61st Volta a Portugal, Cat 2.3

Portugal, July 26-August 8, 1999

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A Special Report from Daniel Schamps, Paris

I like velo once more. I have followed the Tour of Portugal on TV (live on RTP 1) since the first day (July 26) and it has helped me to forget the Tour de France (which was poor with respect to the action and over which there were still so many doubts).

Here in Portugal everything is like it used to be some 15 or 20 years ago. Attacks, breakaways which reach the finish still clear, fights for the first place everyday. Nobody stronger than the rest or just a little bit to keep the yellow jersey! "Le vélo comme on l’aime et pas le vélo comme il est devenu!"

Gamito (Porta da Ravessa) took the lead almost two weeks ago thanks to an ITT he won despite Melchor Mauri (Winterthur-Benfica). But on the GC the gaps remained thin. David Plaza (at 24 seconds), Mauri (both Benfica), Malberti (Riso Scotti), Rui Lavarinhas (Maia-CIN) where in close attendance but Gamito and his team looked strong and it seemed that he was to resist easily. Ladomadda (LA Pecol) was the best on the climbs (he made an impressive cavalier seul during the most difficult stage including 4 cols but he was caught in the descent with three km to go, the last summit beeing 30km far from the finish). Then he renew his show in the ascent of the Senhora da Graça (the finish was on the top of this mount which looks like the Puy de Dôme) but he had to give the best of himself to catch Azevedo who was the first attacking man on this climb and then to resist against Gamito, Plaza, Mauri and Lavarinhas who fought for the leadership. He won 3sec. clear of Azevedo, 5sec.clear of Gamito and Plaza just a few metres behind. It was two days ago with three stages to go including a last ITT on the penultimate day (35,5 km). It was today and "Oh what a race!"

Mauri, third on GC at 54 sec to Gamito started. Then, two minutes later it was Lavarinhas (4th on GC at a bit more than one minute), then David Plaza (26 sec.down on the GC) and at last Gamito. The start of Gamito was impressive. A long sprint of 500 metres. Plaza, two minutes before was more calm but Gamito’s start made us think he was once more to stand head and shoulders above the other like two weeks before. Not to be, for at the first intermediate time (6th km) it was Mauri who led 10 seconds clear of Plaza with Gamito just 5 seconds behind his closest opponent. Was it the beginning of the end for Gamito? Three kilometres further on Plaza punctured and lost at least 15 seconds as he changed his bike. At the half way the gap was the same between the two men despite Plaza's puncture. With 10 km to go Plaza was 13 seconds clear of Gamito and it looked to be the closest gap possible for the GC. Mauri won the stage as Plaza was catching Lavarinhas who started two minutes before him. Gamito gave his best but it was clear that he suffered a thousand deaths. Plaza crossed the line in a last sprint and then the TV followed Gamito and the seconds fell. With 100 metres to go the game was played. The red Benfica corner congratulated Plaza as Gamito fell out of breath on his own under a blue plastic tent. So disappointed. Nobody came to him, leaving him alone with the head between his hands. For seven seconds he thought he lost his National Tour. But who knows there is still one stage to go! Mauri is third at 16 sec. on GC. The fourth Malberti is more than two minutes down.

Stage 13, Cantanhede - Cantanhede, ITT, 34 kms:

AVS: 51.349 km/h

  1. Melchior Mauri (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                   42.53
  2. David Plaza (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                       0.12
  3. Jorge Silva (Por) Sport Lisboa Benfica                       0.17
  4. Vitor Gamito (Por) Porta da Ravessa-Milaneza                 0.47
  5. Joaquim Andrade (Por) Maia-Cin                               1.00
  6. Fabio Malberti (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                     1.37
  7. Jose Azevedo (Por) Maia-Cin                                  1.43
  8. Candido Barbosa (Por) Banesto                                1.48
  9. Bruno Castanheira (Por) LA/Pecol                             1.59
 10. Piotr Wadecki (Pol) Mroz                                     2.10
 11. Romans Vainsteins (Lit) Vini Caldirola                       2.13
 12. Vitoriano Fernandez (Por) Recer-Boavista                     2.29
 13. Rui Lavarinhas (Por) Maia-Cin                                2.31
 14. Diego Ferrari (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                      2.33
 15. Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Banesto                               2.33
 16. Joaquim Sampaio (Por) Porta da Ravessa-Milaneza              2.34
 17. Oscar Pozzi (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                        2.38
 18. Delmino Pereira (Por) Recer-Boavista                         2.42
 19. Arnoldas Saprykinas (Lit) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                2.56
 20. Pedro Lopes (Por) LA/Pecol                                   3.12
 21. Paulo Barroso (Por) Maia-Cin                                 3.17
 22. Saulius Sarkauskas (Lit) LA/Pecol                            3.30
 23. Andrea Tonti (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia                      3.36
 24. Michele Laddomada (Ita) LA/Pecol                             3.40
 25. Philippe Fernandes (Fra) Porta da Ravessa-Milaneza           3.40
 26. Iker  Flores (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                         3.42
 27. Pedro Martins (Por) Gresco-Tavira                            3.44
 28. Quintino Rodrigues (Por) Sport Lisboa Benfica                3.47
 29. Joaquim Gomes (Por) LA/Pecol                                 3.49
 30. Pedro Cardoso (Por) Maia-Cin                                 3.49
 31. Joăo Silva (Por) Maia-Cin                                    3.51
 32. David Barnabeu (Spa) Recer-Boavista                          3.57
 33. Luis Santos (Por) Paredes/Móvel-ECOP                         4.03
 34. Peio Arreitunandia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                   4.06
 35. Franco Ballerini (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                         4.07
 36. Oscar Uriarte (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                     4.10
 37. Josep Jufre (Spa) Recer-Boavista                             4.12
 38. Luis Castellano (Spa) Matesica-Abóboda                       4.15
 39. Ricardo Felgueiras (Por) Porta da Ravessa-Milaneza           4.23
 40. Aitor Silloniz (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                       4.36
 41. Cezary Zamana (Pol) Mroz                                     4.41
 42. Samuele Schiavina (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                  4.47
 43. Pedro Andrade (Por) Recer-Boavista                           4.52
 44. Andrzej Sypytkowski (Pol) Mroz                               4.57
 45. Stig Kristiansen (Nor) Acceptcard Pro Cycling                5.09
 46. Pablo Lastras (Spa) Banesto                                  5.11
 47. Igor Flores (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                          5.15
 48. Cristiano Frattini (Ita) Liquigas                            5.16
 49. Marco Vergnani (Ita) Selle Italia                            5.18
 50. Fortunato Baliani (Ita) Selle Italia                         5.19
 51. David Latasa (Spa) Banesto                                   5.25
 52. Carlos Pinho (Por) Paredes/Móvel-ECOP                        5.25
 53. Atanas Petrov (Bul) Gresco-Tavira                            5.25
 54. Juan Guillamon Ruiz (Spa) Gresco-Tavira                      5.25
 55. Valerio Tebaldi (Ita) Mobilvetta-Northwave                   5.26
 56. Matteo Frutti (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                            5.35
 57. Gustavo Otero (Spa) Recer-Boavista                           5.37
 58. Txema Del olmo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                       5.37
 59. Eladio Jimenez (Spa) Banesto                                 5.41
 60. Rodolfo Massi (Ita) Liquigas                                 5.48
 61. César Garcia (Spa) Recer-Boavista                            5.48
 62. Gianluca Tonetti (Ita) Selle Italia                          5.53
 63. Rui Sousa (Por) Porta da Ravessa-Milaneza                    5.56
 64. Alessandro Bertolini (Ita) Mobilvetta-Northwave              5.57
 65. Andrej Hauptman (Slo) Vini Caldirola                         6.02
 66. Giuseppe Di fresco (Ita) Selle Italia                        6.10
 67. Nelson Vitorino (Por) Gresco-Tavira                          6.17
 68. Krasimir Vassilev (Bul) Gresco-Tavira                        6.19
 69. Cristiano Mancini (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                  6.20
 70. Vicente Elvira (Spa) Matesica-Abóboda                        6.22
 71. Helder Lopes (Por) Gresco-Tavira                             6.25
 72. Joona Laukka (Fin) Acceptcard Pro Cycling                    6.28
 73. Paulo Silva (Por) Porta da Ravessa-Milaneza                  6.32
 74. Sergio Rodrigues (Por) Gresco-Tavira                         6.34
 75. Pedro Soeiro (Por) Recer-Boavista                            6.34
 76. Marco Della Vedova (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                       6.49
 77. Virgilio Santos (Por) Paredes/Móvel-ECOP                     6.49
 78. Elis Rastelli (Ita) Liquigas                                 6.56
 79. Filippo Simeoni (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                    7.00
 80. Nuno Alves (Por) Porta da Ravessa-Milaneza                   7.10
 81. Luis Colaço (Por) Paredes/Móvel-ECOP                         7.13
 82. Massimiliano Gentili (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia              7.16
 83. Fernando Mota (Por) LA/Pecol                                 7.18
 84. José Barros (Por) Paredes/Móvel-ECOP                         7.26
 85. Oscar Cavagnis (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia                    7.32
 86. Leandro Fioroni (Ita) Mobilvetta-Northwave                   7.38
 87. Emmanuele Negrini (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia                 7.39
 88. Guido Trenti (Ita) Vini Caldirola                            7.53
 89. Vidal Fitas (Por) Porta da Ravessa-Milaneza                  7.56
 90. Nicola Miceli (Ita) Liquigas                                 8.03
 91. Jose Garrido (Por) Sport Lisboa Benfica                      8.16
 92. Guido Trombetta (Ita) Mobilvetta-Northwave                   8.23
 93. Unai Yus (Por) Matesica-Abóboda                              8.30
 94. Fabio Quercioli (Ita) Sport Lisboa Benfica                   8.41
 95. Daniele Contrini (Ita) Liquigas                              8.49
 96. Segis De la Torre (Por) Matesica-Abóboda                     8.53
 97. Youri Sourkov (Rus) LA/Pecol                                10.34

