Vuelta a Espana, Grand Tour

Spain, September 4-26, 1999

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Report: Jan smokes 'em

Jan Ullrich stamped the final authority on the Vuelta e Espana with a dominating win in the final 46.5 km time trial, winning by almost three minutes and building his overall lead to 4.15. He now appears certain to secure his second major tour after his 1997 win of the Tour de France.

In what has been the one of toughest tours in recent years, and certainly the closest this year, race organisers Unipublic have lifted the profile of the Spanish tour to new heights. In second place was former Vuelta winner Switzerland's Alex Zulle (Banesto) some 2.50 behind, with the resurgent Belgian and yesterday's stage winner, Frank Vandenbroucke of Cofidis, once again on the podium in third place.

Another former Vuelta winner filled fourth place, being the Spanish veteran Melchor Mauri (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica who came in 3.11 behind the German. The rider who was previously challenging Ullrich's lead on the GC, Spain's Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Vitalicio Seguros) finished in seventh place, losing 3.44 and now trailing Ullrich by well over four minutes.

"I knew throughout the second half of the race that Ullrich was the toughest man on the road," Galdeano said. "After winning on the first day, everything has been just like a dream come true so I'm just enjoying the moment. It's the first time I've done as well as this and, after all, Ullrich is Ullrich."

With his average speed of nearly 44 kmh to cover the undulating course in 1.04.57, including a Cat 2 climb mid-way, Ullrich has shown phenomenal strength throughout this tour, with his team mates unable to support him during the harder mountain stages. With only the final flat stage into Madrid to come, which includes eight laps of a circuit in the country's capital, Ullrich is assured of victory, barring any major mishaps.

"Now I know I have won," Ullrich said after the race. "People will not believe me but I came into this race never thinking that anything like this was going to happen. I was always unsure I could carry it off even when I took over wearing the golden jersey but I didn't feel any pressure because I didn't have expectations." The German was even in a jocular mood after the time trial: "Maybe it was not me after all. I think the bike must have done all the work on its own."

Gonzalez Galdeano was magnanimous in defeat. "Maybe I'm was just a little lacking in experience to have responded in the right places and maybe I was a little nervous at the wrong times but Ullrich was just magnificent."

Stage 20, El Tiemblo - Avila, ITT, 46 kms:

Stage 20, El Tiemblo - Avila, 46 km AVS 42.953 kmh

                                        
1    Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom              1.04.57
2    Alex Zülle (Swi) Banesto                                2.50
3    Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                       2.57
4    Melchor Mauri (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                3.11
5    Ińigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank             3.38
6    Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca        3.41
7    Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros          3.44
8    José L. Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca          3.56
9    Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step                     4.10
10   Andrei Zintchenko (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros               4.15
11   Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank       4.16
12   Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto                   4.43
13   Laurent Brochard (Fra) Lotus-Festina                    4.46
14   Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips      4.51
15   Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 4.53
16   Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                     4.59
17   Marcos A. Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank    5.11
18   Ivan Parra (Col) Vitalicio Seguros                      5.36
19   Kurt van de Wouwer (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                 5.52
20   William Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step              5.57
21   José V. Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                     6.03
22   Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi        6.11
23   Jörg Jaksche  (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom               6.15
24   Michel Lafis (Swe) TVM-Farm Frites                      6.17
25   José M. Jimenez Sastre (Spa) Banesto                    6.23
26   Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom              6.30
27   Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto                      6.34
28   Toni Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                    6.48
29   Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Banesto                          6.50
30   Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                 6.55
31   Servais Knaven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                    6.58
32   José Uria Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca             6.58
33   Marcus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                             7.02
34   Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank              7.21
35   Andrei Teteriouk (Kaz) Liquigas                         7.24
36   Massimo Codol (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                       7.32
37   Oscar Lopez Uriarte (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica          7.36
38   Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                  7.39
39   Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                    7.40
40   Pedro Diaz Lobato (Spa) Fuenlabrada                     7.41
41   Juan C. Vicario Barbera (Spa) Fuenlabrada               7.42
42   Niki Aebersold (Swi) Rabobank                           7.50
43   Andres Bermejo Siller (Spa) Fuenlabrada                 7.50
44   Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros        7.53
45   Joona Laukka (Fin) Sport Lisboa Benfica                 7.56
46   Remco Van Der Ven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                 8.00
47   Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                   8.09
48   Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre-Daikin                     8.14
49   Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank           8.20
50   Andreas Klier (Ger) TVM-Farm Frites                     8.36
51   Felix Garcia Casas (Spa) Lotus-Festina                  8.37
52   Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                        8.40
53   Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                         8.43
54   Andrea Noe (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                       8.53
55   Gianni Faresin (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                   9.00
56   Txema Del Olmo Zendegi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi          9.11
57   Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi            9.16
58   Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                      9.17
59   Miguel A. Martin Perdiguero (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank    9.19
60   Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros               9.21
61   Danilo Hondo (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                9.29
62   Cesar Solaun Solana (Spa) Banesto                       9.50
63   Daniel Bayes (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                 9.56
64   Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                      10.04
65   Rossano Brasi (Ita) Team Polti                         10.08
66   Alessandro Pozzi (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips       10.09
67   Geert van Bondt (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites                  10.10
68   Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                               10.15
69   Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca       10.18
70   Bram de Groot (Ned) Rabobank                           10.20
71   Nicola Miceli  (Ita) Liquigas                          10.24
72   Frank Hoj (Den) US Postal Service                      10.32
73   Paul van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                    10.36
74   Jaime Hernandez Bertran (Spa) Lotus-Festina            10.43
75   Angel Castresana Del Val (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi       10.44
76   Stefano Verziagi (Ita) Fuenlabrada                     10.47
77   Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                    10.48
78   Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Liquigas                      10.54
79   Alberto Lopez de Munain (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi        10.59
80   Alexandre Shefer (Kaz) Riso Scotti-Vinavil             11.02
81   Julian Dean (NZl) US Postal Service                    11.19
82   Igor Flores Galarza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi            11.25
83   José Uriarte Zubero (Spa) Lotus-Festina                11.37
84   Cristian Salvato (Ita) Team Polti                      11.42
85   Stefano Cattai (Ita) Team Polti                        11.43
86   Cristian Moreni (Ita) Liquigas                         11.47
87   Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal Service                 11.57
88   David Garcia Marquina (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros          12.08
89   Angel Edo Alsina (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca              12.08
90   Unai Etxebarria Arana (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi          12.10
91   Arnoldas Saprykinas (Ltu) Riso Scotti-Vinavil          12.10
92   Oscar Pozzi (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                  12.14
93   Igor Pugaci (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                     12.24
94   Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale              12.30
95   Dirk Baldinger (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom             12.30
96   German Nieto Fernandez (Spa) Fuenlabrada               12.36
97   Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosa (Spa) Fuenlabrada           12.41
98   Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil             12.41
99   Matias Cagigas Amedo (Spa) Fuenlabrada                 12.43
100  Fabio Roscioli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips         12.44
101  Marco Gili (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips             12.52
102  José A. Garrido (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica             13.01
103  Quintino Fernandez Rodrigues (Por) Sport Lisboa Benfic 13.08
104  Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                13.14
105  Koen Beeckman (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                     13.14
106  Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom               13.30
107  Carlos Golbano (Spa) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips         13.37
108  Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service                13.38
109  Stefano Casagranda (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips     13.42
110  Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team Deutsche Telekom          13.57
111  Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                14.10
112  Pascal Hervé (Fra) Lotus-Festina                       14.41
113  Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Rabobank                         15.30
114  Cesar Perez Padron  (Spa) Fuenlabrada                  16.37
115  Ramon Gonzalez Arrieta (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi         17.00


