Vuelta a Espana, Grand Tour

Spain, September 4-26, 1999

Main Page     Stage Preview     Angliru - an epic stage of racing

Report:

In the middle of rain and fog and on one of the steepest climbs in world cycling, Spanish rider Jose Maria Jiménez (Banesto) emerged as the stage winner on the eighth stage of the Vuelta. Riding between Leon and the Angliru (Oviedo) over 175.6 kilometers, Jiménez sprinted for the stage win with the Russian Pavel Tonkov (Mapei), while Abraham Olano conserved the leader's jersey and favourite Fernando Escartín retired after a fall. The Alto del Angliru came at the end of a stage with four major climbs. The last 12.5 km ascent in the Asturias region has been described as the toughest racing climb around with some parts over a 20% gradient and only matched by the Mortirolo in Italy. Jiménez attacked Roberto Heras four kilometres from the summit in pursuit of the Russion rider, who suffered over the final two, cruel kilometres of the stage. The Mapei rider struggled over the 23% gradients while Jiménez gained time. The unevenness of the climb affected all the rider. Hardly could they complete a pedal stroke on the viscious climb, while the roadside was filled with screaming spectators. In the middle of that suffering, Jiménez trimmed more than a minute of his deficit on Tonkov, the former champion of Giro in 96. Jiménez caught Tonkov one kilometre from the finish and barely had time to celebrate his victory. "I dedicate it to Pantani by everything that he has suffered in this time", Jiménez said after the finish. The other fight helped Olano as his main rival Escartín, crashed on the Cobertoria. ONCE's Manolo Sáiz, said Escartin's withdrawal was a major loss for the Vuelta and denounced the road conditions. "The Vuelta has lost not only a rider, but this puts in risk the life of the cyclists." Although Olano lost time on the Cordal, teammate Mikel Zarrabeitia took to him next to the group of favourites which contained Ullrich, Jiménez, Heras and Rubiera. Tonkov was ahead on the road spinning his 39x26 with relative ease. Until the final climb of the Angliru. Olano is remains leader with 2.09 over Ullrich, and Tonkov is third at 2.58, then Igor González de Galdeano, Heras, and Jiménez still over 5 minutes behind the leader.

Stage 8, León - Alto de Anglirú (La Gamonal), 176 kms:


1   José M. Jimenez Sastre (Spa) Banesto                    4.52.04
2   Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step
3   Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca           1.01
4   Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto                      1.13
5   Abraham Olano Manzano (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank             1.44
6   Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Banesto                             2.03
7   Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                    2.45
8   José L. Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca             2.45
9   Davide Rebellin (Ita) Team Polti                           3.00
10  Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros             3.09
11  Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi               3.09
12  Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                    3.16
13  Angel Casero (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                       3.34
14  Nicola Miceli  (Ita) Liquigas                              4.41
15  Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto                         5.04
16  Txema Del Olmo Zendegi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi             5.08
17  Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                          5.09
18  Ivan Parra (Col) Vitalicio Seguros                         5.18
19  Niki Aebersold (Swi) Rabobank                              5.28
20  Kurt van de Wouwer (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                    5.46
21  Marcos A. Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank       6.30
22  Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) Lotus-Festina                         6.39
23  José Uria Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                7.00
24  Alex Zülle (Swi) Banesto                                   7.17
25  Felix Garcia Casas (Spa) Lotus-Festina                     7.20
26  Grzegorz Gwiazdowski (Pol) Cofidis                         7.24
27  Ruslan Ivanov (Mda) Liquigas                               7.33
28  William Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step                 7.38
29  Gianni Faresin (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                      8.50
30  Melchor Mauri (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                   9.07
31  Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                   10.05
32  Michel Lafis (Swe) TVM-Farm Frites                        10.05
33  Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank         10.16
34  Massimo Codol (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                         10.34
35  Andrei Teteriouk (Kaz) Liquigas                           10.35
36  Ramon Gonzalez Arrieta (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi            11.01
37  Orlando Gomes Rodrigues (Por) Banesto                     11.12
38  Andrei Zintchenko (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                 11.16
39  Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                           11.24
40  José Joaquim Castelblanco (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca        11.30
41  Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi          12.16
42  Alberto Lopez de Munain (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi           12.24
43  Marcus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                               12.50
44  Angel Castresana Del Val (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi          13.01
45  Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                          13.17
46  Marty Jemison (USA) US Postal Service                     13.27
47  Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre-Daikin                       14.49
48  Serguei Ivanov (Rus) TVM-Farm Frites                      15.03
49  Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                        15.25
50  Juan C. Vicario Barbera (Spa) Fuenlabrada                 15.46
51  Bram de Groot (Ned) Rabobank                              15.46
52  Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank             15.46
53  Stefano Cattai (Ita) Team Polti                           15.46
54  Iñigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank               15.55
55  Victor Peña (Col) Vitalicio Seguros                       15.58
56  Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                  16.41
57  Andrea Noe (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                         16.41
58  Arnoldas Saprykinas (Ltu) Riso Scotti-Vinavil             17.07
59  Laurent Brochard (Fra) Lotus-Festina                      17.07
60  Tyler Hamilton (USA) US Postal Service                    17.07
61  Joona Laukka (Fin) Sport Lisboa Benfica                   17.12
62  Jörg Jaksche  (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                 17.32
63  Oscar Lopez Uriarte (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica            17.32
64  Quintino Fernandez Rodrigues (Por) Sport Lisboa Benfica   17.57
65  Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips        19.15
66  Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                                  19.18
67  Matias Cagigas Amedo (Spa) Fuenlabrada                    19.21
68  Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                    19.55
69  David Garcia Marquina (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros             20.13
70  Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                 20.31
71  Alain Turicchia (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                 20.31
72  José Uriarte Zubero (Spa) Lotus-Festina                   20.37
73  Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service                   21.10
74  Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Rabobank                            21.58
75  Julian Dean (NZl) US Postal Service                       22.20
76  Daniele De Paoli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips          22.36
77  Benoit Joachim (Lux) US Postal Service                    23.08
78  Igor Flores Galarza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi               23.51
79  Alessandro Pozzi (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips          24.02
80  Stefano Zanini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                     24.23
81  José V. Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                       24.48
82  Pedro Diaz Lobato (Spa) Fuenlabrada                       24.49
