Vuelta a Táchira

Venuzuela, January 15-26, 2000

Stage 6 - Mérida - Tovar, 128.4 km

Venezuelan Lottery continues their success

23 year-old Venezuelan rider, Noel Vásquez won stage 6 of the Vuelta a Tachira, continuing the dominance of his team, Kino Táchira (Venezuelan lottery) in this race. The team has won five stages in a row, and also holds the overall lead.

Vásquez rode the 128 km stage between Mérida and Tovar, 3.29.13, winning by three seconds over compatriot, Aldrin Salamanca. He is now in third place overall, 48 seconds behind teammate, Jose Chacón, also of Kino Táchira. Chacón struggled with the mountainous terrain today, and arrived 15 seconds behind the winner, although he was at one point more than 40 seconds adrift.

In the sprints, Mexican Florencio Ramos, of the Independent University of Guadalajara, won each of them, and Creole, Isaac Ramirez took the mountain prize.

Tomorrow's seventh stage will leave from the the Meridan locality of Zea travelling to the Tachiran locality of La Grita, with one first category mountain.

Results

1 Noel Vásquez (Ven)      	     3.29.13
2 Aldrin Salamanca (Ven)    		0.03
3 Manuel Guevara (Ven)      		0.04
4 Vladimir Forero (Col)      		0.09
5 Raúl Gómez (Col)           		0.12
6 Carlos Maya (Ven)         		0.15
7 Alvaro Lozano (Col)
8 Robinson Merchán (Ven)
9 Franklin Chacón (Ven)
10 Gregorio Ladino (Col)    

General classification after 6 stages:

1 José Chacón (Ven)        	    22.37.44
2 Franklin Chacón (Ven)       		0.10
3 Noel Vásquez (Ven)          		0.48
4 Manuel Guevara (Ven)        		1.31
5 Aldrin Salamanca (Ven       		1.42