Vuelta a Espana, Grand Tour

Spain, September 4-26, 1999

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Liquigas and Moreni break through for a stage win

The Italian second division team Liquigas, finally recorded their first Tour stage victory, as Christain Moreni attacked out of an 11-man breakaway with just 4 kilometers to the finish.

It was also the first ever professional win for Moreni, 26, and the Italian was suitably ecstatic "I can't describe the feeling. It's my first win as a professional and to win it in a prestigious race like this is incredible," he said. "I'm surprised no one managed to pulled me back when I attacked. I was looking around for my fellow Italians Tafi, Rebellin and Piccoli, who I thought would be very dangerous," he added.

Although the longest stage of the tour (225 km) dropped several hundred meters from start to finish, it was by no means an easy run, with several category 2 and 3 climbs along the way. As has been the case over the last few days, a group of riders posing no threat to the overall standings were allowed to escape the peloton.

In addition to Moreni, the break also contained José Garcia Acosta (Banesto), Mikel Zarrabeitia and Luis Perez (ONCE-Deutsche Bank), Mariano Piccoli (Lampre-Daikin), Antonio Tauler (Kelme-Costa Blanca), Davide Rebellin (Polti), Andrea Tafi (Mapei-Quick Step), Jaime Hernandez (Festina), Euskatel teammates Ińigo Charreau and Ramón Gonzalez Arrieta.

Tafi tried one of his trademark solo moves with 30 km to go, but was brought back by the group, opening the race up for an "opportunist" style victory. Moreni took the chance and attacked with less than 4 km to go, while the other more fancied riders were too busy watching each other. He held off Banesto's Garcia Acosta, and ONCE's Mikel Zarrabeitia who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively

Race leader Jan Ullrich finished with the rest of the peloton, some 16 and a half minutes down, being more interested in conserving his legs for the next three stages. With two more mountain stages and a time trial to come before the finish in Madrid, the German will need all his reserves to hold off the Spanish challenge that will surely occur. "It was another hard day. Every day is a hard day and they are all hard from here...I will try to stay with every attack" he said.

In other news unfortunately, two star riders, German Marcel Wust and Spain's Angel Casero were forced to abandon the race during the stage. Quadruple stage winner in this years tour, Wust stopped after 140-kms, blaming tiredness from the Pyrenees amongst other things - stay tuned for his diary update.

Casero, who had been eighth on GC was having problems with an achilles tendon injury and was forced to retire. Only 118 riders of the 189 who started the tour are now left.

 

Stage 17, Los Bronchales - Guadalajara, 190 kms:

