29th Tour Méditerranéen - 2.3

France, February 13-17, 2002

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Stage 4 - February 16: La Londe-les-Maures - Toulon Mont-Faron, 147 km

Bartoli makes it an Italian affair

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Michele Bartoli
Photo ©: Sirotti
 

Michele Bartoli hasn't taken long to reward the faith shown in him by Fassa Bortolo. In a race that has been dominated by Italians, the 32 year old Tuscan from Pisa picked up his first victory of the year in the 4th stage of the 29th Tour Méditerranéen.

The stage included the gruelling climb up Mount Faron. Starting at a 90-m. altitude, and finishing at 511 metres above sea level it's a 5.6-km. climb, with an average gradient below 10%, but in the second half of the ascent moves up to around 14%, even going up to 16% in a particular piece renamed "Le Trou du Diable" ("The Devil's Throne").

Fassa controlled most of the stage setting a high pace right from the penultimate ascent, the Col des Fources. Interesting, stage 3 leader Alessandro Petacchi was one of the hardest workers for Bartoli, so the indication is that team director Giancarlo Ferretti is setting up for Bartoli to claim the overall victory as well.

Because of the pace, and Fassa's teamwork, the peloton splintered with only 50 riders remaining in the lead bunch, with this number reduced to twenty after a horse ran across the riders path during a descent.

Both Richard Virenque and Mapei's Hungarian Laszlo Bodrogi managed to break away, but were caught with about 20 kms. to go. At the beginning of the final ascent, sprinter Robbie McEwen surprised all by attempting a solo, uphill, break, at one stage he even managed to put 20 seconds on the peloton, however it wasn't to be McEwen's day, as he was eventually caught.

Bartoli's successful attack came 3 kms from the finish, just before the "Trou du Diable". The Italian took his first (solo) win of the year, the 35th victory of his career. Fassa's triumphal day was completed by Paolo Tiralongo finishing in second place, while another Italian (Colpack Astro's Dennis Lunghi) took third. Robbie McEwen finished in eighth place, while "American" Guido Trenti ranked sixth in the stage and is now seventh overall.

The "Tour of Mediterranean" seems to be an all-Italian affair. After 3 stage wins by Italy's riders and teams (including Fassa-Bortolo's in the opening TTT), and an overall ranking full of Italians in the top 10.

Bartoli's victory comes after a couple of relatively poor seasons for the rider marked by injury and team troubles. Bartoli is now the most serious candidate for the final win, as the French stage-race finishes tomorrow with a 120-km. leg (Rousset-Marseille) featuring 4 climbs, including the Col de Ginestre, whose summit is placed at 15 kms from the finish line.

Photography

Results

1 Michele Bartoli (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                     3.56.22 (36.477 km/h)
2 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                        1.07
3 Denis Lunghi (Ita) Team Colpack-Astro                      1.09
4 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                             1.14
5 Markus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                                1.21
6 Guido Trenti (USA) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo            1.31
7 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport                   1.40
8 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Lotto-Adecco                           1.46
9 Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems               1.58
10 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Tacconi Sport-Vini Caldirola         2.22
11 Denis Menchov (Rus) iBanesto.com                          2.49
12 Grischa Niermann (Ned) Rabobank                           2.54
13 Laurent Jalabert (Fra) Team CSC Tiscali                   3.00
14 Serge Baguet (Bel) Lotto-Adecco                           3.19
15 Geert Verheyen (Bel) Rabobank                             3.32
DNF Michael Rich (Ger) Gerolsteiner
DNF Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Domo-Farm Frites
DNF Jakob Piil (Den) Team CSC Tiscali
DNF Addy Engels (Ned) Rabobank
DNF Mïrko Celestino (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport
DNF Biagio Conte (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport
DNF Jonathan Vaughters (USA) Credit Agricole
DNF Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Credit Agricole
DNF Anthony Langella (Fra) Credit Agricole
DNF Pedro Horrillo-Munoz (Spa) Mapei-Quick Step
DNF Marino Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin
DNF Zbigniew Spruch (Pol) Lampre-Daikin
DNF Zoran Klemencic (Slo) Tacconi Sport-Vini Caldirola
DNF Frédéric Finot (Fra) Jean Delatour
DNF Joona Laukka (Fin) Jean Delatour
DNF Andreï Kivilev (Kaz) Cofidis
DNF Ludovic Capelle (Bel) Ag2R Prevoyance
DNF Christophe Oriol (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance
DNF Olivier Trastour (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance
DNF Christophe Mengin (Fra) La Francaise Des Jeux
DNF Loic Lamouller (Fra) Bigmat.Auber 93
DNF Christophe Capelle (Fra) Bigmat.Auber 93
DNF Giosue Bonomi (Ita) Team Colpack-Astro
DNF Miguel Meza (Mex) Team Colpack-Astro
DNF Vladimir Smirnov (Ltu) Team Colpack-Astro
DNF Frédéric Gabriel (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos
DNF Jean Nuttli (Swi) Saint-Quentin Oktos
DNS Christian Charriere (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems
DNS Damien Nazon (Fra) Bonjour