GC after Stage 13 

  1. David Plaza (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                   50.24.58
  2. Vitor Gamito (Por) Porta da Ravessa-Milaneza                 0.09
  3. Melchior Mauri (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                    0.16
  4. Fabio Malberti (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                     2.44
  5. Candido Barbosa (Por) Banesto                                3.23
  6. Rui Lavarinhas (Por) Maia-Cin                                3.26
  7. Joaquim Sampaio (Por) Porta da Ravessa-Milaneza              4.22
  8. Jose Azevedo (Por) Maia-Cin                                  4.29
  9. Delmino Pereira (Por) Recer-Boavista                         5.29
 10. Bruno Castanheira (Por) LA/Pecol                             5.37
 11. Michele Laddomada (Ita) LA/Pecol                             6.25
 12. Gustavo Otero (Spa) Recer-Boavista                           8.45
 13. Piotr Wadecki (Pol) Mroz                                     8.51
 14. Quintino Rodrigues (Por) Sport Lisboa Benfica                8.55
 15. Vitoriano Fernandez (Por) Recer-Boavista                    10.46
 16. Oscar Pozzi (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                       11.11
 17. Philippe Fernandes (Fra) Porta da Ravessa-Milaneza          13.38
 18. Fortunato Baliani (Ita) Selle Italia                        17.52
 19. Carlos Pinho (Por) Paredes/Móvel-ECOP                       17.54
 20. Joaquim Andrade (Por) Maia-Cin                              18.24
 21. Joaquim Gomes (Por) LA/Pecol                                19.56
 22. Josep Jufre (Spa) Recer-Boavista                            20.22
 23. Valerio Tebaldi (Ita) Mobilvetta-Northwave                  21.57
 24. Joăo Silva (Por) Maia-Cin                                   22.32
 25. Pedro Andrade (Por) Recer-Boavista                          23.14
 26. Gianluca Tonetti (Ita) Selle Italia                         25.49
 27. Marco Vergnani (Ita) Selle Italia                           27.41
 28. Pedro Lopes (Por) LA/Pecol                                  30.43
 29. Pedro Cardoso (Por) Maia-Cin                                31.17
 30. Cristiano Frattini (Ita) Liquigas                           33.10
 31. Joona Laukka (Fin) Acceptcard Pro Cycling                   33.16
 32. Pedro Martins (Por) Gresco-Tavira                           34.17
 33. Peio Arreitunandia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                  34.49
 34. Juan Guillamon Ruiz (Spa) Gresco-Tavira                     35.31
 35. Luis Castellano (Spa) Matesica-Abóboda                      36.15
 36. Arnoldas Saprykinas (Lit) Riso Scotti-Vinavil               36.26
 37. Youri Sourkov (Rus) LA/Pecol                                36.51
 38. Segis De la Torre (Por) Matesica-Abóboda                    37.10
 39. Iker  Flores (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                        37.10
 40. Virgilio Santos (Por) Paredes/Móvel-ECOP                    39.49
 41. Rui Sousa (Por) Porta da Ravessa-Milaneza                   41.05
 42. Eladio Jimenez (Spa) Banesto                                41.29
 43. Saulius Sarkauskas (Lit) LA/Pecol                           41.42
 44. Atanas Petrov (Bul) Gresco-Tavira                           42.16
 45. Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Banesto                              44.41
 46. Filippo Simeoni (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                   44.55
 47. Romans Vainsteins (Lit) Vini Caldirola                      46.23
 48. Guido Trenti (Ita) Vini Caldirola                           47.07
 49. Jorge Silva (Por) Sport Lisboa Benfica                      47.27
 50. Sergio Rodrigues (Por) Gresco-Tavira                        48.21