Stage 17, Los Bronchales - Guadalajara, 225 kms,  Avs: 40.514 Km/h


1   Cristian Moreni (Ita) Liquigas                        5.33.13 
2   José V. Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                       .02 
3   Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank         .02 
4   Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                       .05 
5   Toni Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                      .05 
6   Davide Rebellin (Ita) Team Polti                          .07 
7   Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                        .07 
8   Jaime Hernandez Bertran (Spa) Lotus-Festina               .07 
9   Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi          .16 
10  Ramon Gonzalez Arrieta (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi            .28 
11  Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank            2.15 
12  Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                       16.34 
13  Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service                 16.34 
14  Marcus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                             16.34 
15  Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros               16.34 
16  Kurt van de Wouwer (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                 16.34 
17  Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips      16.34 
18  Paul van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                     16.34 
19  Laurent Brochard (Fra) Lotus-Festina                    16.34 
20  Pascal Hervé (Fra) Lotus-Festina                        16.34 
21  Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                  16.34 
22  Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom              16.34 
23  Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                 16.34 
24  José L. Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca          16.34 
25  Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto                   16.34 
26  José Uria Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca             16.34 
27  Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca        16.34 
28  Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 16.34 
29  Txema Del Olmo Zendegi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi          16.34 
30  Andrei Zintchenko (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros               16.34 
31  José Uriarte Zubero (Spa) Lotus-Festina                 16.34 
32  Pedro Diaz Lobato (Spa) Fuenlabrada                     16.34 
33  Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi            16.34 
34  Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                 16.34 
35  Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Liquigas                       16.34 
36  Gianni Faresin (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                   16.34 
37  Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                    16.34 
38  Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Rabobank                          16.34 
39  Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step                     16.34 
40  Felix Garcia Casas (Spa) Lotus-Festina                  16.34 
41  Stefano Cattai (Ita) Team Polti                         16.34 
42  William Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step              16.34 
43  José M. Jimenez Sastre (Spa) Banesto                    16.34 
44  Angel Castresana Del Val (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi        16.34 
45  José A. Garrido (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica              16.34 
46  Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                         16.34 
47  Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto                      16.34 
48  Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros          16.34 
49  Massimo Codol (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                       16.34 
50  David Garcia Marquina (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros           16.34 
51  Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Banesto                          16.34 
52  Angel Edo Alsina (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca               16.34 
53  Marcos A. Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank    16.34 
54  Michel Lafis (Swe) TVM-Farm Frites                      16.34 
55  Fabio Roscioli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips          16.34 
56  Ińigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank             16.34 
57  Oscar Lopez Uriarte (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica          16.34 
58  Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                     16.34 
59  Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank              16.34 
60  Juan C. Vicario Barbera (Spa) Fuenlabrada               16.34 
61  Alessandro Pozzi (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips        16.34 
62  Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                        16.34 
63  Joona Laukka (Fin) Sport Lisboa Benfica                 16.34 
64  Ivan Parra (Col) Vitalicio Seguros                      16.49 
65  Orlando Gomes Rodrigues (Por) Banesto                   16.55 
66  Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca        16.57 
67  Andrea Noe (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                       16.57 
68  Niki Aebersold (Swi) Rabobank                           16.57 
69  Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team Deutsche Telekom           16.59 
70  Cesar Perez Padron  (Spa) Fuenlabrada                   16.59 
71  Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosa (Spa) Fuenlabrada            16.59 
72  Andres Bermejo Siller (Spa) Fuenlabrada                 17.02 
73  German Nieto Fernandez (Spa) Fuenlabrada                17.05 
74  Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros        17.08 
75  Quintino Fernandez Rodrigues (Por) Sport Lisboa Benfica 17.11 
76  Melchor Mauri (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                17.11 
77  Igor Flores Galarza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi             17.11 
78  Cesar Solaun Solana (Spa) Banesto                       17.11 
79  Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                       17.11 
80  Matias Cagigas Amedo (Spa) Fuenlabrada                  17.11 
81  Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre-Daikin                     17.11 
82  Carlos Golbano (Spa) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips          17.11 
83  Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                   17.11 
84  Alberto Lopez de Munain (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi         17.11 
85  Unai Etxebarria Arana (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi           17.11 
86  Stefano Verziagi (Ita) Fuenlabrada                      17.11 
87  Alexandre Shefer (Kaz) Riso Scotti-Vinavil              17.11 
88  Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                                17.11 
89  Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                17.11 
90  Frank Hoj (Den) US Postal Service                       17.11 
91  Miguel A. Martin Perdiguero (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank    17.11 
92  Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                 17.11 
93  Servais Knaven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                    17.11 
94  Bram de Groot (Ned) Rabobank                            17.11 
95  Cristian Salvato (Ita) Team Polti                       17.11 
96  Daniel Bayes (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                 17.11 
97  Marco Gili (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips              17.11 
98  Jörg Jaksche  (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom               17.11 
99  Alex Zülle (Swi) Banesto                                17.24 
100 Andrei Teteriouk (Kaz) Liquigas                         17.24
101 Julian Dean (NZl) US Postal Service                     17.24
102 Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal Service                  17.24
103 Nicola Miceli  (Ita) Liquigas                           17.24
104 Arnoldas Saprykinas (Ltu) Riso Scotti-Vinavil           17.24
105 Oscar Pozzi (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                   17.24
106 Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil              17.24
107 Dirk Baldinger (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom              17.40
108 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                17.40
109 Stefano Casagranda (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips      17.40
110 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale               17.47
111 Anthony Rokia (Fra) Cofidis                             19.38
112 Koen Beeckman (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                      19.38
113 Igor Pugaci (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                      19.38
114 Andreas Klier (Ger) TVM-Farm Frites                     19.38
115 Rossano Brasi (Ita) Team Polti                          19.38
116 Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                 19.38
117 Remco Van Der Ven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                 19.38
118 Geert van Bondt (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites                   19.38