Intermediate Time after 27 km

1   Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                 42.46
2   Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                        1.37
3   Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca         1.59
4   José L. Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca           2.14
5   Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank        2.24
6   Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros           2.30
7   Ińigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank              2.40
8   Alex Zülle (Swi) Banesto                                 2.44
9   Melchor Mauri (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                 2.45
10  Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step                      2.52
11  Andrei Zintchenko (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                3.04
12  Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto                    3.10
13  Ivan Parra (Col) Vitalicio Seguros                       3.14
14  Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto                       3.21
15  Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi         3.27
16  Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                      3.29
17  José Uria Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca              3.30
18  Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                  3.55
19  Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips       4.00
20  José M. Jimenez Sastre (Spa) Banesto                     4.00
21  Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Banesto                           4.06
22  Laurent Brochard (Fra) Lotus-Festina                     4.09
23  Marcos A. Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank     4.10
24  William Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step               4.13
25  José V. Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                      4.29
26  Jörg Jaksche  (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                4.34
27  Kurt van de Wouwer (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                  4.35
28  Txema Del Olmo Zendegi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi           4.37
29  Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                  4.44
30  Michel Lafis (Swe) TVM-Farm Frites                       4.53
31  Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi             4.55
32  Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom               4.58
33  Andres Bermejo Siller (Spa) Fuenlabrada                  5.03
34  Andrei Teteriouk (Kaz) Liquigas                          5.21
35  Toni Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                     5.21
36  Felix Garcia Casas (Spa) Lotus-Festina                   5.29
37  Marcus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                              5.29
38  Niki Aebersold (Swi) Rabobank                            5.29
39  Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank               5.31
40  Servais Knaven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                     5.34
41  Massimo Codol (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                        5.34
42  Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                         5.34
43  Juan C. Vicario Barbera (Spa) Fuenlabrada                5.36
44  Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                     5.38
45  Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank            5.52
46  Andrea Noe (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                        5.53
47  Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                   5.54
48  Oscar Lopez Uriarte (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica           5.58
49  Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre-Daikin                      6.02
50  Andreas Klier (Ger) TVM-Farm Frites                      6.12
51  Remco Van Der Ven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                  6.15
52  Joona Laukka (Fin) Sport Lisboa Benfica                  6.16
53  Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros         6.21
54  Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                          6.22
55  Pedro Diaz Lobato (Spa) Fuenlabrada                      6.33
56  Gianni Faresin (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                    6.34
57  Angel Castresana Del Val (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi         6.37
58  Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                    6.39
59  Cesar Solaun Solana (Spa) Banesto                        6.47
60  Alberto Lopez de Munain (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi          6.52
61  Alessandro Pozzi (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips         6.56
62  Daniel Bayes (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                  7.01
63  Danilo Hondo (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                 7.02
64  Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca         7.07
65  Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                7.08
66  Geert van Bondt (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites                    7.23
67  Rossano Brasi (Ita) Team Polti                           7.25
68  David Garcia Marquina (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros            7.26
69  Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                        7.29
70  Alexandre Shefer (Kaz) Riso Scotti-Vinavil               7.31
71  Bram de Groot (Ned) Rabobank                             7.35
72  Nicola Miceli  (Ita) Liquigas                            7.39
73  Miguel A. Martin Perdiguero (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank     7.39
74  Paul van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                      7.52
75  Jaime Hernandez Bertran (Spa) Lotus-Festina              7.54
76  Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                       7.55
77  Stefano Verziagi (Ita) Fuenlabrada                       8.01
78  Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Liquigas                        8.02
79  Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                                 8.09
80  Julian Dean (NZl) US Postal Service                      8.13
81  Quintino Fernandez Rodrigues (Por) Sport Lisboa Benfic   8.14
82  Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                      8.15
83  Angel Edo Alsina (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                8.15
84  Cristian Moreni (Ita) Liquigas                           8.16
85  Igor Pugaci (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                       8.20
86  José Uriarte Zubero (Spa) Lotus-Festina                  8.23
87  Igor Flores Galarza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi              8.29
88  Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil               8.31
89  Frank Hoj (Den) US Postal Service                        8.32
90  Stefano Cattai (Ita) Team Polti                          8.35
91  Oscar Pozzi (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                    8.43
92  Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                8.47
93  Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal Service                   8.54
94  Cristian Salvato (Ita) Team Polti                        8.57
95  Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosa (Spa) Fuenlabrada             9.00
96  Unai Etxebarria Arana (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi            9.00
97  Matias Cagigas Amedo (Spa) Fuenlabrada                   9.00
98  Dirk Baldinger (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom               9.01
99  Arnoldas Saprykinas (Ltu) Riso Scotti-Vinavil            9.05
100 Marco Gili (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips               9.12
101 José A. Garrido (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica               9.14
102 Fabio Roscioli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips           9.21
103 Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                  9.24
104 Stefano Casagranda (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips       9.26
105 Carlos Golbano (Spa) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips           9.55
106 Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team Deutsche Telekom            9.55
107 German Nieto Fernandez (Spa) Fuenlabrada                10.04
108 Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                10.07
109 Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                 10.08
110 Koen Beeckman (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                      10.14
111 Pascal Hervé (Fra) Lotus-Festina                        10.16
112 Ramon Gonzalez Arrieta (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi          10.22
113 Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service                 10.26
114 Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Rabobank                          11.09
115 Cesar Perez Padron  (Spa) Fuenlabrada                   14.40