83  Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                       24.52
84  Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank                            25.21
85  Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                      25.21
86  Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros          25.28
87  Fabian Jeker (Swi) Lotus-Festina                          25.59
88  Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosa (Spa) Fuenlabrada              26.11
89  Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                26.11
90  Carlos Golbano (Spa) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips            26.16
91  Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal Service                    26.36
92  Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                  26.39
93  Paul van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                       26.48
94  Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                 26.57
95  Rossano Brasi (Ita) Team Polti                            26.59
96  Jaime Hernandez Bertran (Spa) Lotus-Festina               27.03
97  Alexandre Shefer (Kaz) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                27.05
98  Toni Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                      27.07
99  Frank Hoj (Den) US Postal Service                         27.07
100 Koen Beeckman (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                        27.52
101 Daniel Bayes (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                   27.54
102 Rolf Sörensen (Den) Rabobank                              27.57
103 Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                       28.00
104 Dirk Baldinger (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                28.00
105 Cesar Solaun Solana (Spa) Banesto                         28.44
106 Serguei Outchakov (Ukr) TVM-Farm Frites                   28.44
107 César Garcia Calvo (Spa) Fuenlabrada                      29.00
108 Luis M. Sarreira (Por) Sport Lisboa Benfica               29.20
109 Stefano Casagranda (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips        29.23
110 Miguel A. Martin Perdiguero (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank      29.36
111 Roland  Meier (Swi) Cofidis                               29.41
112 Geert van Bondt (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites                     29.41
113 Andreas Klier (Ger) TVM-Farm Frites                       29.41
114 Christophe Rinero (Fra) Cofidis                           29.41
115 David George (RSA) US Postal Service                      29.41
116 Alessio Bongioni (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                29.41
117 Angel Edo Alsina (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                 29.55
118 Laurent Jalabert (Fra) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                 29.55
119 Marco Della Vedova (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                    30.11
120 Simone Bertoletti (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                     30.14
121 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                30.14
122 Zbigniew Spruch (Pol) Lampre-Daikin                       30.14
123 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Liquigas                            30.14
124 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                     30.16
125 Samuele Schiavina (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil               30.34
126 Fabio Roscioli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips            30.42
127 José A. Garrido (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                30.47
128 Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                         30.47
129 Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team Deutsche Telekom             30.47
130 Servais Knaven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                      30.47
131 Simone Zucchi (Ita) Team Polti                            30.47
132 Cristian Salvato (Ita) Team Polti                         30.58
133 Marco Milesi (Ita) Liquigas                               31.15
134 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                  31.15
135 Enrico Cassani (Ita) Team Polti                           31.22
136 Oscar Pozzi (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                     31.26
137 Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca          31.38
138 Unai Etxebarria Arana (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi             31.38
139 Dylan Casey (USA) US Postal Service                       31.45
140 Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                31.48
141 Pascal Hervé (Fra) Lotus-Festina                          32.16
142 Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                   32.23
143 Remco Van Der Ven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                   32.35
144 Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                   32.39
145 Chris Peers (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                          32.39
146 German Nieto Fernandez (Spa) Fuenlabrada                  32.42
147 Andres Bermejo Siller (Spa) Fuenlabrada                   32.42
148 Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Liquigas                         32.42
149 Marco Gili (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips                32.42
150 Wladimir Belli (Ita) Lotus-Festina                        32.58
151 Giuseppe Guerini (Ita) Team Deutsche Telekom              32.58
152 Cesar Perez Padron  (Spa) Fuenlabrada                     32.58
153 Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Cofidis                            32.58
154 Marcel Wüst (Ger) Lotus-Festina                           32.58
155 Daniele Galli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips             33.11
156 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Rabobank                              33.31
157 Daniele Contrini (Ita) Liquigas                           33.42
158 Igor Pugaci (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                        33.47
159 Anthony Rokia (Fra) Cofidis                               34.25
160 Stefano Verziagi (Ita) Fuenlabrada                        34.48
161 Jorge M. Santos Silva (Por) Sport Lisboa Benfica          34.50
162 Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Team Polti                           35.09
163 Leonardo Guidi (Ita) Team Polti                           35.09
164 Jacky Durand (Fra) Lotto-Mobistar                         35.56

