41st Clásico del RCN - 2.4

Colombia, August 12-19, 2001

Stage 1 - August 12: Medellín - Jericó, 124 km

Climbs set the stage

By Daniel Lopez

The first stage of the 41 Clasico RCN covered 124 mountainous kilometres between Medellin and Jerico and commemorated Antioquia Independence. Today's trip included two first-category climbs and three intermediate sprints. The most difficult climb was the final ascent of about 22 kilometres to the finish at Jerico

Just like 41 years ago, when the first version of the Clasico RCN arrived at Jerico and Ruben Dario Gomez took more than 16 minutes over second place, the differences today have been astronomical.

Many of the favorites have exploited and others have had accidents in the descents from the Alto de Minas. Very few riders have a real chance of final victory.

A group of four riders arrived together at the finish and only in the two final two kilometres did young rider Alejandro Ivan Cortes (Aguardiente Cristal) make the necessary move to win the stage over a small margin from his fellow escapees. He took three seconds over Juan Diego Ramirez (last year's champion), five over Alvaro Lozano (a 38 year old veteran ) and five to Ismael Sarmiento.

After them, the riders arrived one by one and with very important differences: Castelblanco at 2.31, Niño 3.00, Bonilla 3.13, Herrera 5.01, Marlon Perez 6.56. Favorites like Contreras, Buenahora (the Vuelta a Colombia champion) Hector Ivan Palacios, Israel Ochoa, Julio Cesar Rangel and others lost more than 30 minutes and all chance of victory.

Results

1 Alejandro I. Cortés (Col) Aguardiente Cristal    3.45.26
2 Juan diego Ramírez (Col) 05 orbitel                 0.03
3 Alvaro Lozano (Col) Baterías Mac - Selle Italia
4 Ismael Sarmiento (Col) Lotería de Boyacá            0.04
5 José Castelblanco (Col) Baterías Mac - Selle Italia 2.31
6 Víctor Niño (Col) Lotería de Boyacá                 2.58
7 Hernán Darío Bonilla (Col) 05 Orbitel               3.12
8 Julio Cesar Aguirre (Col) 05 Orbitel                4.28
9 Omar Pumar (Ven) Lotería del Táchira                4.59
10 Élder Herrera (Col) 05 Orbitel                     5.58

General classification after stage 1

1 Alejandro I. Cortés (Col) Aguardiente Cristal    3.45.16
2 Juan diego Ramírez (Col) 05 orbitel                 0.07
3 Alvaro Lozano (Col) Baterías Mac - Selle Italia
4 Ismael Sarmiento (Col) Lotería de Boyacá            0.14
5 José Castelblanco (Col) Baterías Mac - Selle Italia 2.41
6 Víctor Niño (Col) Lotería de Boyacá                 3.08
7 Hernán Darío Bonilla (Col) 05 Orbitel               3.22
8 Julio Cesar Aguirre (Col) 05 Orbitel                4.38
9 Omar Pumar (Ven) Lotería del Táchira                5.09
10 Élder Herrera (Col) 05 Orbitel                     6.03

Points
 
1 Alejandro I. Cortés (Col) Aguardiente Cristal          25 pts
2 Juan Diego Ramírez (Col) 05 Orbitel                    20
3 Alvaro Lozano (Col) Baterías Mac - Selle Italia        16
 
Mountains
 
1 Juan Diego Ramírez (Col) 05 OPrbitel                   16 pts
2 Alejandro I. Cortés (Col) Aguardiente Cristal          15
3 Julio Rangel (Col) Aguardiente Cristal                 10
 
Sprints
 
1 Hebert Gutiérrez (Col)                                 13 pts
2 Alvaro Lozano (Col) Baterías Mac - Selle Italia         8
3 Ruber A. Marín (Col)                                    5

Courtesy of Alberto Beltran