Points

1 Michele Bartoli (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                          25 pts
2 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                          20
3 Denis Lunghi (Ita) Team Colpack-Astro                        16
4 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                               14
5 Markus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                                  12
6 Guido Trenti (USA) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo              10
7 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport                      9
8 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Lotto-Adecco                              8
9 Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                  7
10 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Tacconi Sport-Vini Caldirola            6
11 Denis Menchov (Rus) iBanesto.com                             5
12 Grischa Niermann (Ned) Rabobank                              4
13 Laurent Jalabert (Fra) Team CSC Tiscali                      3
14 Serge Baguet (Bel) Lotto-Adecco                              2
15 Geert Verheyen (Bel) Rabobank                                1

Young rider

1 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                  12.24.37
2 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Domo-Farm Frites                   0.56
3 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Bonjour                             1.33
4 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                       2.41
5 José Ivan Guttierez (Spa) iBanesto.com                     3.31
6 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo         5.31
7 Sandy Casar (Fra) La Francaise Des Jeux                    6.42
8 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole                        10.19
9 Yuriy Krivtsov (Rus) Jean Delatour                        11.12
10 Gorik Gardeyn (Bel) Lotto-Adecco                         15.50
11 Baden Cooke (Aus) La Francaise Des Jeux                  17.30
12 Alexandre Kolobnev (Rus) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo    18.42
13 Ruben Plaza (Spa) iBanesto.com                           19.44
14 Koldo Gil Perez (Spa) iBanesto.com                       20.40
15 Denis Menchov (Rus) iBanesto.com                         21.01
16 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) La Francaise Des Jeux              25.47
17 Matteo Gigli (Ita) Team Colpack-Astro                    33.41
18 Eddy Lembo (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos                     35.06
19 Cristian Pepoli (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport                40.17

