Vuelta a Espana, Grand Tour

Spain, September 4-26, 1999

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Banesto try but fail to crack Ullrich

A concerted effort by Banesto and other Spanish teams to crack Jan Ullrich in this final tough mountain stage of the Vuelta almost paid off, but race leader Jan Ullrich found unexpected support from the Belgian rider, Frank Vandenbroucke (Cofidis).

Ullrich lost some valuable seconds in the overall lead to second placed Spain's Igor Gonzalez Galdeano, who finished 19 seconds ahead of the German rider on the 166.3-km, 18th stage from Guadalajara to Alto De Abantos. The stage featured three major climbs - two second category and the first category climb at the finish - and on each one a Spanish rider, or a rider from a Spanish team, attacked.

The eventual stage winner was Spanish rider Roberto Laiseka (Euskatel-Euskadi), with Belgian rider Frank Vandenbroucke (Cofidis) finishing 17 seconds behind and Banesto rider José Maria Jimenez (Spa) another four seconds down. Ullrich came home in eighth, trailing the others but recovering from a poor start to the final climb, where Alex Zuelle launched the initial attack.

However, Ullrich stayed with Zulle and some six kilometres from the finish, Laiseka attacked and built up a one minute lead. Then another Spanish rider, Jimenez, took off in pursuit of Laiseka and the leading group spread out on the final climb. Although Ullrich struggled early on in the climb, he recovered sufficiently to minimise his losses and recovered slightly on a false flat three kilometres from the summit, and then hung on for the final climb.

With his own team unable to offer support in the mountains, Ullrich needed support and got it from Vandenbrouke, who's own Cofidis team was blown after nearly three weeks of racing. Spain's Igor Gonzalez Galdeano, in second place on GC, finished 19 seconds ahead of Ullrich.

After the stage he said "There are still opportunities for me to get in front of Ullrich but time is running out." The next important stage before the finish will be the 46.5 km time trial. Ullrich is one of the world's best at the time trial, particularly after three weeks of hard racing, and the Spanish riders will have to pull off something extraordinary if one of them is to wrest the golden jersey from the German rider.

 

Stage 18, Guadalajara - Alto de Abantos, 166 kms:

Stage 18, Guadalajara - Alto De Abantos, 166.3 km, AVS 38.577 kmh

1   Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi               4.18.39
2   Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                               17
3   José M. Jimenez Sastre (Spa) Banesto                            21
4   Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                36
5   Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                  37
6   Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step                             52
7   Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto                           52
8   Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                         55
9   Ińigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                     55
10  José L. Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                1.14
11  Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Banesto                                1.14
12  Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                       1.16
13  José Uria Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                   1.24
14  Txema Del Olmo Zendegi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                1.26
15  Ivan Parra (Col) Vitalicio Seguros                            1.41
16  Andrei Zintchenko (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                     2.22
17  Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank             2.32
18  Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                         2.52
19  Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto                            3.12
20  Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi              3.12
21  Massimo Codol (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                             3.33
22  Alex Zülle (Swi) Banesto                                      3.35
23  Marcos A. Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank          3.47
24  William Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step                    3.47
25  Laurent Brochard (Fra) Lotus-Festina                          4.03
26  Juan C. Vicario Barbera (Spa) Fuenlabrada                     4.03
27  Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                        4.03
28  Joona Laukka (Fin) Sport Lisboa Benfica                       4.03
29  Jörg Jaksche  (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                     4.03
30  Ramon Gonzalez Arrieta (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                4.03
31  Felix Garcia Casas (Spa) Lotus-Festina                        4.03
32  Stefano Cattai (Ita) Team Polti                               4.03
33  Oscar Lopez Uriarte (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                4.40
34  Michel Lafis (Swe) TVM-Farm Frites                            4.40
35  Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                               4.40
36  Kurt van de Wouwer (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       4.40
37  Pedro Diaz Lobato (Spa) Fuenlabrada                           4.40
38  Angel Castresana Del Val (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi              6.02
39  José Uriarte Zubero (Spa) Lotus-Festina                       6.24
40  Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                          6.42
41  Niki Aebersold (Swi) Rabobank                                 6.42
42  Gianni Faresin (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                         6.42
43  Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                       6.42
44  Marcus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                                   6.42
45  Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                     7.20
46  Alberto Lopez de Munain (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi               7.28
47  Alexandre Shefer (Kaz) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                   10.30
48  Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                   10.35
49  Miguel A. Martin Perdiguero (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank         10.35
50  Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                                     10.35
51  Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosa (Spa) Fuenlabrada                 10.35
52  Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                             12.25
53  Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                12.25
54  David Garcia Marquina (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                12.25
55  Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                          12.25
56  Cesar Solaun Solana (Spa) Banesto                            12.25
57  Andrea Noe (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                            12.25
58  Igor Flores Galarza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                  12.25
59  Melchor Mauri (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                     12.25
60  Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                   12.25
61  Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre-Daikin                          12.25
62  Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                    12.25
63  Nicola Miceli  (Ita) Liquigas                                17.39
64  Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                          18.36
65  Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                           18.46
66  Quintino Fernandez Rodrigues (Por) Sport Lisboa Benfica      18.46
67  Jaime Hernandez Bertran (Spa) Lotus-Festina                  20.45
68  Pascal Hervé (Fra) Lotus-Festina                             23.57
69  Marco Gili (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips                   23.57
70  Servais Knaven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                         23.57
71  Paul van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                          23.57
72  Alessandro Pozzi (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips             23.57
73  Fabio Roscioli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips               23.57
74  Koen Beeckman (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                           23.57
75  Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Liquigas                            23.57
76  Remco Van Der Ven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                      23.57
77  Bram de Groot (Ned) Rabobank                                 23.57
78  José A. Garrido (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                   23.57
79  Carlos Golbano (Spa) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips               23.57
80  Toni Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                         23.57
81  Angel Edo Alsina (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                    23.57
82  Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca             23.57
83  Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                     23.57
84  Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros             23.57
85  Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                            23.57
86  Julian Dean (NZl) US Postal Service                          23.57
87  German Nieto Fernandez (Spa) Fuenlabrada                     23.57
88  Cesar Perez Padron  (Spa) Fuenlabrada                        23.57
89  Unai Etxebarria Arana (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi                23.57
90  Daniel Bayes (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                      23.57
91  Matias Cagigas Amedo (Spa) Fuenlabrada                       23.57
92  Andres Bermejo Siller (Spa) Fuenlabrada                      23.57
93  Danilo Hondo (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                     23.57
94  Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service                      23.57
95  Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Rabobank                               23.57
96  Orlando Gomes Rodrigues (Por) Banesto                        23.57
97  Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                   23.57
98  Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team Deutsche Telekom                23.57
99  Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                      23.57
100 José V. Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                          23.57
101 Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips           23.57
102 Andrei Teteriouk (Kaz) Liquigas                              23.57
103 Andreas Klier (Ger) TVM-Farm Frites                          23.57
104 Cristian Salvato (Ita) Team Polti                            23.57
105 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Liquigas                               23.57
106 Stefano Casagranda (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips           23.57
107 Stefano Verziagi (Ita) Fuenlabrada                           23.57
108 Rossano Brasi (Ita) Team Polti                               23.57
109 Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                      23.57
110 Frank Hoj (Den) US Postal Service                            23.57
111 Dirk Baldinger (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                   23.57
112 Geert van Bondt (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites                        23.57
113 Arnoldas Saprykinas (Ltu) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                23.57
114 Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal Service                       23.57
115 Igor Pugaci (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                           23.57
116 Oscar Pozzi (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                        24.23


Mountains
Puerto De La Morcuera  77km  Cat 1

1  Felix Garcia Casas (Spa) Lotus-Festina                      16
2  William Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step                  12
3  Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                         10
4  Melchor Mauri (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                     8
5  Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                                     6
6  Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank            4
7  Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                    3
8  Angel Castresana Del Val (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi             2
9  José M. Jimenez Sastre (Spa) Banesto                         1


Puerto De Cotos 108 km  Cat 2

1  Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                         10
2  Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank            7
3  Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                    5
4  Felix Garcia Casas (Spa) Lotus-Festina                       3
5  William Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step                   2

Alto De Abantos  166.3 km  Cat 1

1  Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                16
2  Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                           12
3  José M. Jimenez Sastre (Spa) Banesto                        10
4  Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca             8
5  Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros               6
6  Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step                          4
7  Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto                        3
8  Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                      2
9  Ińigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                  1