Mountains competition

Alto De Cabrillas  48.5 km  Cat 3

1  Carlos Golbano (Spa) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips          6
2  Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Ba         4
3  Toni Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                    2
4  Cesar Solaun Solana (Spa) Banesto                       1

Alto de vel Valle  68.6 km  Cat 2

1  Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank          10
2  Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Ba         7
3  Ramon Gonzalez Arrieta (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi          5
4  Cesar Solaun Solana (Spa) Banesto                       3
5  Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 2
6  Marcus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                             1

Alto de la Rodea  100.2 km  Cat 3	
                                               
1  Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskad         6
2  Toni Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                    4
3  Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank           2
4  Davide Rebellin (Ita) Team Polti                        1

Alto de Horche  211.3 km  Cat 2
                                                   
1  Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                      6
2  José V. Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                     4
3  Davide Rebellin (Ita) Team Polti                        2
4  Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskad         1


Points competition

Priego 118.2 km

1  Ramon Gonzalez Arrieta (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi      4
2  Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                  2
3  Davide Rebellin (Ita) Team Polti                    1

Sacedon 168.5 km

1  Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                  4
2  Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank       2
3  Davide Rebellin (Ita) Team Polti                    1

Tendilla  199.5 km

1  Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                  4
2  José V. Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                 2
3  Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                 1


Stage Finish

1  Cristian Moreni (Ita) Liquigas                      2
2  José V. Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                 2
3  Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank   1
4  Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                 1
5  Toni Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                1
6  Davide Rebellin (Ita) Team Polti                    1
7  Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                  9
8  Jaime Hernandez Bertran (Spa) Lotus-Festina         8
9  Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi    7
10 Ramon Gonzalez Arrieta (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi      6
11 Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank       5
12 Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                   4
13 Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service             3
14 Marcus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                         2

GC after Stage 17: 