Sprints

1   Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Team Polti                           4
2   Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                         2
3   Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                          1

1   Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                         4
2   Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Team Polti                           2
3   Orlando Gomes Rodrigues (Por) Banesto                     1

1   Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                      4
2   Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                         2
3   Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Team Polti                           1

Final sprint

1   José M. Jimenez Sastre (Spa) Banesto                     25
2   Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step                      20
3   Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca         16
4   Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto                    14
5   Abraham Olano Manzano (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank           12
6   Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Banesto                           10
7   Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                   9
8   José L. Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca            8
9   Davide Rebellin (Ita) Team Polti                          7
10  Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros            6
11  Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi              5
12  Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                   4
13  Angel Casero (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                      3
14  Nicola Miceli  (Ita) Liquigas                             2

GC after Stage 8: 


1   Abraham Olano Manzano (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank               34.15.20
2   Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                          2.08
3   Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step                              2.58
4   Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                   3.58
5   Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                 4.24
6   Angel Casero (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                             4.44
7   José M. Jimenez Sastre (Spa) Banesto                             5.29
8   Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto                            6.25
9   Davide Rebellin (Ita) Team Polti                                 6.53
10  Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Banesto                                   7.19
11  Ivan Parra (Col) Vitalicio Seguros                               7.27
12  Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                          7.55
13  Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                     8.17
14  Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                                8.21
15  Kurt van de Wouwer (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                          8.51
16  José L. Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                   9.21
17  Marcos A. Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank            10.19
18  José Uria Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                     12.15
19  William Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step                      12.17
20  Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) Lotus-Festina                              12.29
21  Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank               13.42
22  Grzegorz Gwiazdowski (Pol) Cofidis                              13.46
23  Felix Garcia Casas (Spa) Lotus-Festina                          14.08
24  Nicola Miceli  (Ita) Liquigas                                   14.24
25  Niki Aebersold (Swi) Rabobank                                   14.34
26  Txema Del Olmo Zendegi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                  15.14
27  Gianni Faresin (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                           15.28
28  Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                         15.47
29  Alex Zülle (Swi) Banesto                                        16.01
30  Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                16.17
31  Melchor Mauri (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                        16.26
32  Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto                              16.35
33  Andrei Teteriouk (Kaz) Liquigas                                 17.18
34  Iñigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                     17.28
35  Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                                 17.37
36  Andrei Zintchenko (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                       18.08
37  Massimo Codol (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                               19.47
38  Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                                20.02
39  José Joaquim Castelblanco (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca              20.10
40  Serguei Ivanov (Rus) TVM-Farm Frites                            21.50
41  Ramon Gonzalez Arrieta (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                  22.17
42  Laurent Brochard (Fra) Lotus-Festina                            23.54
43  Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                   23.58
44  Andrea Noe (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                               24.16
45  Marcus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                                     24.22
46  Victor Peña (Col) Vitalicio Seguros                             24.27
47  Joona Laukka (Fin) Sport Lisboa Benfica                         24.31
48  Juan C. Vicario Barbera (Spa) Fuenlabrada                       25.16
49  Angel Castresana Del Val (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                25.26
50  Stefano Cattai (Ita) Team Polti                                 27.31
51  Arnoldas Saprykinas (Ltu) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                   27.33
52  Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                        29.07
53  Michel Lafis (Swe) TVM-Farm Frites                              30.30
54  Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                              32.33
55  Alberto Lopez de Munain (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                 32.55
56  Alexandre Shefer (Kaz) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                      33.08
57  Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                      34.07
58  Marty Jemison (USA) US Postal Service                           34.17
59  Pedro Diaz Lobato (Spa) Fuenlabrada                             34.23
60  Tyler Hamilton (USA) US Postal Service                          34.31
61  Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                            34.55
62  Ruslan Ivanov (Mda) Liquigas                                    34.56
63  Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto                             34.57
64  Jörg Jaksche  (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                       35.30
65  Miguel A. Martin Perdiguero (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank            37.48
66  Oscar Lopez Uriarte (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                  38.43
67  Orlando Gomes Rodrigues (Por) Banesto                           39.17
68  Cristian Moreni (Ita) Liquigas                                  39.23
69  David Garcia Marquina (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                   39.31
70  Christophe Rinero (Fra) Cofidis                                 39.50
71  Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                          42.39