Mountains competition

Puerto D La Paramera  27.1 km  Cat 2

1  Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                   10
2  Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                          7
3  Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca           5
4  José L. Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca             3
5  Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank          2
6  Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros             1



Points competition

1    Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                 25
2    Alex Zülle (Swi) Banesto                                20
3    Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                       16
4    Melchor Mauri (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                14
5    Ińigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank             12
6    Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca        10
7    Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros           9
8    José L. Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca           8
9    Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step                      7
10   Andrei Zintchenko (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                6
11   Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank        5
12   Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto                    4
13   Laurent Brochard (Fra) Lotus-Festina                     3
14   Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips       2
15   Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                  1

GC after Stage 20: 


General Classification after Stage 20

                              
1    Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                    85.45.37
2    Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                 4.15
3    Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca               5.57
4    Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step                            7.53
5    José M. Jimenez Sastre (Spa) Banesto                           9.24
6    José L. Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                10.13
7    Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto                         11.20
8    Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Banesto                                13.13
9    Ivan Parra (Col) Vitalicio Seguros                            16.20
10   Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                       18.15
11   Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank             22.06
12   Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                             23.39
13   José Uria Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                   27.28
14   Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi              29.42
15   Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto                            31.06
16   Txema Del Olmo Zendegi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                31.49
17   Felix Garcia Casas (Spa) Lotus-Festina                        36.34
18   Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                  40.14
19   William Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step                    44.29
20   Niki Aebersold (Swi) Rabobank                                 59.04
21   Michel Lafis (Swe) TVM-Farm Frites                            59.43
22   Massimo Codol (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                           1.02.49
23   Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                     1.02.58
24   Andrei Zintchenko (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                   1.04.08
25   Gianni Faresin (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                       1.06.26
26   Melchor Mauri (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                    1.06.33
27   Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                         1.11.15
28   Juan C. Vicario Barbera (Spa) Fuenlabrada                   1.11.25
29   Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                          1.14.08
30   Marcus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                                 1.14.14
31   Kurt van de Wouwer (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                     1.14.20
32   Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                        1.15.09
33   Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                             1.15.10
34   Marcos A. Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank        1.20.53
35   Jörg Jaksche  (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                   1.23.29
36   Nicola Miceli  (Ita) Liquigas                               1.25.36
37   Alex Zülle (Swi) Banesto                                    1.30.18
38   Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                      1.31.03
39   David Garcia Marquina (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros               1.31.32
40   Oscar Lopez Uriarte (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica              1.33.16
41   Andrea Noe (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                           1.34.26
42   Joona Laukka (Fin) Sport Lisboa Benfica                     1.37.38
43   Laurent Brochard (Fra) Lotus-Festina                        1.38.39
44   Pedro Diaz Lobato (Spa) Fuenlabrada                         1.44.53
45   Ińigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                 1.46.24
46   Alexandre Shefer (Kaz) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                  1.46.41
47   Toni Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                        1.47.32
48   Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre-Daikin                         1.48.39
49   Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                            1.50.55
50   Andrei Teteriouk (Kaz) Liquigas                             1.51.40
51   Stefano Cattai (Ita) Team Polti                             1.57.24
52   Ramon Gonzalez Arrieta (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi              1.58.12
53   José V. Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                         2.00.15
54   Cristian Moreni (Ita) Liquigas                              2.01.29
55   Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips          2.02.26
56   Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros            2.06.02
57   Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                  2.08.22
58   Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                         2.08.57
59   Angel Castresana Del Val (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi            2.12.15
60   Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                       2.13.57
61   Miguel A. Martin Perdiguero (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank        2.24.52
62   Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                  2.29.06
63   Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                                    2.31.31
64   Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                   2.36.30
65   José Uriarte Zubero (Spa) Lotus-Festina                     2.36.46
66   Cesar Solaun Solana (Spa) Banesto                           2.37.14
67   Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank               2.37.22
68   Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                   2.38.02
69   Bram de Groot (Ned) Rabobank                                2.39.10
70   Quintino Fernandez Rodrigues (Por) Sport Lisboa Benfica     2.41.39
71   Alberto Lopez de Munain (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi             2.49.12
72   Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                           2.50.05
73   Oscar Pozzi (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                       2.50.30
74   Andreas Klier (Ger) TVM-Farm Frites                         2.52.38
75   Igor Flores Galarza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                 2.53.23
76   Paul van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                         2.53.55
77   Jaime Hernandez Bertran (Spa) Lotus-Festina                 2.55.50
78   Fabio Roscioli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips              2.56.21
79   Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosa (Spa) Fuenlabrada                2.57.00
80   Pascal Hervé (Fra) Lotus-Festina                            2.59.45
81   Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca            3.02.06
82   Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Rabobank                              3.02.30
83   Geert van Bondt (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites                       3.03.33
84   Stefano Verziagi (Ita) Fuenlabrada                          3.04.48
85   Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team Deutsche Telekom               3.05.26
86   Rossano Brasi (Ita) Team Polti                              3.08.49
87   Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                    3.09.35
88   Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal Service                      3.11.07
89   Arnoldas Saprykinas (Ltu) Riso Scotti-Vinavil               3.12.14
90   Danilo Hondo (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                    3.12.33
91   Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service                     3.13.59
92   Matias Cagigas Amedo (Spa) Fuenlabrada                      3.16.28
93   Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                  3.18.21
94   Servais Knaven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                        3.20.34
95   Angel Edo Alsina (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                   3.21.16
96   Andres Bermejo Siller (Spa) Fuenlabrada                     3.21.18
97   Frank Hoj (Den) US Postal Service                           3.22.28
98   Unai Etxebarria Arana (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi               3.22.29
99   Remco Van Der Ven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                     3.23.26
100  Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                     3.23.42
101  José A. Garrido (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                  3.24.31
102  Dirk Baldinger (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                  3.24.33
103  Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Liquigas                           3.26.34
104  German Nieto Fernandez (Spa) Fuenlabrada                    3.29.31
105  Carlos Golbano (Spa) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips              3.32.38
106  Koen Beeckman (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                          3.38.27
107  Cristian Salvato (Ita) Team Polti                           3.40.00
108  Stefano Casagranda (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips          3.43.54
109  Alessandro Pozzi (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips            3.44.40
110  Cesar Perez Padron  (Spa) Fuenlabrada                       3.45.32
111  Marco Gili (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips                  3.49.00
112  Julian Dean (NZl) US Postal Service                         3.53.13
113  Daniel Bayes (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                     3.56.28
114  Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                     4.06.40
115  Igor Pugaci (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                          4.14.44