1   Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom          75.26.28 (Avs. 39.6 km/h)
2   Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros         49
3   Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca     2.35
4   José M. Jimenez Sastre (Spa) Banesto                 3.35
5   Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step                  3.45
6   José L. Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca       4.23
7   Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto                5.05
8   Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Banesto                       6.00
9   Ivan Parra (Col) Vitalicio Seguros                   8.23
10  Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros              9.24
11  Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Ban    16.20
12  José Uria Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca         18.26
13  Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi    19.39
14  Felix Garcia Casas (Spa) Lotus-Festina              20.21
15  Txema Del Olmo Zendegi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi      20.31
16  Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto                  20.40
17  Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                   21.40
18  Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi        27.25
19  Davide Rebellin (Ita) Team Polti                    28.27
20  William Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step          34.04
21  Melchor Mauri (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica            40.11
22  Niki Aebersold (Swi) Rabobank                       40.59
23  Nicola Miceli  (Ita) Liquigas                       42.28
24  Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                  42.32
25  Michel Lafis (Swe) TVM-Farm Frites                  45.13
26  Gianni Faresin (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step               47.11
27  Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step             47.50
28  Massimo Codol (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                   48.10
29  Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                 50.17
30  Juan C. Vicario Barbera (Spa) Fuenlabrada           56.07
31  David Garcia Marquina (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros       56.13
32  Andrei Zintchenko (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros           56.50
33  Marcus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                         56.57
34  Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                57.04
35  Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                     58.13
36  Toni Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca              1.02.10
37  Andrei Teteriouk (Kaz) Liquigas                   1.02.42
38  Kurt van de Wouwer (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar           1.02.58
39  Marcos A. Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche   1.08.22
40  Andrea Noe (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 1.09.35
41  Jörg Jaksche  (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom         1.09.38
42  Oscar Lopez Uriarte (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica    1.10.49
43  Alex Zülle (Swi) Banesto                          1.13.07
44  Alexandre Shefer (Kaz) Riso Scotti-Vinavil        1.14.23
45  Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                  1.14.46
46  Pedro Diaz Lobato (Spa) Fuenlabrada               1.14.55
47  Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom            1.15.48
48  Ramon Gonzalez Arrieta (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi    1.22.04
49  Joona Laukka (Fin) Sport Lisboa Benfica           1.22.06
50  Cristian Moreni (Ita) Liquigas                    1.22.12
51  José V. Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto               1.24.12
52  Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin               1.24.29
53  Laurent Brochard (Fra) Lotus-Festina              1.26.17
54  Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre-Daikin               1.26.46
55  Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Costa Almeria-Amica Chi  1.30.04
56  Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros  1.30.38
57  Orlando Gomes Rodrigues (Por) Banesto             1.33.26
58  Stefano Cattai (Ita) Team Polti                   1.35.35
59  Angel Castresana Del Val (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi  1.38.16
60  Ińigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank       1.38.17
61  Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank        1.46.53
62  Bram de Groot (Ned) Rabobank                      1.54.07
63  Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale         1.55.30
64  Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                 1.57.31
65  Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank     1.58.04
66  Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale             1.59.22
67  Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom        1.59.24
68  Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                          1.59.55
69  Fabio Roscioli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips    2.02.27
70  Oscar Pozzi (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil             2.03.07
71  Miguel A. Martin Perdiguero (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche   2.03.45
72  Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Rabobank                    2.05.26
73  Quintino Fernandez Rodrigues (Por) Sport Lisboa   2.06.12
74  José Uriarte Zubero (Spa) Lotus-Festina           2.07.59
75  Paul van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar               2.08.36
76  Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros         2.09.03
77  Andreas Klier (Ger) TVM-Farm Frites               2.09.18
78  Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca  2.10.13
79  Cesar Solaun Solana (Spa) Banesto                 2.11.26
80  Stefano Verziagi (Ita) Fuenlabrada                2.11.31
81  Alberto Lopez de Munain (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi   2.12.12
82  Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom          2.13.34
83  Jaime Hernandez Bertran (Spa) Lotus-Festina       2.13.36
84  Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosa (Spa) Fuenlabrada      2.15.01
85  Pascal Hervé (Fra) Lotus-Festina                  2.15.03
86  Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal Service            2.16.40
87  Rossano Brasi (Ita) Team Polti                    2.17.07
88  Arnoldas Saprykinas (Ltu) Riso Scotti-Vinavil     2.17.34
89  Igor Flores Galarza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi       2.18.46
90  Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team Deutsche Telekom     2.21.18
91  Danilo Hondo (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom          2.21.30
92  Matias Cagigas Amedo (Spa) Fuenlabrada            2.22.11
93  Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service           2.25.38
94  Geert van Bondt (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites             2.25.53
95  Frank Hoj (Den) US Postal Service                 2.27.01
96  Angel Edo Alsina (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca         2.27.34
97  Dirk Baldinger (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom        2.30.29
98  Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil        2.30.47
99  Unai Etxebarria Arana (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi     2.31.18
100 Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale           2.31.27
101 Remco Van Der Ven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites           2.32.56
102 Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Liquigas                 2.34.06
103 German Nieto Fernandez (Spa) Fuenlabrada          2.34.24
104 Andres Bermejo Siller (Spa) Fuenlabrada           2.34.54
105 Carlos Golbano (Spa) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips    2.36.31
106 José A. Garrido (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica        2.36.47
107 Servais Knaven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites              2.38.53
108 Koen Beeckman (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                2.42.42
109 Cesar Perez Padron  (Spa) Fuenlabrada             2.46.25
110 Cristian Salvato (Ita) Team Polti                 2.46.43
111 Stefano Casagranda (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chi  2.47.42
112 Alessandro Pozzi (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips  2.52.24
113 Marco Gili (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips        2.53.38
114 Julian Dean (NZl) US Postal Service               2.59.23
115 Daniel Bayes (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica           3.04.01
116 Anthony Rokia (Fra) Cofidis                       3.06.01
117 Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites           3.10.00
118 Igor Pugaci (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                3.19.50


