Vuelta a Guatemala, 2.6

Guatemala, Oct. 21 - Nov. 1, 1999

Stage 3 - October 23

Report:

By Tomas Nilsson, cyclingnews.com correspondent

Ten laps on a flat 12 kms circuit shouldn't be too dramatic. The third stage of the Tour of Guatemala ended in a sprint with Mexican Carlos Hernandez passing the line first.

Second-placed Oscar Pineda was declassified to the last position in the peloton after dangerous riding in the sprint. Pineda blocked the way for the Mexican at the start of the sprint and pushed him towards the barrier. The Mexican responded and first both of them were declassified.

After consulting the video, only Pineda was declassified and Hernandez declared the winner. Colombian Cortés kept the leader's jersey. American Chris Fisher took all the three sprints and now leads that competition comfortably. Colombian Mauricio Ardila, eighth on the GC, lost fifteen minutes (!) on this otherwise easy stage.

Stage 3, 120 kms in Jalapa

1. Carlos Hernandez (Mex) 3.04,14
2. Chris Fisher (USA)
3. Gustavo Carrillo (Gua)
4. José Zeceña (Gua)
5. Rudy Ispache (Gua)
6. Amilcar Gramajo (Gua)
7. Alejandro Cortés (Col)
8. Richard Nudell (Aut)
9. Miguel Arroyo (Mex)
10. Miguel Perez

GC:

1. Alejandro Cortes (Col) 11.01,29
2. Fernando Escobar (Gua) 0,02
3. Edgar Villanueva (Gua)
4. Miguel Arroyo (Mex)
5. Luis Rodolfo Muj (Gua)

Mountains, GC::

1. Fernando Alvarado (Gua) 11 pts.
2. Fernando Escobar (Gua) 9
3. Mike Carter (USA) 9
4. Mauricio Ardila (Col) 7
5. Selvin Orantes (Gua) 5

Sprints, GC:

1. Chris Fisher (USA) 21 pts.
2. Oscar Pineda (USA) 9
3. Selvin Orantes (Gua) 8
4. Fernando Alvarado (Gua) 5
5. Mike Carter (USA) 5

Points, GC:

1. Carlos Hernandez (Mex) 11 pts.
2. G.Hernández (Gua) 11
3. Fernando Escobar (Gua) 11
4. Ferry Brukner (Aut) 11
5. Chris Fisher (USA)   8