10. Darío Frigo (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                         0.32
 11. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                     0.32
 12. Andrea Noé (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                          0.32
 13. Wladimir Belli (Ita) Festina                               0.32
 14. Axel Merckx (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                         0.32
 15. Marco Pantani (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi                  0.32
 16. David Etxebarria (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                  0.32
 17. Roberto Heras (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                     0.32
 18. Iñigo Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                    0.32
 19. Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros             0.32
 20. Beat Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                                  0.32
 21. Ramón Gonzalez Arrieta (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi             0.32
 22. Enrico Zaina (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi                   0.32
 23. Peter Luttenberger (Aut) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                0.32
 24. Massimo Donati (Ita) Vini Caldilora                        0.32
 25. Marco Velo (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi                     0.32
 26. Geert Verheyen (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                        0.54
 27. Javier Otxoa (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                      0.54
 28. Massimiliano Gentili (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia            0.54
 29. Felice Puttini (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips             0.54
 30. Daniel Clavero (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                     0.54
 31. Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                    0.54
 32. Richard Virenque (Fra) Team Polti                          0.54
 33. Vladislav Bobrik (Rus) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                 0.54
 34. Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                      0.54
 35. Aitor Osa (Spa) Banesto                                    1.24
 36. Félix García (Spa) Festina                                 1.24
 37. Abraham Olano (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                     1.24
 38. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) Festina                               1.24
 39. Daniel Atienza (Ita) Team Polti                            1.33
 40. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                    1.44
 41. Michele Coppolillo (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi             1.44
 42. Eugeni Berzin (Rus) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips              1.46
 43. Stefano Della Della Santa (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica C      2.04
 44. Ivan Gotti (Ita) Team Polti                                2.11
 45. Vjatceslav Ekimov (Rus) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips          2.11
 46. Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips          2.11
 47. Francesco Secchiari (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                 2.11
 48. Sergei Gontchar (Ukr) Vini Caldilora                       2.36
 49. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                             2.49
 50. Bo Hamburger (Den) Cantina Tollo-Alexia                    3.00
 51. Carlos Sastre (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                     3.00
 52. Kurt Van de Wouwer (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                    3.00
 53. Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                    3.22
 54. Patrick Jonker (Aus) Rabobank                              3.22
 55. Stéphane Goubert (Fra) Team Polti                          3.22
 56. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi               3.22
 57. Alberto Lopez De Munain Ruiz (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi       3.22
 58. José Luis Rubiera Kelme-Costa Blanca                       3.22
 59. Alekandre Shefer (Kaz) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                 3.22
 60. Jorg Jaksche (Ger) Telekom                                 3.22
 61. Jens Heppner (Ger) Telekom                                 3.22
 62. Daniele De Paoli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips           3.33
 63. Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                        4.01
 64. Sébastien Demarbaix (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                   4.12
 65. Unai Osa (Spa) Banesto                                     4.12
 66. Harald Morscher (Aut) Saeco-Cannondale                     4.12
 67. Alain Turicchia (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                  4.12
 68. Gianni Faresin (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                      4.12
 69. Laurent Madouas (Fra) Festina                              4.12
 70. Oscar Cavagnis (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia                  4.12
 71. David Latasa (Spa) Banesto                                 4.12
 72. Oscar Pellicioli (Ita) Team Polti                          4.12
 73. Tobias Steinhauser (Ger) Mapei-Quick Step                  4.12
 74. José Manuel Uría (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                  4.12
 75. José Javier Gomez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                 4.12
 76. Ruggiero Borghi (Ita) Vini Caldilora                       4.12
 77. Marco Fincato (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi                  4.12
 78. Alberto Elli (Ita) Telekom                                 4.12
 79. Roberto Pettito (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                     4.38
 80. Jan Ullrich (Ger) Telekom                                  4.53
 81. Francesco Frattini (Ita) Telekom                           4.53
 82. José Ramon Uriarte Zubero (Spa) Festina                    5.37
 83. Juan Carlos Vicario (Spa) Fuenlabrada                      6.02
 84. Mauro Ganetti (Ita) Vini Caldilora                         6.02
 85. Aitor Garmendia (Spa) Banesto                              6.02
 86. José Jaime Gonzalez Pico (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca          6.02
 87. Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros           6.30
 88. Vitali Kokorine (Rus) Saeco-Cannondale                     6.33
 89. Georg Totsching (Aut) Telekom                              6.43
 90. Roberto Conti (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi                  6.48
 91. Pablo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                       6.52
 92. Alexandre Moos (Swi) Festina                               7.03
 93. Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank                          7.04
 94. José Luis Arrieta (Spa) Banesto                            7.32
 95. Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank                             7.53
 96. Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                            7.59
 97. Peter Wuyts (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                           7.59
 98. Marco Magnani (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia                   7.59
 99. Massimo Prodenzana (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi             7.59
100. Stefano Cattai (Ita) Team Polti                            7.59
101. Filipo Casagrande (Ita) Vini Caldilora                     7.59
102. Manu L'Hoir (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                           8.40
103. Andrés Bermejo (Spa) Fuenlabrada                           9.01
104. Eduardo Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                 9.02
105. Pedro Horrillo (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                     9.32
106. César Solaun (Spa) Banesto                                 9.32
107. José Miguel Elizburu (Spa) Fuenlabrada                    10.13
108. Amikare Tronca (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips            10.19
109. Fabio Malberti (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                  10.30
110. Unai Etxebarria (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                   10.30
111. Marc Lotz (Ned) Rabobank                                  11.07
112. Marcelino García (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                 11.30
113. Iñaki Barrenetxea (Spa) Fuenlabrada                       11.48
114. Cristian Salvato (Ita) Polti                              11.48
115. Pedro Jiménez (Spa) Fuenlabrada                           11.53
116. Andrea Perón (Ita) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                     12.07
117. José Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                  14.11
118. Cristian Gasperoni (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia             14.11
119. Filippo Simeoni (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                 14.17
120. Emanuele Lupi (Ita) Vini Caldilora                        14.17
121. Oscar Pozzi (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                     14.17
122. Matias Cagigas (Spa) Fuenlabrada                          14.17
123. Saúl Morales (Spa) Fuenlabrada                            15.17
124. Mikel Pradera (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                     15.20
125. Victor Moratilla Solera (Spa) Fuenlabrada                 15.50
126. Guido Trentin (Ita) Vini Caldilora                        15.50
127. Andreas Kloden (Ger) Telekom                              15.53
128. Igor Pugaci (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                        16.01
129. Iñigo Gonzalez Heredia (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros            17.09
130. Ginés Salmerón (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                    17.09
131. Federico Giabbecucci (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia           17.25
132. Jonathan Hall (Aus) Festina                               17.35
133. Emmanuelle Negrini (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia             17.58
134. Alessio Bongioni (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                19.31
135. Mauro Bartoli (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                   19.31
136. Mauro Zanetti (Ita) Vini Caldilora                        19.31
137. Patrice Halgand (Fra) Festina                             24.47
138. Armand De las Cuevas (Fra) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips      31.17