Mountains competition after Stage 17


1   José M. Jimenez Sastre (Spa) Banesto                 92
2   Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca     67
3   Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi     64
4   Laurent Brochard (Fra) Lotus-Festina                 62
5   José Uria Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca          59
6   Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros       54
7   Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Banesto                       48
8   Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto                47
9   Nicola Miceli  (Ita) Liquigas                        44
10  Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                    41
11  Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step                  41
12  Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step              40
13  Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto                   39
14  Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom              38
15  Alex Zülle (Swi) Banesto                             37
16  Felix Garcia Casas (Spa) Lotus-Festina               34
17  Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                  33
18  Pascal Hervé (Fra) Lotus-Festina                     29
19  José L. Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca       24
20  Orlando Gomes Rodrigues (Por) Banesto                23
21  Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank           19
22  Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank    17
23  José V. Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                  16
24  Andrei Zintchenko (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros            14
25  Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank        12
26  Marcos A. Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank 12
27  Marcus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                          11
28  Toni Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                 11
29  Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                11
30  Alberto Lopez de Munain (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi      11
31  Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 10
32  Ramon Gonzalez Arrieta (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi       10
33  Melchor Mauri (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica              9
34  Gianni Faresin (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 9
35  Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre-Daikin                   9
36  Cesar Solaun Solana (Spa) Banesto                     9