Mountains competition after Stage 20


1   José M. Jimenez Sastre (Spa) Banesto                      133
2   Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                          90
3   Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca           89
4   Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi           86
5   Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros             67
6   Laurent Brochard (Fra) Lotus-Festina                       66
7   José Uria Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                59
8   Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                    57
9   Felix Garcia Casas (Spa) Lotus-Festina                     53
10  Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                        53
11  Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step                        52
12  Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto                      50
13  Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Banesto                             49
14  Nicola Miceli  (Ita) Liquigas                              44
15  Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                    40
16  Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto                         39
17  Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank          38
18  Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi               37
19  Alex Zülle (Swi) Banesto                                   37
20  Pascal Hervé (Fra) Lotus-Festina                           29
21  José L. Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca             27
22  Marcos A. Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank       24
23  William Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step                 22
24  Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                           20
25  Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                 19
26  Melchor Mauri (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                   18
27  Ramon Gonzalez Arrieta (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi             16
28  José V. Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                        16
29  Andrei Zintchenko (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                  14
30  Luis Perez 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  Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                   9
39  Cesar Solaun Solana (Spa) Banesto                           9
40  Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                     8
41  Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros            8
42  Angel Castresana Del Val (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi            7
43  Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                          6
44  German Nieto Fernandez (Spa) Fuenlabrada                    6
45  Ivan Parra (Col) Vitalicio Seguros                          6
46  Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                                    6
47  Michel Lafis (Swe) TVM-Farm Frites                          5
48  Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                      5
49  David Garcia Marquina (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros               5
50  Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                   4
51  Fabio Roscioli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips              4
52  Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca            4
53  Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                     4
54  Alessandro Pozzi (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips            4
55  Massimo Codol (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                           3
56  Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                         3
57  Igor Flores Galarza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                 3
58  Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosa (Spa) Fuenlabrada                2
59  Juan C. Vicario Barbera (Spa) Fuenlabrada                   1
60  Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                             1
61  Jörg Jaksche  (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                   1
62  Andrea Noe (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                           1
63  Ińigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                 1
64  Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal Service                      1

