Vuelta a Espana, Grand Tour

Spain, September 4-26, 1999

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Blijlevens finally for TVM, Ullrich the champion

The final stage of this years Vuelta a Espańa saw TVM-Farm Frites' Jeroen Blijlevens end a drought of victories for his team when he beat US Postal's Julian Dean (NZ) and Paolo Bettini (Ita, Mapei-Quick Step) in a bunch sprint.

Telekom's Jan Ullrich (Ger) also ended a somewhat longer time in the wilderness when he retained the Amarillo jersey to take his second ever major tour victory, and the first German to win the Vuelta in 34 years.

The 160 km stage was a traditional "final stage", and the bunch were content to cruise for the first 100 km around Madrid. Then in a bold and important move, Belgian rider Frank Vandenbroucke (Cofidis) attacked with 50 km to go to try and take his third stage victory. In this he was unsuccessful, being caught after 30 km by the peloton who were setting up the sprinters for a quick finish.

However, he did take two of the three intermediate sprints on offer in addition to 13th in the stage. This was enough to overhaul Spain's Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Vitalicio Seguros) in the points competition, as well as holding off South Africa's Robert Hunter (Lampre-Daikin). Not bad for a rider who only intended to do the first few days of the tour.

In the end it was Blijlevens took the stage honours, though US Postal had both Dean and Glenn Magnusson (Swe) up there in 2nd and 4th. They certainly haven't had the same success in the Vuelta as they did in the Tour de France, relying on lesser/tired riders to come good - Jonathan Vaughters must be somewhat annoyed.

The hero of the day was German Jan Ullrich, who was understandably delighted with his overall victory. "A victory like this is always a thrill because this race is one of the three big Tours on the calendar," he said. His team opted to play it safe on the final stage even though they had a chance of leading Giovanni Lombardi out for the sprint.

Ullrich has had a disastrous year so far, and it was certainly doubtful as to his condition for this tour. However, with Pantani out, Olano, Escartin, Julich and Jalabert all abandoning for various reasons, his task became somewhat easier. However, he was still very strong all the way and showed it by winning Stage 5 and yesterday's final time trial.

The Spanish teams certainly tried their hardest to crack him in the preceding few mountain stages, but he only lost 18 seconds to his closest threat, Gonzalez Galdeano. The 30 second gap he had exploded to four minutes and 15 seconds after Ullrich demolished the Basque in the final 46 km time trial.

Ullrich also showed his strength in winning with a comparatively weak team that often left him isolated in the mountains, while others still had 2 or three riders left in the front group. Although he was a little harsh on them earlier on in the tour, he thanked them for their help during the race at the end.

After his stunning victory, Ullrich is now targeting the World Championships and intends to ride both the time trial and the road race. He still thinks he has not reached top form and believes he is "now in condition to carry on winning".

He will be hard to beat in the TT, especially as favourite Olano has been forced to withdraw due to his cracked rib. The road race too will be a fantastic battle, with Vandenbroucke, Boogerd, Casagrande, Konychev, and Tchmil all going for the crown.

In the other competitions of the tour, Banesto's Jose Maria Jimenez won the King of the Mountains title for the second time in a row, while Robert Hunter (SAf, Lampre) won the intermediate "Metas volantes" sprints competition. The team prize was taken out by the Banesto boys who had the depth, but not quite the star individual to defeat Ullrich.

Stage 21, Madrid - Madrid, 160 kms:

1   Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites            4.06.26
2   Julian Dean (NZl) US Postal Service                	  
3   Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step               	  
4   Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service            	  
5   Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Liquigas                  	  
6   Marcus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                        	  
7   Angel Edo Alsina (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca          	  
8   Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros          	  
9   Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                  	  
10  Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team Deutsche Telekom      	  
11  Koen Beeckman (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                 	  
12  Miguel A. Martin Perdiguero (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank   
13  Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                  	   
14  Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale            	  
15  Niki Aebersold (Swi) Rabobank                      	  
16  Marco Gili (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips         	  
17  Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips 	  
18  Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                	  
19  Stefano Casagranda (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips 	  
20  Igor Flores Galarza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi        	  
21  Stefano Verziagi (Ita) Fuenlabrada                 	  
22  Fabio Roscioli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips     	  
23  Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                   	  
24  Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre-Daikin                	  
25  William Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step         	  
26  Danilo Hondo (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom           	  
27  Andrei Zintchenko (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros          	  
28  Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosa (Spa) Fuenlabrada       	  
29  Pedro Diaz Lobato (Spa) Fuenlabrada                	  
30  Unai Etxebarria Arana (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi      	  
31  Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi   	  
32  Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Rabobank                     	  
33  Carlos Golbano (Spa) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips     	  
34  Michel Lafis (Swe) TVM-Farm Frites                 	  
35  Andreas Klier (Ger) TVM-Farm Frites                	  
36  Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto              	  
37  Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom            	  
38  Cesar Perez Padron  (Spa) Fuenlabrada              	  
39  José L. Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca     	  
40  Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros     	  
41  Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 	  
42  Massimo Codol (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                  	  
43  David Garcia Marquina (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros      	  
44  Bram de Groot (Ned) Rabobank                       	  
45  Remco Van Der Ven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites            	  
46  Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom             	  
47  Felix Garcia Casas (Spa) Lotus-Festina             	  
48  José M. Jimenez Sastre (Spa) Banesto               	  
49  Alexandre Shefer (Kaz) Riso Scotti-Vinavil         	  
50  Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca   	  
51  José Uria Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca        	  
52  Kurt van de Wouwer (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar            	  
53  Stefano Cattai (Ita) Team Polti                    	  
54  Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step                	  
55  Txema Del Olmo Zendegi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi     	  
56  Andrea Noe (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                  	  
57  Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros            	  
58  Laurent Brochard (Fra) Lotus-Festina               	  
59  Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto                 	  
60  Paul van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                	  
61  Melchor Mauri (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica           	  
62  Quintino Fernandez Rodrigues (Por) Sport Lisboa Ben	  
63  José A. Garrido (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica         	  
64  Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca   	  
65  Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom           	  
66  Gianni Faresin (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step              	  
67  Angel Castresana Del Val (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi   	  
68  Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                    	  
69  Andrei Teteriouk (Kaz) Liquigas                    	  
70  German Nieto Fernandez (Spa) Fuenlabrada           	  
71  Juan C. Vicario Barbera (Spa) Fuenlabrada          	  
72  Frank Hoj (Den) US Postal Service                  	  
73  José Uriarte Zubero (Spa) Lotus-Festina            	  
74  Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Banesto                     	  
75  Alessandro Pozzi (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips   	  
76  Jaime Hernandez Bertran (Spa) Lotus-Festina        	  
77  Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom         	  
78  Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                	  
79  Oscar Lopez Uriarte (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica     	  
80  Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step            	  
81  Servais Knaven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites               	  
82  Ivan Parra (Col) Vitalicio Seguros                 	  
83  Toni Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca               	  
84  Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank         	  
85  Daniel Bayes (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica            	  
86  Alex Zülle (Swi) Banesto                           	  
87  Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank  	  
88  Joona Laukka (Fin) Sport Lisboa Benfica            	  
89  Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros   	  
90  Cesar Solaun Solana (Spa) Banesto                  	  
91  Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank      	  
92  Arnoldas Saprykinas (Ltu) Riso Scotti-Vinavil      	  
93  Alberto Lopez de Munain (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi    	  
94  Andres Bermejo Siller (Spa) Fuenlabrada            	  
95  Dirk Baldinger (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom         	  
96  Cristian Moreni (Ita) Liquigas                     	  
97  Marcos A. Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank  
98  Ińigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank        	  
99  Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil         	  
100 Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                           	  
101 Nicola Miceli  (Ita) Liquigas                      	  
102 Geert van Bondt (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites              	  
103 Cristian Salvato (Ita) Team Polti                  	  
104 Ramon Gonzalez Arrieta (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi     	  
105 Matias Cagigas Amedo (Spa) Fuenlabrada             	   
106 Jörg Jaksche  (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom          	  
107 Pascal Hervé (Fra) Lotus-Festina                   	   
108 Rossano Brasi (Ita) Team Polti                     	   
109 José V. Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                	   
110 Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi       	   
111 Igor Pugaci (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                 	   
112 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale              	  30
113 Oscar Pozzi (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil              	  32
114 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale             34
115 Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal Service             	  57


Points competition

Alcobendas  78.5 kms

1   Robert Hunter (Rsa) Lampre-Daikin                  	 4
2   Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                	 2
3   Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre-Daikin                	 1


1st lap Paso Paseo Castellana   117.4 kms

1   Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                  	 4
2   Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Liquigas                  	 2
3   Robert Hunter (Rsa) Lampre-Daikin                  	 1


4th lap Paso Paseo Castellana   140.2 kms

1   Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                  	 4
2   Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                  	 2
3   Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                	 1