General classification after stage 4

1 Michele Bartoli (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                    12.20.42
2 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                        1.11
3 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                             2.05
4 Markus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                                2.12
5 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport                   2.37
6 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Tacconi Sport-Vini Caldirola          3.16
7 Guido Trenti (USA) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo            3.31
8 Grischa Niermann (Ned) Rabobank                            3.45
9 Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems               3.51
10 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                     3.55
11 Laurent Jalabert (Fra) Team CSC Tiscali                   3.56
12 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Domo-Farm Frites                  4.51
13 Frédéric Bessy (Fra) Credit Agricole                      5.11
14 Laurent Brochard (Fra) Jean Delatour                      5.24
15 Jean Cyril Robin (Fra) La Francaise Des Jeux              5.26
16 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Bonjour                            5.28
17 Félix Garcia Casas (Spa) Bigmat.Auber 93                  5.32
18 Geert Verheyen (Bel) Rabobank                             5.35
19 Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Cofidis                              5.42
20 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                   5.57
21 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Ag2R Prevoyance                 6.08
22 Cyril Dessel (Fra) Jean Delatour                          6.10
23 Roger Beuchat (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                6.19
24 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                      6.36
25 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Lotto-Adecco                          6.38
26 Jose Luis Arrieta (Spa) iBanesto.com                      7.02
27 Diego Ferrari (Ita) Tacconi Sport-Vini Caldirola          7.04
28 Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance                7.26
29 José Ivan Guttierez (Spa) iBanesto.com                    7.26
30 Nicola Loda (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                           7.36
31 Roberto Petito (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                        7.36
32 Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                   7.46
33 Bram De Groot (Ned) Rabobank                              7.48
34 Emmanuel Magnien (Fra) Bonjour                            7.55
35 Didier Rous (Fra) Bonjour                                 7.55
36 Denis Lunghi (Ita) Team Colpack-Astro                     8.02
37 Richard Virenque (Fra) Domo-Farm Frites                   8.13
38 Paul Van Hyfte (Bel) Team CSC Tiscali                     8.22
39 Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Domo-Farm Frites                 8.24
40 Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Domo-Farm Frites                8.24
41 Johan Museeuw (Bel) Domo-Farm Frites                      8.24
42 Christophe Brandt (Bel) Lotto-Adecco                      8.31
43 Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Bigmat.Auber 93                         8.35
44 Aitor Osa (Spa) iBanesto.com                              8.36
45 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Mapei-Quick Step                     8.45
46 Jan Svorada (Cze) Lampre-Daikin                           8.48
47 Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo      9.14
48 Mario Cipollini (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo        9.16
49 Gianluca Bortolami (Ita) Tacconi Sport-Vini Caldirola     9.25
50 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo        9.26
51 Gabriele Colombo (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo       9.26
52 Geert Van Bondt (Bel) Team CSC Tiscali                    9.36
53 Reto Bergman (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                 9.52
54 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) iBanesto.com                       9.59
55 Fabio Baldato (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                        10.05
56 Serguei Gontchar (Ukr) Fassa Bortolo                     10.11
57 Alexandre Usov (Blr) Phonak Hearing Systems              10.21
58 Franck Bouyer (Fra) Bonjour                              10.24
59 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Credit Agricole                     10.32
60 Sandy Casar (Fra) La Francaise Des Jeux                  10.37
61 Gabriele Balducci (Ita) Tacconi Sport-Vini Caldirola     10.45
62 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Rabobank                           10.46
63 Tomas Konecny (Cze) Domo-Farm Frites                     10.49
64 Marc Lotz (Ned) Rabobank                                 11.14
65 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport                   11.45
66 Martin Derganc (Slo) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo        11.51
67 Christophe Detilloux (Bel) Lotto-Adecco                  12.21
68 Torsten Nitcshe (Ger) Saeco-Longoni Sport                12.29
69 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole                       14.14
70 Yuriy Krivtsov (Rus) Jean Delatour                       15.07
71 Tristan Hoffman (Ned) Team CSC Tiscali                   16.13
72 Torsten Schmidt (Ger) Gerolsteiner                       16.21
73 Eddy Seigneur (Fra) Jean Delatour                        16.21
74 David Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis                            16.30
75 Raimondas Rumsas (Ltu) Lampre-Daikin                     16.39
76 Serge Baguet (Bel) Lotto-Adecco                          16.49
77 Marco Serpellini (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                     17.52
78 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Bonjour                            17.54
79 Rafael Mateos (Spa) Team Colpack-Astro                   17.55
80 Pierre Bourquenoud (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos             18.06
81 Benoit Salmon (Fra) Phonak Hearing Systems               18.10
82 Thierry Gouvenou (Fra) Bigmat.Auber 93                   18.54
83 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Credit Agricole                  18.57
84 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Cofidis                            18.57
85 Bingen Fernandez Bustinzea (Spa) Cofidis                 18.58
86 Stéphane Goubert (Fra) Jean Delatour                     19.02
87 Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team CSC Tiscali                  19.19
88 Christopher Jenner (NZl) Credit Agricole                 19.26
89 Thierry Loder (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance                      19.35
90 Fabrice Gougot (Fra) Phonak Hearing Systems              19.38
91 Gorik Gardeyn (Bel) Lotto-Adecco                         19.45
92 Arvis Piziks (Lat) Team CSC Tiscali                      20.16
93 Frédéric Mainguenaud (Fra) Bonjour                       20.19
94 Franck Renier (Fra) Bonjour                              20.58
95 Mauro Radaelli (Ita) Tacconi Sport-Vini Caldirola        21.04
96 Luca Paolini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                      21.12
97 Paolo Bossoni (Ita) Tacconi Sport-Vini Caldirola         21.20
98 Baden Cooke (Aus) La Francaise Des Jeux                  21.25
99 Stefan Van Dijck (Ned) Lotto-Adecco                      21.26
100 Marco Zanotti (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                       22.07
101 Stevel Zampieri (Swi) Tacconi Sport-Vini Caldirola      22.19
102 Alexandre Kolobnev (Rus) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo   22.37
103 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Lotto-Adecco                       22.55
104 Ruben Plaza (Spa) iBanesto.com                          23.39
105 Stéphane Berges (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance                   23.40
106 Saulius Ruskys (Ltu) Gerolsteiner                       23.42
107 Milan Kadlec (Cze) Lampre-Daikin                        23.45
108 Matthew Wilson (Aus) La Francaise Des Jeux              23.54
109 Christophe Rinero (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos             24.04
110 Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport        24.34
111 Koldo Gil Perez (Spa) iBanesto.com                      24.35
112 Elio Aggiano (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                     24.50
113 Denis Menchov (Rus) iBanesto.com                        24.56
114 Jimmi Madsen (Den) Team CSC Tiscali                     26.37
115 Tobias Steinhauser (Ger) Gerolsteiner                   29.22
116 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) La Francaise Des Jeux             29.42
117 Jérôme Neuville (Fra) Cofidis                           29.55
118 Alessio Galetti (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport               29.55
119 Fabian De Waele (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                  32.02
120 Angelo Lopeboselli (Ita) Cofidis                        32.08
121 David Latasa Lasea (Spa) iBanesto.com                   33.17
122 Stephane Barthe (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos               33.56
123 Cristian Gasperoni (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo   33.57
124 Rafael Nuritdinov (Uzb) Team Colpack-Astro              35.13
125 Steve De Wolf (Bel) Domo-Farm Frites                    36.23
126 Gianni Faresin (Ita) Gerolsteiner                       36.32
127 Matteo Gigli (Ita) Team Colpack-Astro                   37.36
128 Philippe Gaumont (Fra) Cofidis                          38.20
129 Ellis Rastelli (Ita) Gerolsteiner                       38.50
130 Eddy Lembo (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos                    39.01
131 Sébastien Demarbaix (Bel) Ag2R Prevoyance               41.30
132 Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) La Francaise Des Jeux             41.49
133 Patrick Jonker (Aus) Bigmat.Auber 93                    42.06
134 Nicolaj Bo Larsen (Den) Gerolsteiner                    43.56
135 Cristian Pepoli (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport               44.12
136 Michele Colleoni (Ita) Team Colpack-Astro               45.39
137 Jacky Durand (Fra) La Francaise Des Jeux                46.03