72  Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service                         42.45
73  Toni Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                            42.59
74  Alain Turicchia (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                       43.19
75  Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre-Daikin                             43.57
76  Bram de Groot (Ned) Rabobank                                    43.59
77  Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips              44.30
78  Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Team Polti                                 45.22
79  Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                                        46.55
80  Fabian Jeker (Swi) Lotus-Festina                                46.58
81  Quintino Fernandez Rodrigues (Por) Sport Lisboa Benfica         47.39
82  Laurent Jalabert (Fra) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                       48.09
83  Matias Cagigas Amedo (Spa) Fuenlabrada                          48.32
84  Roland  Meier (Swi) Cofidis                                     50.25
85  Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Rabobank                                  50.40
86  José Uriarte Zubero (Spa) Lotus-Festina                         52.10
87  José V. Garcia Acosta (Spa) Banesto                             52.21
88  Wladimir Belli (Ita) Lotus-Festina                              52.32
89  Stefano Zanini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                           52.48
90  Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                       53.03
91  Daniele De Paoli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips                53.16
92  Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                53.23
93  Frank Hoj (Den) US Postal Service                               53.38
94  Paul van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                             53.39
95  Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Cofidis                                  53.39
96  Rossano Brasi (Ita) Team Polti                                  55.00
97  Oscar Pozzi (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                           55.11
98  Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                      55.25
99  Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank                                  55.25
100 Benoit Joachim (Lux) US Postal Service                          55.30
101 Jaime Hernandez Bertran (Spa) Lotus-Festina                     55.40
102 Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                       56.05
103 Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosa (Spa) Fuenlabrada                    56.09
104 Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                        56.53
105 Serguei Outchakov (Ukr) TVM-Farm Frites                         57.26
106 Carlos Golbano (Spa) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips                  57.48
107 Fabio Roscioli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips                  58.02
108 Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                               58.03
109 Simone Bertoletti (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                           58.13
110 Cesar Solaun Solana (Spa) Banesto                               58.14
111 Rolf Sörensen (Den) Rabobank                                    58.34
112 Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                             58.46
113 César Garcia Calvo (Spa) Fuenlabrada                            58.54
114 Geert van Bondt (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites                           59.01
115 Koen Beeckman (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                              59.26
116 Luis M. Sarreira (Por) Sport Lisboa Benfica                     59.29
117 Remco Van Der Ven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                         59.34
118 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                        59.36
119 Cristian Salvato (Ita) Team Polti                               59.40
120 Andreas Klier (Ger) TVM-Farm Frites                             59.58
121 Enrico Cassani (Ita) Team Polti                               1.00.08
122 Angel Edo Alsina (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                     1.00.19
123 Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal Service                        1.00.26
124 Francisco Cabello Luque (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca              1.00.29
125 Andres Bermejo Siller (Spa) Fuenlabrada                       1.00.32
126 Chris Peers (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                              1.00.46
127 Alessio Bongioni (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                    1.01.02
128 Pascal Hervé (Fra) Lotus-Festina                              1.01.26
129 Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Liquigas                             1.01.40
130 Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team Deutsche Telekom                 1.01.50
131 Simone Zucchi (Ita) Team Polti                                1.01.57
132 Jorge M. Santos Silva (Por) Sport Lisboa Benfica              1.02.14
133 Dirk Baldinger (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                    1.02.20
134 Marcel Wüst (Ger) Lotus-Festina                               1.02.25
135 Zbigniew Spruch (Pol) Lampre-Daikin                           1.02.27
136 Marco Milesi (Ita) Liquigas                                   1.02.41
137 Samuele Schiavina (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                   1.02.50
138 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Rabobank                                  1.02.59
139 Stefano Verziagi (Ita) Fuenlabrada                            1.03.01
140 Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                       1.03.39
141 Anthony Rokia (Fra) Cofidis                                   1.03.46
142 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                    1.03.52
143 José A. Garrido (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                    1.03.54
144 Julian Dean (NZl) US Postal Service                           1.04.00
145 Unai Etxebarria Arana (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi                 1.04.07
146 Giuseppe Guerini (Ita) Team Deutsche Telekom                  1.04.19
147 Marco Della Vedova (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                        1.04.50
148 Cesar Perez Padron  (Spa) Fuenlabrada                         1.05.08
149 Igor Flores Galarza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                   1.05.09
150 Leonardo Guidi (Ita) Team Polti                               1.05.54
151 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                         1.06.27
152 Marco Gili (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips                    1.06.39
153 Alessandro Pozzi (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips              1.08.21
154 German Nieto Fernandez (Spa) Fuenlabrada                      1.10.06
155 David George (RSA) US Postal Service                          1.10.43
156 Servais Knaven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                          1.11.23
157 Stefano Casagranda (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips            1.14.09
158 Dylan Casey (USA) US Postal Service                           1.16.08
159 Igor Pugaci (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                            1.17.28
160 Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                       1.19.12
161 Daniele Galli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips                 1.20.44
162 Daniel Bayes (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                       1.29.51
163 Jacky Durand (Fra) Lotto-Mobistar                             1.30.45
164 Daniele Contrini (Ita) Liquigas                               1.45.19