 51. Paulo Silva (Por) Porta da Ravessa-Milaneza                 49.55
 52. Oscar Uriarte (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                    50.50
 53. Nelson Vitorino (Por) Gresco-Tavira                         51.10
 54. Igor Flores (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                         51.28
 55. Fernando Mota (Por) LA/Pecol                                52.46
 56. Rodolfo Massi (Ita) Liquigas                                53.35
 57. Pablo Lastras (Spa) Banesto                                 54.20
 58. David Barnabeu (Spa) Recer-Boavista                         54.23
 59. Nuno Alves (Por) Porta da Ravessa-Milaneza                  55.45
 60. Andrzej Sypytkowski (Pol) Mroz                              56.14
 61. Diego Ferrari (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                     58.50
 62. Paulo Barroso (Por) Maia-Cin                                59.37
 63. Unai Yus (Por) Matesica-Abóboda                             59.51
 64. Cezary Zamana (Pol) Mroz                                  1.00.25
 65. Luis Santos (Por) Paredes/Móvel-ECOP                      1.00.33
 66. Guido Trombetta (Ita) Mobilvetta-Northwave                1.02.27
 67. Fabio Quercioli (Ita) Sport Lisboa Benfica                1.04.27
 68. Pedro Soeiro (Por) Recer-Boavista                         1.05.41
 69. Massimiliano Gentili (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia           1.07.15
 70. Franco Ballerini (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                      1.08.01
 71. Vicente Elvira (Spa) Matesica-Abóboda                     1.08.16
 72. Jose Garrido (Por) Sport Lisboa Benfica                   1.09.36
 73. Nicola Miceli (Ita) Liquigas                              1.09.51
 74. Andrea Tonti (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia                   1.10.56
 75. Stig Kristiansen (Nor) Acceptcard Pro Cycling             1.16.02
 76. Andrej Hauptman (Slo) Vini Caldirola                      1.16.12
 77. César Garcia (Spa) Recer-Boavista                         1.16.46
 78. David Latasa (Spa) Banesto                                1.19.52
 79. Helder Lopes (Por) Gresco-Tavira                          1.24.24
 80. Ricardo Felgueiras (Por) Porta da Ravessa-Milaneza        1.24.52
 81. Leandro Fioroni (Ita) Mobilvetta-Northwave                1.26.26
 82. Matteo Frutti (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                         1.27.25
 83. Cristiano Mancini (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil               1.29.36
 84. Emmanuele Negrini (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia              1.29.45
 85. Txema Del olmo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                    1.31.15
 86. José Barros (Por) Paredes/Móvel-ECOP                      1.31.27
 87. Krasimir Vassilev (Bul) Gresco-Tavira                     1.32.08
 88. Giuseppe Di fresco (Ita) Selle Italia                     1.36.11
 89. Daniele Contrini (Ita) Liquigas                           1.40.24
 90. Marco Della Vedova (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                    1.43.34
 91. Elis Rastelli (Ita) Liquigas                              1.44.17
 92. Samuele Schiavina (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil               1.44.40
 93. Vidal Fitas (Por) Porta da Ravessa-Milaneza               1.46.23
 94. Aitor Silloniz (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                    1.46.34
 95. Luis Colaço (Por) Paredes/Móvel-ECOP                      1.50.07
 96. Oscar Cavagnis (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia                 1.53.17
 97. Alessandro Bertolini (Ita) Mobilvetta-Northwave           1.57.36