Points classification

1 Michele Bartoli (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                          37 pts
2 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole                           32
3 Mario Cipollini (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo           28
4 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Lotto-Adecco                             28
5 Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo         25
6 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                      24
7 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                          20
8 Guido Trenti (USA) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo              18
9 Gabriele Balducci (Ita) Tacconi Sport-Vini Caldirola         16
10 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Credit Agricole                        16
11 Baden Cooke (Aus) La Francaise Des Jeux                     16
12 Denis Lunghi (Ita) Team Colpack-Astro                       16
13 Marco Zanotti (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                           14
14 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                              14
15 Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Bigmat.Auber 93                           12
16 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Tacconi Sport-Vini Caldirola           12
17 Markus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                                 12
18 Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                10
19 Saulius Ruskys (Ltu) Gerolsteiner                            9
20 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport                     9
21 Zoran Klemencic (Slo) Tacconi Sport-Vini Caldirola           8
22 Jose Luis Arrieta (Spa) iBanesto.com                         7
23 Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Domo-Farm Frites                    5
24 Torsten Nitcshe (Ger) Saeco-Longoni Sport                    5
25 Denis Menchov (Rus) iBanesto.com                             5
26 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Ag2R Prevoyance                    4
27 Alexandre Usov (Blr) Phonak Hearing Systems                  4
28 Grischa Niermann (Ned) Rabobank                              4
29 Laurent Jalabert (Fra) Team CSC Tiscali                      3
30 Emmanuel Magnien (Fra) Bonjour                               2
31 Serge Baguet (Bel) Lotto-Adecco                              2
32 Richard Virenque (Fra) Domo-Farm Frites                      1
33 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Domo-Farm Frites                      1
34 Geert Verheyen (Bel) Rabobank                                1

Mountains classification

1 Richard Virenque (Fra) Domo-Farm Frites                      34 pts
2 Thierry Loder (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance                          26
3 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Mapei-Quick Step                        24
4 Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance                   18
5 Michele Bartoli (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                          10
6 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                      10
7 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                           7
8 Fabrice Gougot (Fra) Phonak Hearing Systems                   7
9 Serguei Gontchar (Ukr) Fassa Bortolo                          6
10 Addy Engels (Ned) Rabobank                                   5
11 Mario Cipollini (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo           5
12 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Cofidis                                5
13 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Ag2R Prevoyance                    5
14 Denis Lunghi (Ita) Team Colpack-Astro                        5
15 Fabio Baldato (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                            4
16 Steve De Wolf (Bel) Domo-Farm Frites                         3
17 Roberto Petito (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                           3
18 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                               3
19 Olivier Trastour (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance                       3
20 Rafael Mateos (Spa) Team Colpack-Astro                       3
21 Marco Zanotti (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                            2
22 Nicola Loda (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                              1
23 Stéphane Berges (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance                        1

Young rider classification

1 Denis Menchov (Rus) iBanesto.com                        3.59.11
2 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step                      0.47
3 José Ivan Guttierez (Spa) iBanesto.com                     1.02
4 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Domo-Farm Frites                   1.04
5 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Bonjour                             2.10
6 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                       2.25
7 Sandy Casar (Fra) La Francaise Des Jeux                    4.22
8 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo         4.37
9 Koldo Gil Perez (Spa) iBanesto.com                         5.19
10 Yuriy Krivtsov (Rus) Jean Delatour                        7.52
11 Ruben Plaza (Spa) iBanesto.com                            7.52
12 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole                       11.14
13 Gorik Gardeyn (Bel) Lotto-Adecco                         11.56
14 Baden Cooke (Aus) La Francaise Des Jeux                  17.09
15 Eddy Lembo (Fra) Saint-Quentin Oktos                     17.09
16 Cristian Pepoli (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport                17.09
17 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) La Francaise Des Jeux              17.31
18 Alexandre Kolobnev (Rus) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo    17.48
19 Matteo Gigli (Ita) Team Colpack-Astro                    19.27