Points - overall

1   Marcel Wüst (Ger) Lotus-Festina                              106
2   Abraham Olano Manzano (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                82
3   Robbie McEwen (Aus) Rabobank                                  63
4   Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                             58
5   Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team Deutsche Telekom                 57
6   Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                56
7   Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                       54
8   Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                       45
9   Miguel A. Martin Perdiguero (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank          41
10  Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Team Polti                               40
11  Stefano Zanini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                         34
12  Angel Casero (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                          31
13  Glenn Magnusson (Swe) US Postal Service                       30
14  Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Liquigas                             26
15  Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca              26
16  José M. Jimenez Sastre (Spa) Banesto                          25
17  Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step                           24
18  Iñigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                   23
19  Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                             23
20  Alain Turicchia (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                     22
21  Davide Rebellin (Ita) Team Polti                              21
22  Serguei Outchakov (Ukr) TVM-Farm Frites                       20
23  Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto                         20
24  Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Rabobank                                19
25  William Chann McRae (USA) Mapei-Quick Step                    18
26  Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros                     17
27  Serguei Ivanov (Rus) TVM-Farm Frites                          16
28  German Nieto Fernandez (Spa) Fuenlabrada                      15
29  Danilo Hondo (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                      15
30  Julian Dean (NZl) US Postal Service                           15
31  Frank Hoj (Den) US Postal Service                             14
32  Servais Knaven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                          14
33  César Garcia Calvo (Spa) Fuenlabrada                          13
34  Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                               13
35  Jacky Durand (Fra) Lotto-Mobistar                             12
36  Laurent Brochard (Fra) Lotus-Festina                          12
37  Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites                       12
38  Daniele Galli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips                 12
39  Cristian Moreni (Ita) Liquigas                                12
40  Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Banesto                                10
41  Melchor Mauri (Spa) Sport Lisboa Benfica                      10
42  Jorge M. Santos Silva (Por) Sport Lisboa Benfica              10
43  Michel Lafis (Swe) TVM-Farm Frites                             9
44  Pedro Diaz Lobato (Spa) Fuenlabrada                            9
45  Toni Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                           9
46  Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                     9
47  Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) Lotus-Festina                             9
48  Angel Edo Alsina (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                      9
49  Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank                                 8
50  José L. Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                 8
51  Kurt van de Wouwer (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                        8
52  Tyler Hamilton (USA) US Postal Service                         8
53  Ivan Parra (Col) Vitalicio Seguros                             7
54  Victor Peña (Col) Vitalicio Seguros                            7
55  Koen Beeckman (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                             7
56  Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank              6
57  Rolf Sörensen (Den) Rabobank                                   6
58  Dylan Casey (USA) US Postal Service                            6
59  Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                   5
60  Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips             5
61  Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosa (Spa) Fuenlabrada                   5
62  Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                           4
63  Samuele Schiavina (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                    4
64  Fabio Roscioli (Ita) Costa Almeria-Amica Chips                 4
65  Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                     4
66  Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                        4
67  Laurent Jalabert (Fra) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                      4
68  Stefano Verziagi (Ita) Fuenlabrada                             4
69  Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                            3
70  Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros               3
71  Matias Cagigas Amedo (Spa) Fuenlabrada                         2
72  Anthony Rokia (Fra) Cofidis                                    2
73  Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                                       2
74  Nicola Miceli  (Ita) Liquigas                                  2
75  Grzegorz Gwiazdowski (Pol) Cofidis                             2
76  Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                        2
77  Marcus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                                    2
78  Arnoldas Saprykinas (Ltu) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                  2
79  Orlando Gomes Rodrigues (Por) Banesto                          1
80  Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                               1
81  Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto                             1
82  Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi               1
83  Bram de Groot (Ned) Rabobank                                   1
84  Andreas Klier (Ger) TVM-Farm Frites                            1