Stage Finish   163.0 kms  

1   Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites            	 2
2   Julian Dean (NZl) US Postal Service                	 2
3   Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step               	 1
4   Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service            	 1
5   Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Liquigas                  	 1
6   Marcus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                        	 1
7   Angel Edo Alsina (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca          	 9
8   Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros          	 8
9   Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                  	 7
10  Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team Deutsche Telekom      	 6
11  Koen Beeckman (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                 	 5
12  Miguel A. Martin Perdiguero (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank 4
13  Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                  	 3
14  Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale            	 2

Final GC after Stage 21: 

3548.7 kms, Avs: 39.5 km/h

1   Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom             89.52.03  
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         27.28.00  
14  Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi    29.42.00  
15  Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto                  31.06.00  
16  Txema Del Olmo Zendegi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi      31.49.00  
17  Felix Garcia Casas (Spa) Lotus-Festina              36.34.00  
18  Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi        40.14.00  
19  William Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step          44.29.00  
20  Niki Aebersold (Swi) Rabobank                       59.04.00  
21  Michel Lafis (Swe) TVM-Farm Frites                  59.43.00  
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                2.14.27  
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            2.38.36  
69  Bram de Groot (Ned) Rabobank                         2.39.10  
70  Quintino Fernandez Rodrigues (Por) Sport Lisboa Benf 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                2.51.02  
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               3.12.04  
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 final overall

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 Toni Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                	11
32 Marcus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                         	11
33 Alberto Lopez de Munain (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi     	11
34 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale               	11
35 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                	10
36 Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre-Daikin                 	 9
37 Cesar Solaun Solana (Spa) Banesto                   	 9
38 Gianni Faresin (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step               	 9
39 Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros           	 9
40 Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros    	 8
41 Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros             	 8
42 Angel Castresana Del Val (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi    	 7
43 German Nieto Fernandez (Spa) Fuenlabrada            	 6
44 Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                  	 6
45 Ivan Parra (Col) Vitalicio Seguros                  	 6
46 Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                            	 6
47 Michel Lafis (Swe) TVM-Farm Frites                  	 5
48 David Garcia Marquina (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros       	 5
49 Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom              	 5
50 Alessandro Pozzi (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips    	 4
51 Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale             	 4
52 Fabio Roscioli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips      	 4
53 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale           	 4
54 Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca    	 4
55 Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                 	 3
56 Massimo Codol (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                   	 3
57 Igor Flores Galarza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi         	 3
58 Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosa (Spa) Fuenlabrada        	 2
59 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                     	 1
60 Jörg Jaksche  (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom           	 1
61 Ińigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank         	 1
62 Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal Service              	 1
63 Juan C. Vicario Barbera (Spa) Fuenlabrada           	 1
64 Andrea Noe (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                   	 1


Points final overall

1  Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                  	129
2  Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                  	123
3  Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros     	122
4  Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom            	116
5  Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca   	96
6  José M. Jimenez Sastre (Spa) Banesto               	85
7  Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service            	70
8  Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step                	67
9  Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team Deutsche Telekom      	63
10 Fabio Roscioli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips     	60
11 Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale            	60
12 José L. Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca     	59
13 Miguel A. Martin Perdiguero (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank 57
14 Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank  	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 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step               	43
21 Ińigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank        	42
22 Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Liquigas                  	41
23 Laurent Brochard (Fra) Lotus-Festina               	40
24 Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                	40
25 Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 	39
26 Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips 	39
27 Nicola Miceli  (Ita) Liquigas                      	39
28 Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites            	37
29 Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros          	36
30 Melchor Mauri (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica           	35
31 Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                	35
32 Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre-Daikin                	35
33 José V. Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                	35
34 Julian Dean (NZl) US Postal Service                	35
35 Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi       	34
36 Toni Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca               	32
37 José Uria Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca        	32
38 Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                   	29
39 Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step            	28
40 William Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step         	28
41 Frank Hoj (Den) US Postal Service                  	28
42 Michel Lafis (Swe) TVM-Farm Frites                 	23
43 Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal Service             	22
44 German Nieto Fernandez (Spa) Fuenlabrada           	21
45 Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosa (Spa) Fuenlabrada       	21
46 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale              	21
47 Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Rabobank                     	21
48 Marcus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                        	20
49 Ivan Parra (Col) Vitalicio Seguros                 	20
50 Angel Edo Alsina (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca          	19
51 Pascal Hervé (Fra) Lotus-Festina                   	17
52 Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca   	17
53 Pedro Diaz Lobato (Spa) Fuenlabrada                	17
54 Felix Garcia Casas (Spa) Lotus-Festina             	16
55 Kurt van de Wouwer (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar            	16
56 David Garcia Marquina (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros      	15
57 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom           	15
58 Koen Beeckman (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                 	15
59 Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros            	15
60 Ramon Gonzalez Arrieta (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi     	14
61 Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi   	14
62 Stefano Casagranda (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips 	14
63 Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto                 	14
64 Servais Knaven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites               	14
65 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                    	13
66 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale          	12
67 Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom           	 9
68 Gianni Faresin (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step              	 9
69 Andreas Klier (Ger) TVM-Farm Frites                	 9
70 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom         	 9
71 Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank         	 8
72 Igor Flores Galarza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi        	 8
73 Jaime Hernandez Bertran (Spa) Lotus-Festina        	 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 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 Marco Gili (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips         	 2
86 Arnoldas Saprykinas (Ltu) Riso Scotti-Vinavil      	 2
87 Oscar Pozzi (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil              	 2
88 Bram de Groot (Ned) Rabobank                       	 2
89 Cesar Solaun Solana (Spa) Banesto                  	 1
90 Cristian Salvato (Ita) Team Polti                  	 1
91 Niki Aebersold (Swi) Rabobank                      	 1


