36th Vuelta a Táchira - 2.5

Venuzuela, January 12-24, 2001

Stage 5 - January 16: San Cristóbal ITT, 18.8 km

Broutt back in the lead

Colombian Julio Bernal literally time trialed away from the field in the 18,8 ITT event in beautiful San Cristóbal, and crept up to 6th place in the G.C. His time for the rolling terrain was 25 min, 23 sec. Notwithstanding Bernal's effort, he's still 2:32 from 1st place. Bernal like the other Colombian climbers are not anxious given the mountains greet them in today's 6th stage where they hope to climb to the top places in the G.C.

However, it was Venezuelan Tommy Alcedo who gained the most in the ITT stage. He inched up from 3rd to 2nd in the overall and put 43 secs. between him and third place team mate José Chacón. Russian Pavel Broutt was also a huge winner regaining the overall leader's jersey, also placing considerable time between him and third place and the rest of the field. Venezuelan Manuel Guevara who had the leader's jersey dropped to 5th in the G.C. at 1:35 from Broutt.

Freddie González who is now riding for Selle Italia Pacific, placed 10th in the stage, at 48 secs. from Bernal.

Colombian rider Jaime Pinzón who suffered the worst injuries in one of two mass crashes in stage 4 is out of danger but his injuries are serious. He suffered severe craneal encephalitic trauma, fractured the lower mandible, the radius in his right arm, and lacerations to the tongue and lips. He is recovering from surgery in a San Cristobal hospital.

Report courtesy of Haroldo Camacho

Results

1 Julio Bernal (Col) 		25.23 (44.438 km/h)
2 Tommy Alcedo (Ven)		0.03
3 Pavel Broutt (Rus)		0.04
4 José Chacón (Ven)		0.14
5 Aldrin Salamanca (Ven)	0.21
6 Vladimir Karpets (Rus)	0.35
7 Alvaro Lozano (Col)		0.36
8 Noél Vásquez (Ven)		0.37
9 Livardo Niño (Col)		0.45
10 Freddy González (Col)	0.48

General classification after stage 5

1 Pavel Broutt (Rus)        12.42.38
2 Tommy Alcedo (Ven)		0.02
3 José Chacón (Ven)		0.45
4 Aldrin Salamanca (Ven)	1.09
5 Manuel Guevara (Ven)		1.35
6 Julio Bernal (Col)		2.32
7 Denis Smylov (Rus)		2.36
8 Jair Bernal (Col)		2.39
9 Alvaro Lozano (Col)		2.42
10 Noél Vásquez (Ven)		2.45