Points competition after stage 17


1  Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                    101
2  Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros        92
3  Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom               73
4  Fabio Roscioli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips        60
5  Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale               58
6  José M. Jimenez Sastre (Spa) Banesto                  57
7  Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team Deutsche Telekom         57
8  Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                     56
9  Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca      56
10 Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service               54
11 Miguel A. Martin Perdiguero (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Ba    53
12 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Liquigas                        48
13 Andrei Zintchenko (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros             41
14 Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                    39
15 Nicola Miceli  (Ita) Liquigas                         39
16 José L. Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca        39
17 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Banesto                        38
18 Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto                 38
19 Laurent Brochard (Fra) Lotus-Festina                  37
20 Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                   37
21 Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips    37
22 Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step                   36
23 José V. Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                   35
24 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Team Polti                      35
25 Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre-Daikin                   34
26 Toni Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                  32
27 Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                   32
28 Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                      29
29 José Uria Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca           29
30 Frank Hoj (Den) US Postal Service                     28
31 Alex Zülle (Swi) Banesto                              27
32 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                  27
33 Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step               27
34 Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Liquigas                     26
35 Michel Lafis (Swe) TVM-Farm Frites                    23
36 Ińigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank           23
37 Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal Service                22
38 Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank     22
39 Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros             22
40 William Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step            21
41 Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosa (Spa) Fuenlabrada          21
42 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                 21
43 Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Rabobank                        21
44 Ivan Parra (Col) Vitalicio Seguros                    19
45 German Nieto Fernandez (Spa) Fuenlabrada              17
46 Pascal Hervé (Fra) Lotus-Festina                      17
47 Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca      17
48 Melchor Mauri (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica              17
49 Felix Garcia Casas (Spa) Lotus-Festina                16
50 Pedro Diaz Lobato (Spa) Fuenlabrada                   16
51 David Garcia Marquina (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros         15
52 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom              15
53 Julian Dean (NZl) US Postal Service                   15
54 Ramon Gonzalez Arrieta (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi        14
55 Stefano Casagranda (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips    14
56 Servais Knaven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                  14
57 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                       13
58 Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi      12
59 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale             12
60 Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites               12
61 Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto                    11
62 Kurt van de Wouwer (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar               11
63 Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros               11
64 Angel Edo Alsina (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca             10
65 Koen Beeckman (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                    10
66 Marcus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                           10
67 Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom               9
68 Gianni Faresin (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                  9
69 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom             9
70 Andreas Klier (Ger) TVM-Farm Frites                    9
71 Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi           9
72 Jaime Hernandez Bertran (Spa) Lotus-Festina            8
73 Igor Flores Galarza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi            8
74 Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank          7
75 Juan C. Vicario Barbera (Spa) Fuenlabrada              7
76 Matias Cagigas Amedo (Spa) Fuenlabrada                 6
77 Anthony Rokia (Fra) Cofidis                            6
78 Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                               6
79 Massimo Codol (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                      6
80 Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil             6
81 Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank             4
82 Stefano Verziagi (Ita) Fuenlabrada                     4
83 Geert van Bondt (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites                  4
84 Txema Del Olmo Zendegi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi         3
85 Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros       3
86 Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                 2
87 Orlando Gomes Rodrigues (Por) Banesto                  2
88 Marco Gili (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips             2
89 Arnoldas Saprykinas (Ltu) Riso Scotti-Vinavil          2
90 Oscar Pozzi (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                  2
91 Bram de Groot (Ned) Rabobank                           2
92 Cristian Salvato (Ita) Team Polti                      1


Sprints competition (Metas Volantes) after stage 17


1  Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin              39
2  German Nieto Fernandez (Spa) Fuenlabrada       17
3  Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step             16
4  Fabio Roscioli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica C     15
5  Michel Lafis (Swe) TVM-Farm Frites             13
6  Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                9
7  Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin             9
8  Ramon Gonzalez Arrieta (Spa) Euskaltel-Eus      8
9  Laurent Brochard (Fra) Lotus-Festina            8
10 Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seg      6
11 Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto             6
12 Matias Cagigas Amedo (Spa) Fuenlabrada          6
13 Anthony Rokia (Fra) Cofidis                     6
14 Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                        6
15 Pascal Hervé (Fra) Lotus-Festina                5
16 Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-E      4
17 Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis               4
18 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step            4
19 Toni Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca            4
20 Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Liquigas               4
21 Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank      4
22 William Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step      3
23 José V. Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto             3
24 Ińigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Ban      3
25 José L. Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Bl      2
26 José Uria Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanc      2
27 Alex Zülle (Swi) Banesto                        2
28 Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom          2
29 Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre-Daikin             2
30 Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Costa Almeria-Ami      2
31 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale       2
32 Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche B      2
33 Miguel A. Martin Perdiguero (Spa) ONCE-Deu      2
34 Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom        2
35 Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosa (Spa) Fuenlabra      2
36 Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal Service          2
37 Stefano Casagranda (Ita) Costa Almeria-Ami      2
38 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Team Polti                2
39 Orlando Gomes Rodrigues (Por) Banesto           2
40 Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsc      1
41 Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto              1
42 Nicola Miceli  (Ita) Liquigas                   1
43 David Garcia Marquina (Spa) Vitalicio Segu      1
44 Andrei Zintchenko (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros       1
45 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                 1
46 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Liquigas                  1
47 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale           1
48 Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa       1
49 Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team Deutsche Tele      1
50 Cristian Salvato (Ita) Team Polti               1

Stage Preview:

Undulating with 2 Cat 2 and 2 Cat 3 climbs. Again this stage will give scope for the rouleurs to take a stage win before the mountains start again tomorrow.