Vuelta a Táchira

Venuzuela, January 15-26, 2000

Stage 4, January 18: La Fría - San Juan de Colón, 151 km

Vásquez climbs his way to the lead

The Venezuelan rider, Noel Vásquez has won the fourth stage of 35th Vuelta a Tachira, and took over the lead in the general classification as well. Vásquez, who is 23 years old, covered the 151 kilometers of the stage disputed between La Fria and San Juan de Colon in a time of 3:44.24 at an average of speed of 40.374 kilometers per hour. Former leader Tonny Linares lost ten minutes today, as the race hit the mountains.

The stage was marked by a breakaway of two riders - Mexican Florencio Ramos and the Venezuelan Robinson Merchán, who gained a maximum lead of five minutes and 24 seconds to the bunch. However, sixteen kilometers from the finish, they were swallowed up as the bunch approached the mountain.

On the climb, Noel Vásquez attacked to win the prime and the stage eventually. He took over the lead, by 47 seconds from Venezuelan José Chacón

Tomorrow's fifth stage will run from Coloncito, in Táchira, to Mérida, in the state of Mérida. It is a mountain stage with a 1,550 meters special category climb along the way, and is considered a key stage in the overall result.

Results

1. Noel Vásquez (Ven)       3.44.24
2. José Chacón (Ven)           0.56
3. Manuel Guevara (Ven) 
4. Alvaro Lozano (Col)   
5. Jaime Pinzón (Col)    
6. Omar Pumar (Ven)     
7. Rodolfo Camacho (Ven)
8. Aldrin Salamanca (Ven)
9. Tomy Alcedo (Ven)   
10. Diego Garabito (Bol)    
             
General classification after 4 stages:
             
1. Noel Vásquez (Ven)      16.03.00
2. José Chacón (Ven)           0.47
3. César Salazar (Ven)         0.55
4. Franklin Chacón (Ven)       1.00
5. Manuel Guevara (Ven)    
6. Freddy González (Col)
7. Manuel Guevara (Ven) 
8. Tommy Alcedo (Ven) 	       1.01 
9. Aldrin Salamanca (Ven)      1.03 
10. Omar Pumar (Ven) 

Metas volantes: 

1 José Loyo (Ven) 		15 Pts 
2 Leonardo Sánchez (Ven) 	14 
3 Florencio Ramos (Mex) 	10 

Sprints: 

1 Robinson Merchán (Ven) 	6 Pts 
2 Tonny Linares (Ven) 		6 
3 Martín Garrido (Arg) 		5 

Mountains: 

1 Noel Vásquez (Ven) 		6 Pts 
2 Jairo Pérez (Col) 		4 
3 Tommy Alcedo (Ven) 		4 

Points:

1 José Chacón (Ven) 		40 Pts 
2 Ruber Alveiro Marin (Col) 	33 
3 Eduardo Graciano (Mex) 	32 

Best U-23:

1 John Navas (Ven) 	   15.04.00 
2 Franklin Chacón (Ven)        1.11 
3 Frederick Segura (Ven)       1.14

Best foreign rider:

1 Freddy González (Col)    15.04.00
2 Hernán Dario Muñoz (Col)     0.14
3 Alvaro Lozano (Col) 	       0.14