Overall Teams:

  1. Sport Lisboa Benfica                                    151.10.50
  2. Maia-Cin                                                151.22.04
  3. Recer-Boavista                                          151.25.47
  4. Porta da Ravessa-Milaneza                               151.32.30
  5. Riso Scotti-Vinavil                                     151.38.36
  6. LA-Pecol                                                151.41.44
  7. Banesto                                                 151.54.52
  8. Mroz                                                    151.57.39
  9. Gresco-Tavira                                           152.09.39
 10. Selle Italia                                            152.13.56
 11. Liquigas                                                152.47.38
 12. Euskaltel-Euskadi                                       152.49.31
 13. Paredes/Móvel-ECOP                                      152.54.08
 14. Matesica-Abóboda                                        153.05.11
 15. Mobilvetta-Northwave                                    153.29.47
 16. Vini Caldirola                                          154.00.32
 17. Lampre-Daikin                                           154.34.44
 18. Cantino Tollo-Alexia                                    154.56.41

Overall Points:

  1. Candido Barbosa (Por) Banesto                                 109
  2. Saulius Sarkauskas (Lit) LA/Pecol                              65
  3. Oscar Pozzi (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                          60
  4. Andrej Hauptman (Slo) Vini Caldirola                           50
  5. Pedro Soeiro (Por) Recer-Boavista                              48
  6. Youri Sourkov (Rus) LA/Pecol                                   44
  7. Jose Azevedo (Por) Maia-Cin                                    42
  8. Juan Guillamon Ruiz (Spa) Gresco-Tavira                        40
  9. Arnoldas Saprykinas (Lit) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                  40
 10. Fabio Malberti (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                       39
 11. Vitor Gamito (Por) Porta da Ravessa-Milaneza                   38
 12. Fortunato Baliani (Ita) Selle Italia                           36
 13. Pedro Lopes (Por) LA/Pecol                                     36
 14. Piotr Wadecki (Pol) Mroz                                       34
 15. Marco Vergnani (Ita) Selle Italia                              34

Overall Mountains:

  1. Pedro Cardoso (Por) Maia-Cin                                   71
  2. Michele Laddomada (Ita) LA/Pecol                               70
  3. Rui Lavarinhas (Por) Maia-Cin                                  41
  4. Pedro Andrade (Por) Recer-Boavista                             28
  5. Vitor Gamito (Por) Porta da Ravessa-Milaneza                   24

Overall Special Sprints:

  1. Nelson Vitorino (Por) Gresco-Tavira                            27
  2. Pedro Lopes (Por) LA/Pecol                                     15
  3. Sergio Rodrigues (Por) Gresco-Tavira                           14
  4. Krasimir Vassilev (Bul) Gresco-Tavira                          10
  5. Arnoldas Saprykinas (Lit) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                   8