Points competition

Torrelaguna  43 km 

1  Melchor Mauri (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                  4
2  Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                       2
3  Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                                  1


Alpedrete  135 km

1  Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                 4
2  Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank         2
3  Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                       1

Guadarrama 141 km

1  Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank         4
2  Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                 2
3  Cesar Solaun Solana (Spa) Banesto                         1

Stage finish  166.3 km

1  Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi             25
2  Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                        20
3  José M. Jimenez Sastre (Spa) Banesto                     16
4  Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca         14
5  Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros           12
6  Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step                      10
7  Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto                     9
8  Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                   8
9  Ińigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank               7
10 José L. Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca            6
11 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Banesto                            5
12 Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                   4
13 José Uria Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca               3
14 Txema Del Olmo Zendegi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi            2

GC after Stage 18: 


General Classification after Stage 18  AVS 39.5 kmh 


1   Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                  79.46.02
2   Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                 31
3   Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca             2.16
4   José M. Jimenez Sastre (Spa) Banesto                         3.01
5   Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step                          3.42
6   José L. Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca               4.42
7   Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto                        5.02
8   Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Banesto                               6.19
9   Ivan Parra (Col) Vitalicio Seguros                           9.09
10  Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                      9.45
11  Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank           17.57
12  José Uria Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                 18.55
13  Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                           21.02
14  Txema Del Olmo Zendegi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi              21.02
15  Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi            21.56
16  Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto                          22.57
17  Felix Garcia Casas (Spa) Lotus-Festina                      23.29
18  Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                26.30
19  William Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step                  36.56
20  Niki Aebersold (Swi) Rabobank                               46.46
21  Michel Lafis (Swe) TVM-Farm Frites                          48.58
22  Massimo Codol (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                           50.48
23  Melchor Mauri (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                    51.41
24  Gianni Faresin (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                       52.58
25  Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                     53.37
26  Andrei Zintchenko (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                   58.17
27  Nicola Miceli  (Ita) Liquigas                               59.12
28  Juan C. Vicario Barbera (Spa) Fuenlabrada                   59.15
29  Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                        1.00.23
30  Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                       1.01.47
31  Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                           1.01.58
32  Marcus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                               1.02.44
33  Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                      1.03.01
34  Kurt van de Wouwer (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                   1.06.53
35  David Garcia Marquina (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros             1.07.43
36  Marcos A. Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank      1.11.14
37  Jörg Jaksche  (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                 1.12.46
38  Oscar Lopez Uriarte (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica            1.14.34
39  Alex Zülle (Swi) Banesto                                  1.15.47
40  Pedro Diaz Lobato (Spa) Fuenlabrada                       1.18.40
41  Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                    1.18.56
42  Andrea Noe (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                         1.21.05
43  Alexandre Shefer (Kaz) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                1.23.58
44  Toni Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                      1.25.12
45  Ramon Gonzalez Arrieta (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi            1.25.12
46  Joona Laukka (Fin) Sport Lisboa Benfica                   1.25.14
47  Andrei Teteriouk (Kaz) Liquigas                           1.25.44
48  Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                          1.26.16
49  Laurent Brochard (Fra) Lotus-Festina                      1.29.25
50  Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre-Daikin                       1.38.16
51  Ińigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank               1.38.17
52  Stefano Cattai (Ita) Team Polti                           1.38.43
53  Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                       1.42.10
54  Angel Castresana Del Val (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi          1.43.23
55  Cristian Moreni (Ita) Liquigas                            1.45.14
56  José V. Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                       1.47.14
57  Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips        1.53.06
58  Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros          1.53.40
59  Orlando Gomes Rodrigues (Por) Banesto                     1.56.28
60  Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                1.56.33
61  Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                     2.01.19
62  Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                 2.07.00
63  Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank             2.09.34
64  Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                                  2.09.35
65  Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                2.10.54
66  Miguel A. Martin Perdiguero (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank      2.13.25
67  José Uriarte Zubero (Spa) Lotus-Festina                   2.13.28
68  Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                 2.15.28
69  Bram de Groot (Ned) Rabobank                              2.17.09
70  Alberto Lopez de Munain (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi           2.18.45
71  Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                         2.20.33
72  Cesar Solaun Solana (Spa) Banesto                         2.22.56
73  Quintino Fernandez Rodrigues (Por) Sport Lisboa Benfica   2.24.03
74  Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosa (Spa) Fuenlabrada              2.24.51
75  Fabio Roscioli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips            2.25.29
76  Oscar Pozzi (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                     2.26.35
77  Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Rabobank                            2.28.28
78  Igor Flores Galarza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi               2.30.16
79  Paul van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       2.31.38
80  Andreas Klier (Ger) TVM-Farm Frites                       2.32.20
81  Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca          2.33.15
82  Jaime Hernandez Bertran (Spa) Lotus-Festina               2.33.26
83  Stefano Verziagi (Ita) Fuenlabrada                        2.34.33
84  Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                  2.36.36
85  Pascal Hervé (Fra) Lotus-Festina                          2.38.05
86  Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal Service                    2.39.42
87  Rossano Brasi (Ita) Team Polti                            2.40.09
88  Arnoldas Saprykinas (Ltu) Riso Scotti-Vinavil             2.40.36
89  Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team Deutsche Telekom             2.44.20
90  Danilo Hondo (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                  2.44.32
91  Matias Cagigas Amedo (Spa) Fuenlabrada                    2.45.13
92  Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service                   2.48.40
93  Geert van Bondt (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites                     2.48.55
94  Frank Hoj (Den) US Postal Service                         2.50.13
95  Angel Edo Alsina (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                 2.50.36
96  Dirk Baldinger (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                2.53.31
97  Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                2.53.49
98  Unai Etxebarria Arana (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi             2.54.20
99  Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                   2.54.29
100 Remco Van Der Ven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                   2.55.58
101 Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Liquigas                         2.57.08
102 German Nieto Fernandez (Spa) Fuenlabrada                  2.57.26
103 Andres Bermejo Siller (Spa) Fuenlabrada                   2.57.56
104 Carlos Golbano (Spa) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips            2.59.33
105 José A. Garrido (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                2.59.49
106 Servais Knaven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                      3.01.55
107 Koen Beeckman (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                        3.05.44
108 Cesar Perez Padron  (Spa) Fuenlabrada                     3.09.27
109 Cristian Salvato (Ita) Team Polti                         3.09.45
110 Stefano Casagranda (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips        3.10.44
111 Alessandro Pozzi (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips          3.15.26
112 Marco Gili (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips                3.16.40
113 Julian Dean (NZl) US Postal Service                       3.22.25
114 Daniel Bayes (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                   3.27.03
115 Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                   3.33.02
116 Igor Pugaci (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                        3.42.52


