Cuban cyclist Damier Martínez has taken the first stage of the Vuelta a Cuba, 153 kilometres from Baracoa to Guantánamo, capital of the eastern province of Duba. Martinez, a Guantánamo local, beat home Austrian Bernard Eisel (Mapei-Quick Step) and Yosvany Falcon (Cuba-A) in front of a captive audience of 5000 spectators on the Avenue Pedro Agustín Perez de Guantánamo.
The stage contained two climbs which split the peloton of 96 riders. Italian Graziano Gasparre (Mapei) became the first leader in the mountains classification, taking the category 2 Alto de Cotilla, situated at 600 metres above sea level. Cuban Rolando Basulto (Cuba A) and Bernard Eisel took second and third.
After the climb, a group of 30 riders escaped until Imias (km 67), where Joel Mariño (Matanzas) won the first intermediate sprint in front of Swiss Aurelien Clerc (Mapei-Quick Step) and Yosvany Falcón (Cuba-A).
After two hours of racing, Cubans Alexander Clavero (Cuba A) and Julien Rodríguez (La Habana) escaped and built a one minute lead by the second intermediate sprint at San Antonio del Sur (km 89). Clavero won it, followed by Yulien Rodríguez and Joel Mariño.
After this, Spaniard Alberto Fernández (Cropusa-Burgos) counter-attacked and led the peloton by 55 seconds, enough to take the third sprint at Yateritas (km 115), in front of Michael Hernandez (USA) and Joel Marino.
The escape was over two kilometres later, and there followed several unsuccessful attacks before Damier Martínez and Bernard Eisel made their winning move. The pair sprinted for the line, neck and neck, and it was Eisel who put his arms up to celebrate the victory. However, the Cuban got around him at the end and was awarded the stage and the yellow jersey.
Tomorrow's stage two will start in Guantánamo and finish in Santiago de Cuba 138 kilometres later. Three intermediate sprints are scheduled: La Maya (km 55), Songo (km 61) and la Plaza de la Revolución Antonio Maceo de Santiago (km 84). The last 54 kilometres will be held as a 10 lap circuit race around Santiago.
1 Damier Martinez (Cub) Guantanamo 3.49.32 2 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Mapei-Quick Step 0.04 3 Iosvani Falcon (Cub) Cuba A 0.06 4 Joel Mariño (Cub) Matanzas 0.10 5 Aurelien Clerc (Swi) Mapei-Quick Step 6 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step 7 Pio F. Batista (Cub) Cuba B 8 Martin Muller (Ger) Wiesenhof 9 Michael Giehelmann (Ger) Wiesenhof 10 Adonis Cardoso (Cub) Ciudad Habana 11 Yeinier Lopez (Cub) Cuba B 12 Rainer Alvarez (Cub) Cuba B 13 Joel Solenzal (Cub) Sancti Spiritus 14 Reldy Perez (Cub) Cuba B 15 Pedro P. Perez (Cub) Cuba A 16 Luis A. Romero (Cub) Cuba A 17 Rolando Basulto (Cub) Cuba A 18 Gianpaolo Cheula (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step 19 Eliecer Valdes (Cub) Cuba A 20 Graziano Gasparre (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step 