Vuelta a Guatemala, 2.6

Guatemala, Oct. 21 - Nov. 1, 1999

Stage 4 - October 24

Report:

By Tomas Nilsson, cyclingnews.com correspondent

You don't ride three years in the European peloton for nothing. Guatemalan cycling's no 1 star, despite returning to American "amateur" status, Anton Villatoro, escaped just two kilometres outside the city limits of Jalapa where stage four started.

It was just one of those early attacks you do just to see what happens. And nothing happened in the peloton. For a while Villatoro was over 10 minutes ahead before Colombian Lotería de Medellín, Mexican Canel's Turbo and the two local top teams, Bancomet and Foremost reacted. But it was far too late and Villatoro was far too strong.

The margin at the finish in Aldea Don Justo after 153 kms was 6.18. Guillermo Torres (Foremost) sprinted in as second. The margin in the GC to Colombian Alejandro Cortez is now 4.18.

Stage 4, Jalapa-Aldea don Justo, 153 kms

1. Anton Villatoro (Gua) Seven Up		4.21.51 (AVS 35 kmh)
2. Guillermo Torres (Gua) Foremost		   6.17
3. Edgar Villanueva (Gua) Bancomet
4. Miguel Arroyo (Mex) Canel's-Turbo		   6.18
5. Alberto Méndez (Gua) Bancomet

GC after stage 4

1. Anton Villatoro (Gua) Seven Up		15.25.19
2. Alejandro Cortés (Col) Lotería de Medellín       4.19 
3. Fernando Escobar (Gua) Bancomet		    4.20 
4. Edgar Villanueva (Gua) Bancomet		    4.21 
5. Miguel Arroyo (Mex) Canel's-Turbo
6. José Migdael Zeceña Gua) Foremost
7. Luis Rodolfo Muj Gua) Foremost
8. Amílcar Gramajo (Gua) Bancomet
9. Guillermo Torres Gua) Foremost
10. Fermín Méndez (Gua) Bancomet


Mountains

1. Anton Villatoro(Gua) Seven Up		20
2. Fernando Alvarado (Gua) Xajanal A		20
3. Mauricio Ardila (Col) Lotería de Medellín	16

Sprints

1. Chris Fisher (USA) Seven Up		27
2. Anton Villatoro (Gua) Seven Up	13
3. Oscar Pineda (Gua) Seven Up		 9

Points.

1. Fernando Escobar (Gua) Bancomet		13
2. Anton Villatoro (Gua) Seven Up		11
3. Carlos Hernández (Mex) Canel's-Turbo		11