Mountains competition after Stage 18

1   José M. Jimenez Sastre (Spa) Banesto                    103
2   Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca         75
3   Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi         64
4   Laurent Brochard (Fra) Lotus-Festina                     62
5   Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros           60
6   José Uria Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca              59
7   Felix Garcia Casas (Spa) Lotus-Festina                   53
8   Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                        53
9   Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                      53
10  Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto                    50
11  Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Banesto                           48
12  Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step                      45
13  Nicola Miceli  (Ita) Liquigas                            44
14  Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                  40
15  Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                  40
16  Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto                       39
17  Alex Zülle (Swi) Banesto                                 37
18  Pascal Hervé (Fra) Lotus-Festina                         29
19  Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank        28
20  José L. Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca           24
21  Orlando Gomes Rodrigues (Por) Banesto                    23
22  William Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step               22
23  Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi             21
24  Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank               19
25  Melchor Mauri (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                 18
26  Ramon Gonzalez Arrieta (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi           16
27  José V. Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                      16
28  Andrei Zintchenko (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                14
29  Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank            12
30  Marcos A. Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank     12
31  Marcus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                              11
32  Toni Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                     11
33  Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                    11
34  Alberto Lopez de Munain (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi          11
35  Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                     10
36  Gianni Faresin (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                     9
37  Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre-Daikin                       9
38  Cesar Solaun Solana (Spa) Banesto                         9
39  Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                   8
40  Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                          8
41  Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros          8
42  Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                 8
43  Angel Castresana Del Val (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi          7
44  Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                        6
45  German Nieto Fernandez (Spa) Fuenlabrada                  6
46  Ivan Parra (Col) Vitalicio Seguros                        6
47  Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                                  6
48  Michel Lafis (Swe) TVM-Farm Frites                        5
49  David Garcia Marquina (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros             5
50  Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                    5
51  Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                 4
52  Fabio Roscioli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips            4
53  Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca          4
54  Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                   4
55  Alessandro Pozzi (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips          4
56  Massimo Codol (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                         3
57  Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                       3
58  Igor Flores Galarza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi               3
59  Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosa (Spa) Fuenlabrada              2
60  Juan C. Vicario Barbera (Spa) Fuenlabrada                 1
61  Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                           1
62  Jörg Jaksche  (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                 1
63  Andrea Noe (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                         1
64  Ińigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank               1
65  Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal Service                    1