Mountains - overall

1   José M. Jimenez Sastre (Spa) Banesto                          42
2   Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca              32
3   Laurent Brochard (Fra) Lotus-Festina                          31
4   Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi              31
5   Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step                           31
6   Ruslan Ivanov (Mda) Liquigas                                  30
7   Abraham Olano Manzano (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                30
8   Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis                             24
9   Orlando Gomes Rodrigues (Por) Banesto                         23
10  Pascal Hervé (Fra) Lotus-Festina                              23
11  Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto                         23
12  Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                    19
13  Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto                            17
14  Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank                                16
15  Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Banesto                                16
16  Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                       13
17  Marcos A. Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank          12
18  Alberto Lopez de Munain (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi               11
19  Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                          10
20  Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                       10
21  Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                               8
22  Serguei Outchakov (Ukr) TVM-Farm Frites                        6
23  German Nieto Fernandez (Spa) Fuenlabrada                       6
24  José L. Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                 6
25  Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank              6
26  Victor Peña (Col) Vitalicio Seguros                            6
27  Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Team Polti                                6
28  Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                 5
29  Angel Castresana Del Val (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi               5
30  Davide Rebellin (Ita) Team Polti                               4
31  Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                   4
32  Mario Traversoni (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                        4
33  Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                        3
34  Igor Flores Galarza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                    3
35  José Joaquim Castelblanco (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca             2
36  Alain Turicchia (Ita) Riso Scotti-Vinavil                      2
37  Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                                1
38  Andrea Noe (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                              1
39  Jörg Jaksche  (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                      1
40  Marcel Wüst (Ger) Lotus-Festina                                1

Stage Preview:

"L'enfer avec l'ascension du col de l'Angliru" is how the French press described Stage 8 referring to the extremely difficult summit finish at the Alto del Angliru (aka La Gamonal). The stage has 4 major climbs: 

Ventana, Cat 2, 1590 metres, 9 kms long
Cobertoría, Cat 1, 1170 metres, 9.2 kms long
Cordal, Cat 1, 780 metres, 8.8 kms long
Anglirú, Cat HC, 1580 metres, 12.5 kms long

The riders thus have some hard riding before they reach the last 12.5 kms ascent of the Gamonal in the Asturias region. It has been described as the toughest racing climb around and only matched by the Mortirolo in Italy which has been infrequently used in the Giro. Spaniard Fernando Escartin describes it in this way: "I have never seen anything like it, not in the Tour, not in the Giro.

His Kelme teammate Roberto Heras commented after the pair had been for a training ride over the climb: "The last 6 kms are terrible. There are horrific ramps to negotiate."

The average gradient is 9.6%, with the first 5 kms at 8% and then 6 kms at 12%. From km 10-11 there will be many riders walking as the average gradient rises to 17%, with 2 sections at 20% and some parts at 23.6% (steeper than the short Keutenberg in the Amstel Gold Race). The 13 kms takes the riders 1264 metres from the botton.

Some are arguing that it is an unfair climb for a bike race. If it is wet the last sections will force riders to walk no matter how skilled they are at climbing.

While it is only Stage 8, large time gaps will be possible. The other interesting question will be how lenient the organisers are to the grupetto at the back.