51st Vuelta Colombia - 2.5

Colombia, June 17 - July 2, 2001

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Stage 7 - June 24: Medellín - Alto del Escobero, 129.0 km

Buenahora doubles up

By Daniel Alejandro Lopez

Hernán Buenahora has won the seventh stage of the Vuelta a Colombia, repeating his triumph after the victory yesterday. Finally, Marlon Perez couldn't keep the tricolor jersey and has given it to his teammate Javier Zapata.

A group of about 40 cyclists arrived at the base of the 9 kilometre last climb. The battle started and Buenahora jumped away and nobody could follow him. He put a lot of time into several of his rivals and now only a few riders can win the Vuelta. The revelation of the stage was Venezuelan Noel Vasquez (Champion of the Vuelta al Táchira).

Former leader Marlon Perez lost 4.08 in the stage. Although he didn't lose much time, his possibilities for wining the Vuelta have been lessened, and now he will have to work for his team.

Stage description

The seventh stage of the Vuelta a Colombia-Telecom is between Medellín and Alto del Escobero (Cima Martín Cochise Rodríguez) 129.1 km. Although it is a short stage, it is called the "Queen Stage" because has two first category climbs at Alto de Santa Elena (km 66) and at Alto del Escobero (km 129) and one third category at Alto de Topos (km 84). The stage has also two intermediates sprints in the first circuit around Medellín

The ascention to el Escobero, where the finish is located is about 9 kilometres and is considered one of the most difficult climbs in the world. The stage emulates the classical mountain stages in the world because there are a lot of people at the sides of the road during the entire route, and the cyclist's names are written in the road. There is a great spectacle from the first kilometers.

Results

1 Hernán Buenahora (Col) Selle Italia - Baterías MAC            
2 Héctor Manuel Castaño (Col)  Empresas Públicas de Medellín    0.25
3 Noel Vásquez (Ven) Lotería del Táchira                        0.59
4 Javier Zapata (Col) 05 Orbitel                                1.06
5 Juan Diego Ramírez (Col) 05 Orbitel                           1.07
6 Ismael Sarmiento (Col) Lotería de Boyacá                      1.26
7 Julio César Rangel (Col) Aguardiente Cristal                  1.47
8 Jairo Hernández (Col) 05 Orbitel                              1.49
9 Héctor Iván Palacios (Col) Empresas Públicas de Medellín      2.19
10 Ubaldo Mesa (Col) Lotería de Boyacá                          2.26
11 Libardo Niño (Col) Lotería de Boyacá                         2.42
12 Alexis Rojas (Col) 05 Orbitel                                2.42
13 Uberlino Mesa (Col) Lotería de Boyacá                        2.54
14 Israel Ochoa (Col) Lotería de Boyacá                         3.32
15 Miguel Sanabria (Col) 05 Orbitel                             3.42
16 Marlon Pérez (Col) 05 Orbitel                                4.08
17 Julio César Aguirre (Col) 05 Orbitel                         4.09
18 César Salazar (Ven) Lotería del Táchira                      4.32
19 Alejandro Iván Cortes (Col) Aguardiente Cristal              4.51
20 Jair Bernal (Col) Selle Italia - Baterías MAC                5.14

Climbs

Alto de Santa Elena - Cat. 1, km 66

1 Graciano Fonseca (Col) Lotería de Boyacá  
2 Miguel Sanabria (Col) 05 Orbitel
3 Noel Vásquez (Ven) Lotería del Táchira
4 Jair Bernal (Col) Selle Italia - Baterías MAC
5 Argiro Zapata (Col) Empresas Públicas de Medellín 

Alto de Topos - Cat. 3, km 84

1 Héctor Manuel Castaño (Col) Empresas Públicas de Medellín  
2 Julio César Aguirre  (Col) 05 Orbitel
3 Graciano Fonseca (Col) Lotería de Boyacá
4 Germán Ospina (Col) Empresas Públicas de Medellín
5 Alvaro Sierra (Col) Lotería de Boyacá 

Alto del Escobero "Cima Martín Cochise Rodríguez" - Cat. 1, km 129

1 Hernán Buenahora (Col) Selle Italia - Baterías MAC  
2 Héctor Manuel Castaño (Col)  Empresas Públicas de Medellín
3 Noel Vásquez (Ven) Lotería del Táchira
4 Javier Zapata (Col) 05 Orbitel
5 Juan Diego Ramírez (Col) 05 Orbitel 

Intermediate sprints

Medellin - km 14

1 Guillermo Chaparro  (Col)  Ciclo Ases                          5 pts
2 Julio Bernal (Col) Selle Italia - Baterías MAC                 3
3 Graciano Fonseca (Col)  Lotería de Boyacá                      2
4 José Luis Vanegas (Col) Aguardiente Néctar                     1

Medellin - km 35 

1 José Luis Vanegas (Col)  Aguardiente Nectar                    5 pts
2 Guillermo Chaparro (Col) Ciclo Ases                            3 
3 Julio Bernal (Col) Selle Italia - Baterías MAC                 2
4 Edilberto Suarez (Col) Indeportes Antioquia                    1

General classification after stage 7

1 Javier Zapata (Col) 05 Orbitel                            18.46.06
2 Hernán Buenahora (Col) Selle Italia - Baterías MAC            0.13
3 Ismael Sarmiento (Col) Lotería de Boyacá                      1.14
4 Héctor Manuel Castaño (Col)  Empresas Públicas de Medellín    1.32
5 Juan Diego Ramírez (Col) 05 Orbitel                           1.38
6 Libardo Niño (Col) Lotería de Boyacá                          2.05
7 Márlon Pérez (Col) 05 Orbitel                                 2.21
8 Jairo Hernández (Col) 05 Orbitel                              2.48
9 Héctor Iván Palacios (Col) Empresas Públicas de Medellín      2.56
10 Noel Vásquez (Ven) Lotería del Táchira                       3.24
11 Israel Ochoa (Col) Lotería de Boyacá                         3.33

Intermediate sprints classification

1 Guillermo Chaparro (Col) Ciclo Ases                             16 pts
2 Gregorio Ladino (Col) Aguardiente Nectar                        15
3 Darío Sedano (Col) Aguardiente Cristal                          13
4 John Fredy Moncada (Col) Triple Gordo-Trujillo                   8
5 Jairo Pérez (Col) Lotería de Boyacá                              6
6 José Luis Vanegas (Col) Aguardiente Nectar                       6
7 Julio Bernal (Col) Selle Italia- Baterías MAC                    5
8 Rigoberto Ibañez (Col) Aguardiente Nectar                        5
9 Alirio Contreras (Ven) Triple Gordo - Trujillo                   5
10 Gustavo Guzmán (Col) Fuerzas Armadas                            5