Points competition after Stage 18

1   Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros             104
2   Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                          101
3   Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                     81
4   Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                           76
5   José M. Jimenez Sastre (Spa) Banesto                        73
6   Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca            70
7   Fabio Roscioli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips              60
8   Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                     58
9   Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team Deutsche Telekom               57
10  Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service                     54
11  Miguel A. Martin Perdiguero (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank        53
12  Cristian Moreni (Ita) Liquigas                              48
13  Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto                       47
14  Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step                         46
15  José L. Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca              45
16  Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Banesto                              43
17  Andrei Zintchenko (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                   41
18  Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                         40
19  Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                          39
20  Nicola Miceli  (Ita) Liquigas                               39
21  Laurent Brochard (Fra) Lotus-Festina                        37
22  Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips          37
23  José V. Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                         35
24  Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                34
25  Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre-Daikin                         34
26  Toni Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                        32
27  Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                         32
28  José Uria Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                 32
29  Ińigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                 30
30  Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                            29
31  Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank           28
32  Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                   28
33  Frank Hoj (Den) US Postal Service                           28
34  Alex Zülle (Swi) Banesto                                    27
35  Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                        27
36  Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                     27
37  Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Liquigas                           26
38  Michel Lafis (Swe) TVM-Farm Frites                          23
39  Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal Service                      22
40  Melchor Mauri (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                    21
41  William Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step                  21
42  Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosa (Spa) Fuenlabrada                21
43  Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                       21
44  Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Rabobank                              21
45  Ivan Parra (Col) Vitalicio Seguros                          20
46  German Nieto Fernandez (Spa) Fuenlabrada                    17
47  Pascal Hervé (Fra) Lotus-Festina                            17
48  Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca            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  Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                     15
55  Ramon Gonzalez Arrieta (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi              14
56  Stefano Casagranda (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips          14
57  Servais Knaven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                        14
58  Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                             13
59  Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi            12
60  Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                   12
61  Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                     12
62  Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto                          11
63  Kurt van de Wouwer (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                     11
64  Koen Beeckman (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                          10
65  Angel Edo Alsina (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                   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  Igor Flores Galarza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                  8
72  Jaime Hernandez Bertran (Spa) Lotus-Festina                  8
73  Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                                     7
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  Massimo Codol (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                            6
78  Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                   6
79  Txema Del Olmo Zendegi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi               5
80  Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                   4
81  Stefano Verziagi (Ita) Fuenlabrada                           4
82  Geert van Bondt (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites                        4
83  Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros             3
84  Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                       2
85  Orlando Gomes Rodrigues (Por) Banesto                        2
86  Marco Gili (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips                   2
87  Arnoldas Saprykinas (Ltu) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                2
88  Oscar Pozzi (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                        2
89  Bram de Groot (Ned) Rabobank                                 2
90  Cesar Solaun Solana (Spa) Banesto                            1
91  Cristian Salvato (Ita) Team Polti                            1


Sprints (Metas Volantes) after Stage 18


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

Stage Preview:

The race goes back into the mountains for 2 days and the pure climbers have another chance to show through but the die should be cast by now and the teams of the leaders will all be attempting to control the race until the last climb up to the summit finish and hope that their leaders will be able to minimise gaps at the end. The climbs are: 

Morcuera, Cat 1, 1800 metres, 9.2 kms long
Cotos, Cat 2, 1830 metres, 9.8 kms long
Abantos, Cat 1, 1680 metres, 12 kms long, 5%.