21 Iosvani Gutierrez (Cub) Sancti Spiritus 22 Frederik Willems (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step 23 Moises Dueñas (Spa) Mixto-Internacional 24 Willian Leiva (Cub) Orientales 2.17 25 Todd Herriott (USA) Eastern Reg 2.26 25 Pablo De Pedro (Spa) Cropusa-Burgos 27 Alexander Clavero (Cub) Cuba A 3.06 27 Yulien Rodriguez (Cub) La Habana 27 Anatoli Cansio (Cub) Ciudad Habana 27 Vicente Zanabria (Cub) Matanzas 31 Michael Hernandez (USA) Eastern Reg 4.26 31 Wilmer Rodriguez (Cub) Orientales 33 Henry Rodriguez (Cub) Matanzas 4.45 34 Carsten Podlesch (Ger) Wiesenhof 5.07 34 Holger Loew (Ger) Wiesenhof 36 Marco Wittwer (Ger) Wiesenhof 5.33 36 Roman Pino (Cub) La Habana 36 Yordani Amigo (Cub) Matanzas 36 Reinier Veloz (Cub) Sancti Spiritus 40 Alejandro Barbero (Spa) Cropusa-Burgos 6.11 41 Josh Horowitz (USA) Eastern Reg 8.37 41 Alberto Fernandez (Spa) Cropusa-Burgos 41 Cristian Retolaza (Spa) Cropusa-Burgos 41 Osvel Vento (Cub) Ciudad Habana 41 Elioidis Griñan (Cub) Guantanamo 46 Michael Norton (USA) Eastern Reg 13.39 47 Yosniel Rodriguez (Cub) Pinar Del Rio 14.50 48 Joe Papp (USA) Eastern Reg 15.50 48 Timo Scholz (Ger) Wiesenhof 48 Mackley Alvarez (Cub) Cuba B 48 Reynaldo Rodriguez (Cub) Guantanamo 48 Arnold Alcolea (Cub) Orientales 53 Victor Castro (Spa) Cropusa-Burgos 16.02 53 Antonio Lopez (Spa) Cropusa-Burgos 53 Lazaro Moreno (Cub) Mixto-Internacional 53 Dayrold Rodriguez (Cub) Pinar Del Rio 53 Jose L. Diaz (Cub) La Habana 53 Oslen Enjamio (Cub) Villa Clara 53 Carlos Avascal (Cub) Ciego De Avila 53 Rolando Gonzalez (Cub) Ciego De Avila 53 Jose M. Rodriguez (Cub) Ciudad Habana 53 Relvis Gutierrez (Cub) Orientales 63 Luis E. Iglesias (Cub) Pinar Del Rio 16.04 63 Roger Rodriguez (Cub) Pinar Del Rio 63 Yunier Alonso (Cub) La Habana 63 Yosbel Gonzalez (Cub) La Habana 63 Gerardo Rodriguez (Cub) La Habana 63 Ernesto Ferrer (Cub) Villa Clara 63 Enrique Rodriguez (Cub) Villa Clara 63 Lester Garcia (Cub) Villa Clara 63 Juan Almeida (Cub) Villa Clara 63 Jorge L. Sori (Cub) Ciego De Avila 63 Dunier Cairo (Cub) Ciego De Avila 63 Ariel Sosa (Cub) Ciudad Habana 63 Marcelo Leiva (Cub) Ciudad Habana 63 Michel Fernandez (Cub) Matanzas 63 Eduardo Peralta (Cub) Sancti Spiritus 63 Miguel Perez (Cub) Sancti Spiritus 63 Fredy Mendoza (Cub) Guantanamo 63 Yoelvis Martinez (Cub) Guantanamo 63 Erisleidis Beltran (Cub) Orientales 63 Serguei Viamontes (Cub) Orientales 83 Yosvani Ulloa (Cub) Matanzas 17.10 84 Lawrence Perera (USA) Mixto-Internacional 22.31 85 Hector Ajete (Cub) Pinar Del Rio 22.42 86 Lizardo Benitez (Cub) Cuba B 26.52 86 Leonardo Alvarez (Cub) Villa Clara 86 Yarousi Poutou (Cub) Guantanamo 89 Michael Dietrick (USA) Eastern Reg 27.42 90 Kadel Pelaez (Cub) Ciego De Avila 33.08 90 Yosvani Garcia (Cub) Sancti Spiritus 92 Mark Light (USA) Mixto-Internacional 33.55 93 Carlos Montes (Cub) Ciego De