55th Vuelta a España - Grand Tour

Spain, August 26 - September 17, 2000

Complete live report

Stage 5 - August 30: Albacete-Xorret del Catí (Alicante), 152.3 km

Live coverage start time: 15:00
Estimated finish time: 17:00

15.10 CET

Welcome to the first mountain stage of the Vuelta. Today Fabio Roscioli (Costa Almeria) is alone far ahead of the peloton and actually virtual leader of the race. But this is more or less normal for Roscioli who is an expert at early solo attacks. The peloton is taking it easy waiting for the final climb at Catí.

15.17 CET - 80 kms to go

Mario Cipollini has been disqualified from the race after a fist fight, or at least attack, on Vitalicio Seguros' Francisco Cerezo who had to get three stitches in his face. Back to the race: Roscioli has some ten and a half minutes to the peloton.

15.30 CET - 70 kms to go

Roscioli's gap is still growing, more than eleven minutes now. Banesto is taking care of the little speed there is in the peloton. The might want to keep the leader's jersey on Zülle who is more than four minutes ahead overall.

15.50 CET - 50 kms to go

The speed has increased some. Kelme and Telekom are also helping out in the peloton on the flat road approaching the first climb Puerto de Biar, category 3.

16.00 CET - 55 kms to go

José Maria Jimenez (Banesto) is struggling at the back of the field where Telekom is riding hard at the front. Jimenez lost a lot yesterday. It is quite possible that he isn't quite alright. The field is actually shrinking right now. At the sprint in Yecla Raimondi and Anguita took the honours after Roscioli. Botero has punctured and borrows a bike from a team mate and he is down in the third group.

16.15 CET - 35 kms to go

The cross winds prevail, some riders have problems keeping their bikes on the road. There are red dust clouds over the road. Right now it's everyone for himself. Trying to keep themselves on the road. Santiago Botero gets another puncture as he blows off the road and on the way back he is behind the ambulance! Rosciolo still has eight and a hlaf minute to the peloton where Kelme is trying to keep speed down.

16.30 CET - 29 kms

The rain has started to fall. The cyclists are really careful now. Zülle is as a matter of fact first in the peloton and the streets they pass right now are awfully slippery. It looks more like speedway than cycling. This opens the road for Roscioli of course who has only himself to take care of and the gap is opening again towards eight and a half minutes.

16.45 CET - 20 kms to go

Roscioli passes the first climb with 7.56 to the peloton and still is virtual leader of the Vuelta and if the rain keeps falling he does have a chance to even take the lead in the race and not only win the stage. He is in difficulties in a cross road but manages to keep himself on the road. Let's see how the peloton manages eight minutes later. In the peloton Alberto Martinez has crashed but is up on his legs and sits up again.

16.55 CET 15 kms to go

Fabio Roscioli falls in a roundabout in Onil with 15 kms to go. He is soon up however. There are more falls in the peloton. German Nieto (Fuenlabrada) is one of them. The peloton is falling apart again.

17.00 CET 12 kms to go

In the small front peloton are Ullrich and Zülle. And also Freire but he is looking behind all the time. Maybe for Tonkov. The little, 20 riders, front peloton is now joined from behind by some 30 more riders. Roscioli passes Castalla with 12 kms to go. He is still some seven minutes ahead despite the fall. When the peloton passes the roundabout where Roscioli fell several riders are falling. The speed is almost zero but it doesn't help. Some fifteen riders fall, but no injuries. Salmeron (Costa America) fell harder in town but he is up again and talks to the race doctor while riding. He is treated with some spray against the pain.

17.05 CET - 10 kms to go

6.41 for Roscioli at the foot of the final climb. He will lose a lot probably but should be able to win the stage. Roads are dry now. The climb rises by 18 percent to begin with and Roscioli is losing ground quite fast now. No leader's jersey for him but the stage is still within reach. It's Vinokourov (Telekom) working in the peloton.

17.10 CET - 6 kms to go

Here the wall really starts. Roscioli is standing now and the lead shrinks he has problems to get the pedals around now. Telekom rides like Posties in the Tour now. Ullrich with his hands in the bow as usual. They are some 30 riders in the peloton now and riders fall off all the time at the back. Four and a half minutes now. The Italian is in deep trouble. An Alessio rider attacks the peloton.

17.15 CET - 4 kms to go

Roscioli is zig-zaging up the road. Hervé is attacking the peloton now. Zülle and Ullrich are still along. David Extebarria (ONCE) punctures in this brutal climb. Hervé is caught. Eladio Jimenez (Banesto) attacks in the peloton in the blue climber's jersey, two and a half minute behind Roscioli. Jimenez is taking the long way through the bends to keep the pace rather than the shorter, steeper inner path. It's 1.45 now for the leader.

17.20 CET - 2 kms to go

Five riders follow Eladio Jimenez who is catching Roscioli. The five are Zülle (Banesto), Rumsas (Fassa), Heras (Kelme), Gotti and Hervé (both Polti) but where is Ullrich? Hervé also loses contact now with Eladio Jimenez racing towards stage victory. Rumsas is also left behind.

17.24 CET - Finish

A wild chase downwards now. It's Heras chasing Eladio Jimenez. There are some five seconds under the banner. It's slightly uphill on the last kilometre and Eladio Jimenez is still ahead over the line. Three seconds later Heras (Kelme) comes and then Zülle and Gotti follows at nine seconds, Hervé (Polti) and Rumsas (Fassa Bortolo) 32 seconds behind and then a group with Ullrich at some 42 seconds.

Unofficial results:

1. Eladio Jimenez Sanchez (Spa) Banesto                 3.54.59
2. Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca        0.03
3. Alex Zülle (Swi) Banesto                                0.09
4. Ivan Gotti (Ita) Team Polti             
5. Pascal Hervé (Fra) Team Polti                           0.32
6. Raimundas Rumsas (Ltu) Fassa Bortolo             
7. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa)  Kelme-Costa Blanca       0.41
8. Jan Ullrich (Ger) Deutsche Telekom             
9. Igor González de Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros             
10. Haimar Zubeldia Aguirre (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi             
11. Angel Casero Moreno (Spa) Festina Watches             
12. Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step                    0.47
13. Fabio Roscioli (Ita) Jazztel-Costa Almeria             
14. Óscar Sevilla Ribera (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca             
15. Gilberto Simoni  (Ita) Lampre Daikin            

General classification after stage 5:

1. Alex Zülle (Swi) Banesto
2. Abraham Olano (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank                  1.09
3. Igor González de Galdeano (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros       1.10
4. Angel Casero Moreno (Spa) Festina Watches               1.15
5. Raimundas Rumsas (Ltu) Fassa Bortolo                    1.20
6. Jan Ullrich (Ger) Deutsche Telekom                      1.23
7. Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step                     1.40
8. Santos Gonzalez Capilla (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank        1.52
9. Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca        1.56
10. Gianni Faresin (Ita)  Mapei-Quick Step                 2.14