Vuelta a Guatemala, 2.6

Guatemala, Oct. 21 - Nov. 1, 1999

Stage 11 - October 31

Final drama in Guatemala

By Tomas Nilsson, cyclingnews.com correspondent

Fernando Wilfred Escobar starts the last stage of the Vuelta a Guatemala tomorrow with a meagre three seconds lead on Colombian Luis Catañeda. The penultimate elventh stage did not give any changes in the GC but Mauricio Ardila of Colombia managed to break away and win by 1.17 to a ten-man group with the major contenders. He also secured the KOM jersey by gaining the three mountain prizes of the stage.

Tomorrow's final stage into Guatemala City offers five mountain prizes, two of second category and three of third category with the "worst" coming first after just 11 of the 153 kms. Expect some spectacular Colombian riding, and guess on who's wheel Escobar will be. No bets taken.

Stage 11, Panajachel- Antigua, 110 kms

1. Mauricio Ardila (Col) Lotería de Medellín     3.00.25 (45 kph)
2. Chris Fisher (USA) Seven Up                      1.17
3. Miguel Pérez (Gua) Foremost
4. Richard Nudl (Aut) Austria
5. Miguel Arroyo (Mex) Canel's-Turbo
6. Yari Real (Gua) Xajanal B
7. Amílcar Gramajo (Gua) Bancomet 
8. Luis Castañeda (Col) Lotería de Medellín
9. Abel Jocholá (Gua) Molinos Helvetia-Emceco
10. Fernando Escobar (Gua) Bancomet

GC after stage 11

1. Fernando Escobar (Gua) Bancomet           	38.16.24
2. Luis Castañeda (Col) Lotería de Medellín         0.03
3. Miguel Arroyo (Mex) Canel's-Turbo                0.55
4. Fermín Méndez (Gua) Bancomet                     1.00
5. Amílcar Gramajo (Gua) Bancomet                   1.14
6. Anton Villatoro(Gua) Seven Up.                   2.16
7. Guillermo Torres (Gua) Foremost                  3.19
8. Oscar Alvarez (Col) Lotería de Medellín          6.03
9. Luis Rodolfo (Gua) Foremost                      6.14
10. Armando Pérez (Mex) Canel's-Turbo               6.31

Mountains:

1. Mauricio Ardila (Col) Lotería de Medellín        102 pts
2. Fernando Escobar (Gua) Bancomet                  61
3. Luis Castañeda (Col) Lotería de Medellín         53

Sprints:
1. Chris Fisher (USA) Seven Up                      52 pts
2. Oscar Pineda(Gua) Seven Up                       25
3. Rudy Ispache(Gua) Bancomet                       19

Points:
1. Fernando Escobar (Gua) Bancomet                  38 pts
2. Carlos Hernández (Mex) Canel's-Turbo             29
3. Chris Fisher (USA) Seven Up                      26