Avila 39.35 94 Yosniel Machin (Cub) Pinar Del Rio 39.43 95 Todd Majeski (USA) Mixto-Internacional 40.08 96 Gui Nelessen (USA) Mixto-Internacional 40.13 Metas volantes Imias - km 67 1 Joel Mariño (Cub) Matanzas 2 Aurelien Clerc (Swi) Mapei-Quick Step 3 Yosvany Falcón (Cub) Cuba-A San Antonio del Sur - km 89 1 Alexander Clavero (Cub) Cuba A 2 Julien Rodríguez (Cub) La Habana 3 Joel Mariño (Cub) Matanzas Yateritas - km 115 1 Alberto Fernández (Spa) Cropusa-Burgos 2 Michael Hernandez (USA) USA 3 Joel Mariño (Cub) Matanzas Mountains Alto De Cotilla - km 31 1 Graziano Gasparre (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step 10 pts 2 Rolando Basulto (Cub) Cuba A 7 3 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Mapei-Quick Step 5 4 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step 3 5 Eliecer Valdes (Cub) Cuba A 2 General classification after stage 1 1 Damier Martinez (Cub) Guantanamo 3.49.32 2 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Mapei-Quick Step 0.04 3 Iosvani Falcon (Cub) Cuba A 0.05 3 Joel Mariño (Cub) Matanzas 5 Aurelien Clerc (Swi) Mapei-Quick Step 0.08 6 Pedro P. Perez (Cub) Cuba A 0.10 6 Luis A. Romero (Cub) Cuba A 6 Rolando Basulto (Cub) Cuba A 6 Eliecer Valdes (Cub) Cuba A 6 Michael Giehelmann (Ger) Wiesenhof 6 Martin Muller (Ger) Wiesenhof 6 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step 6 Frederik Willems (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step 6 Graziano Gasparre (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step 6 Gianpaolo Cheula (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step 6 Moises Dueñas (Spa) Mixto-Internacional 6 Pio F. Batista (Cub) Cuba B 6 Reldy Perez (Cub) Cuba B 6 Yeinier Lopez (Cub) Cuba B 6 Rainer Alvarez (Cub) Cuba B 6 Adonis Cardoso (Cub) Ciudad Habana 6 Joel Solenzal (Cub) Sancti Spiritus 6 Iosvani Gutierrez (Cub) Sancti Spiritus 24 Willian Leiva (Cub) Orientales 2.17 25 Todd Herriott (USA) Eastern Reg 2.26 25 Pablo De Pedro (Spa) Cropusa-Burgos 27 Alexander Clavero (Cub) Cuba A 3.03 28 Yulien Rodriguez (Cub) La Habana 3.04 29 Anatoli Cansio (Cub) Ciudad Habana 3.06 29 Vicente Zanabria (Cub) Matanzas 31 Michael Hernandez (USA) Eastern Reg 4.24 32 Wilmer Rodriguez (Cub) Orientales 4.26 33 Henry Rodriguez (Cub) Matanzas 4.45 34 Carsten Podlesch (Ger) Wiesenhof 5.07 34 Holger Loew (Ger) Wiesenhof 36 Marco Wittwer (Ger) Wiesenhof 5.33 36 Roman Pino (Cub) La Habana 36 Yordani Amigo (Cub) Matanzas 36 Reinier Veloz (Cub) Sancti Spiritus 40 Alejandro Barbero (Spa) Cropusa-Burgos 6.11 41 Alberto Fernandez (Spa) Cropusa-Burgos 8.34 42 Josh Horowitz (USA) Eastern Reg 8.37 42 Cristian Retolaza (Spa) Cropusa-Burgos 42 Osvel Vento (Cub) Ciudad Habana 42 Elioidis Griñan (Cub) Guantanamo 46 Michael Norton (USA) Eastern Reg 13.39 47 Yosniel Rodriguez (Cub) Pinar Del Rio 14.50 48 Joe Papp (USA) Eastern Reg 15.50 48 