Points competition after Stage 20

1    Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros      122
2    Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                   118
3    Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom             116
4    Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                   109
5    Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca     96
6    José M. Jimenez Sastre (Spa) Banesto                 85
7    Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step                  67
8    Fabio Roscioli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips       60
9    José L. Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca       59
10   Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale              58
11   Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team Deutsche Telekom        57
12   Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service              56
13   Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank    53
14   Miguel A. Martin Perdiguero (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche B    53
15   Andrei Zintchenko (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros            51
16   Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Banesto                       51
17   Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto                51
18   Cristian Moreni (Ita) Liquigas                       48
19   Alex Zülle (Swi) Banesto                             47
20   Ińigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank          42
21   Laurent Brochard (Fra) Lotus-Festina                 40
22   Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                  40
23   Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                   39
24   Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Costa Almeria-Amica Chip    39
25   Nicola Miceli  (Ita) Liquigas                        39
26   Melchor Mauri (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica             35
27   José V. Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                  35
28   Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi         34
29   Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre-Daikin                  34
30   Toni Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                 32
31   Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                  32
32   José Uria Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca          32
33   Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                     29
34   Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros            28
35   Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step              28
36   William Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step           28
37   Frank Hoj (Den) US Postal Service                    28
38   Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Liquigas                    27
39   Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 27
40   Michel Lafis (Swe) TVM-Farm Frites                   23
41   Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal Service               22
42   German Nieto Fernandez (Spa) Fuenlabrada             21
43   Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosa (Spa) Fuenlabrada         21
44   Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                21
45   Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Rabobank                       21
46   Ivan Parra (Col) Vitalicio Seguros                   20
47   Pascal Hervé (Fra) Lotus-Festina                     17
48   Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca     17
49   Pedro Diaz Lobato (Spa) Fuenlabrada                  17
50   Felix Garcia Casas (Spa) Lotus-Festina               16
51   Kurt van de Wouwer (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar              16
52   David Garcia Marquina (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros        15
53   Danilo Hondo (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom             15
54   Julian Dean (NZl) US Postal Service                  15
55   Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros              15
56   Ramon Gonzalez Arrieta (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi       14
57   Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi     14
58   Stefano Casagranda (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chip    14
59   Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto                   14
60   Servais Knaven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                 14
61   Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                      13
62   Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale            12
63   Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites              12
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   Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank            8
72   Jaime Hernandez Bertran (Spa) Lotus-Festina           8
73   Igor Flores Galarza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi           8
74   Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                              7
75   Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank         7
76   Juan C. Vicario Barbera (Spa) Fuenlabrada             7
77   Matias Cagigas Amedo (Spa) Fuenlabrada                6
78   Massimo Codol (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                     6
79   Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil            6
80   Txema Del Olmo Zendegi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi        6
81   Geert van Bondt (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites                 4
82   Stefano Verziagi (Ita) Fuenlabrada                    4
83   Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros      3
84   Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                2
85   Arnoldas Saprykinas (Ltu) Riso Scotti-Vinavil         2
86   Oscar Pozzi (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                 2
87   Marco Gili (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips            2
88   Bram de Groot (Ned) Rabobank                          2
89   Cesar Solaun Solana (Spa) Banesto                     1
90   Cristian Salvato (Ita) Team Polti                     1

Stage Preview:

The mountains may have rendered this stage passe! But if they haven't then this 46 kms undulating journey will be decisive. The profile of the stage is initially uphill (from 690 metres to 1390 metres in the first 25 kms at an average gradient of 2.8%) and then drops gently to 1120 metres by the finish. The climb is not sharp at all and will suit the specialist time triallers. There is a Cat 2 climb at the half-way mark prior to the gentle descent to the end.