Sprints (metas volantes) final overall

1   Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                     54
2   German Nieto Fernandez (Spa) Fuenlabrada              21
3   Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                    16
4   Fabio Roscioli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips        15
5   Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                     13
6   Michel Lafis (Swe) TVM-Farm Frites                    13
7   Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                   12
8   Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                       9
9   Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                    9
10  Ramon Gonzalez Arrieta (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi         8
11  Laurent Brochard (Fra) Lotus-Festina                   8
12  Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank             8
13  Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Liquigas                      7
14  Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank      7
15  Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                               7
16  Matias Cagigas Amedo (Spa) Fuenlabrada                 6
17  Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros              6
18  Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros         6
19  Pascal Hervé (Fra) Lotus-Festina                       5
20  Toni Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                   4
21  Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi       4
22  Melchor Mauri (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica               4
23  Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                   4
24  José V. Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                    3
25  Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre-Daikin                    3
26  Ińigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank            3
27  William Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step             3
28  Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips     2
29  Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal Service                 2
30  José L. Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca         2
31  Stefano Casagranda (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips     2
32  Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosa (Spa) Fuenlabrada           2
33  Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service                2
34  Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom               2
35  Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank          2
36  Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                 2
37  Miguel A. Martin Perdiguero (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank   2
38  Alex Zülle (Swi) Banesto                               2
39  José Uria Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca            2
40  Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale              2
41  Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team Deutsche Telekom          1
42  Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto                     1
43  Pedro Diaz Lobato (Spa) Fuenlabrada                    1
44  Cesar Solaun Solana (Spa) Banesto                      1
45  Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                        1
46  Cristian Salvato (Ita) Team Polti                      1
47  Nicola Miceli  (Ita) Liquigas                          1
48  Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca       1
49  Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                  1
50  David Garcia Marquina (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros          1
51  Andrei Zintchenko (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros              1
52  Cristian Moreni (Ita) Liquigas                         1


Teams classification final overall

1   Banesto                	269.08.49
2   Kelme - Costa Blanc    	    15.04
3   Vitalicio Seguros      	    23.45
4   Mapei - Quick Step     	  1.18.26 
5   Euskaltel - Euskadi    	  1.35.29 
6   Once - Deutsche Bank   	  1.49.51 
7   Team Deutsche Telekom  	  2.50.53 
8   Rabobank               	  3.36.09 
9   Festina - Lotus        	  3.44.18 
10  Benfica                	  4.24.28 
11  Liquigas - Pata        	  4.47.21 
12  Lampre - Daikin        	  5.11.23 
13  Fuenlabrada            	  5.39.01 
14  Team Polti             	  5.53.18 
15  TVM - Farm Frites      	  6.11.57 
16  Saeco - Cannondale     	  7.34.22 
17  Riso Scotti - Vinavil  	  7.37.23 
18  Lotto - Mobistar       	  7.51.23 
19  Costa Almeria - Amica Chips   8.19.07 
20  US Postal Service             8.57.03

Stage Preview:

A showcase route with all the jerseys likely to be decided. Winning the sprint finish is prized by the riders. It just depends on how many are still in the race after the climbing required in the previous stages.