Timo Scholz (Ger) Wiesenhof 48 Mackley Alvarez (Cub) Cuba B 48 Reynaldo Rodriguez (Cub) Guantanamo 48 Arnold Alcolea (Cub) Orientales 53 Victor Castro (Spa) Cropusa-Burgos 16.02 53 Antonio Lopez (Spa) Cropusa-Burgos 53 Lazaro Moreno (Cub) Mixto-Internacional 53 Dayrold Rodriguez (Cub) Pinar Del Rio 53 Jose L. Diaz (Cub) La Habana 53 Oslen Enjamio (Cub) Villa Clara 53 Carlos Avascal (Cub) Ciego De Avila 53 Rolando Gonzalez (Cub) Ciego De Avila 53 Jose M. Rodriguez (Cub) Ciudad Habana 53 Relvis Gutierrez (Cub) Orientales 63 Luis E. Iglesias (Cub) Pinar Del Rio 16.04 63 Roger Rodriguez (Cub) Pinar Del Rio 63 Yunier Alonso (Cub) La Habana 63 Yosbel Gonzalez (Cub) La Habana 63 Gerardo Rodriguez (Cub) La Habana 63 Ernesto Ferrer (Cub) Villa Clara 63 Enrique Rodriguez (Cub) Villa Clara 63 Lester Garcia (Cub) Villa Clara 63 Juan Almeida (Cub) Villa Clara 63 Jorge L. Sori (Cub) Ciego De Avila 63 Dunier Cairo (Cub) Ciego De Avila 63 Ariel Sosa (Cub) Ciudad Habana 63 Marcelo Leiva (Cub) Ciudad Habana 63 Michel Fernandez (Cub) Matanzas 63 Eduardo Peralta (Cub) Sancti Spiritus 63 Miguel Perez (Cub) Sancti Spiritus 63 Fredy Mendoza (Cub) Guantanamo 63 Yoelvis Martinez (Cub) Guantanamo 63 Erisleidis Beltran (Cub) Orientales 63 Serguei Viamontes (Cub) Orientales 83 Yosvani Ulloa (Cub) Matanzas 17.10 84 Lawrence Perera (USA) Mixto-Internacional 22.31 85 Hector Ajete (Cub) Pinar Del Rio 22.42 86 Lizardo Benitez (Cub) Cuba B 26.52 86 Leonardo Alvarez (Cub) Villa Clara 86 Yarousi Poutou (Cub) Guantanamo 89 Michael Dietrick (USA) Eastern Reg 27.42 90 Kadel Pelaez (Cub) Ciego De Avila 33.08 90 Yosvani Garcia (Cub) Sancti Spiritus 92 Mark Light (USA) Mixto-Internacional 33.55 93 Carlos Montes (Cub) Ciego De Avila 39.35 94 Yosniel Machin (Cub) Pinar Del Rio 39.43 95 Todd Majeski (USA) Mixto-Internacional 40.08 96 Gui Nelessen (USA) Mixto-Internacional 40.13 Points classification 1 Joel Mariño (Cub) Matanzas 5 pts 2 Alexander Clavero (Cub) Cuba A 3 2 Alberto Fernandez (Spa) Cropusa-Burgos 3 4 Michael Hernandez (USA) Eastern Reg 2 4 Aurelien Clerc (Swi) Mapei-Quick Step 2 4 Yulien Rodriguez (Cub) La Habana 2 7 Iosvani Falcon (Cub) Cuba A 1 Metas volantes classification 1 Joel Mariño (Cub) Matanzas Mountains classification 1 Graziano Gasparre (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step 10 pts 2 Rolando Basulto (Cub) Cuba A 7 3 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Mapei-Quick Step 5 4 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step 3 5 Eliecer Valdes (Cub) Cuba A 2 Teams classification 1 Cuba A 11.29.06 1 Cuba B 1 Mapei-Quick Step 4 Wiesenhof 4.57 5 Sancti Spiritus 5.23 6 Matanzas 7.31 7 Ciudad Habana 11.23 8 Eastern Reg 14.59 9 Cropusa-Burgos 16.44 10 Orientales 22.03 11 Guantanamo 24.07 12 La Habana 24.11 13 Mixto-Internacional 38.13 14 Pinar Del Rio 46.26 15 Ciego De Avila 47.38 16 Villa Clara 47.40