Vuelta Ciclista a Aragon, Cat 2.3

Spain, April 16-20, 1997

Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4a
Stage 4b
Stage 5 and Final GC

Preview

Mauri arrives at the race as the favorite, after his victory last week at the Circuit de La Sarthe, where his domination of the time trial allowed him to win the overall. Also present will be Fernando Escartin (Kelme), his teammate Juan Carlos Dominguez. Abraham Olano (Banesto) who continues to prepare for the Tour de France. Also favorite are foreign riders such as: Jan Ullrich (Telekom), Frank Vandenbroucke (Mapei-GB) or Viatcheslav Ekimov (US Postal). Other distinguished riders present will be Andrei Tchmil (Lotto), Jo Planckaert (Lotto) and Gianni Bugno (Mapei-GB).

The teams participating will be: Banesto, Euskadi, Kelme-Costa Blanca, Once, Toscaf-Deportpublic (Spain), Mapei-GB and Scrigno-Gaerne (Italy), Aki (Monaco), Cantina Tollo (Eslovenia), Lotto-Mobistar (Belgium), Lotus-Festina (France), Saeco (San Marino), Telekom (Germany) and US Postal (U.S.).

The route of the race will cover a total of 825 kms.

Race Route

Stage 1: 	Zaragoza-Teruel 194,8 kms.
Stage 2: 	Alcorisa-Binefar 191,8 kms.
Stage 3: 	Binefar-Cerler 165 kms.
Stage 4a: 	Benasque-Monzon 80 kms.
Stage 4b: 	Monzon-Monzon ITT 26,8 kms.
Stage 5: 	Barbastro-Zaragoza 135 kms.

Winners over the last 20 years

1976 Javier Elorriaga (Spa)
1977 Jose Nazabal (Spa)
1978 Jesus Suarez Cuevas (Spa)
1979 Roque Moya (Spa)
1980 Faustino Fernandez Ovies (Spa)
1981 Antonio Coll (Spa)
1982 Carlos Hernandez (Spa)
1983 Pedro Delgado (Spa)
1984 Jose Recio (Spa)
1985 Jose Recio (Spa)
1986 Stefan Joho (SUI)
1987 Anselmo Fuerte (Spa)
1988 Francisco Javier Mauleon (Spa)
1989 Inaki Gaston (Spa)
1990 Nico Emonds (BEL)
1991 Edgar Corredor (Col)
1992 Luis Herrera (Col)
1993 Alfonso Gutierrez (Spa)
1994 Marino Alonso (Spa)
1995 Fernando Escartin (Spa)
1996 Melchor Mauri (Spa)

Stage 1

German cyclist Bert Dietz (Telekom) took advantage of an attack that he launched a little before the one kilometer to go sign and got his season's first win. This way becoming the first leader of la XXXIV Vuelta Ciclista a Aragon. Dietz, two years ago won the 12th stage of la Vuelta a Spaana in Sierra Nevada in which Laurent Jalabert animated him in the last few meters and allowed him to win.

The only ones that paid any attention to the German's attack were Italian Mario Scirea (Saeco) and Spaniard Javier Cerezo (Cafe Toscaf), who followed him to the finish. The peloton was being commanded by Saeco at the time and they went through a moment of doubt which allowed the trio to open a gap in the last kilometer. This first stage disputed between Zaragoza and Teruel over 194 kms. turned out to be boring, since the peloton just rolled along and only accelarated at the end of the stage. The only ones to attempt solitary attacks were German Uwe Peschel (Cantina Tollo) at kilometer 136 and Belgian Bart Leysen (Mapei-GB) at kilometer 140, who reached a 42 second advantage over the fourteen kilometers that his adventure lasted.

Stage 1: Saragossa - Teruel, 194.8 km,

 1. Bert Dietz (Germany) Telekom                    5.04.17
 2. Mario Scirea (Italy) Saeco
 3. Francisco Cerezo (Spain) Toscaf
 4. Erik Zabel (Germany) Telekom
 5. Djamolidin Abdujaparov (Uzbekistan) Lotto
 6. Jo Planckaert (Belgium) Lotto                  all s.t.

Overall after Stage 1:

 1. Bert Dietz (Germany) Telekom                    5.04.17
 2. Eleuterio Anguita (Spain) Toscaf                   s.t.
 3. Mario Scirea (Italy) Saeco                         0.02
 4. Miguel-Angel Pena (Spain) Banesto                  0.04
 5. Francisco Cerezo (Spain) Toscaf
 6. Melchior Mauri (Spain)                         both s.t.  


Other Participants: Ullrich, Olano, Escartin, Cipollini

Stage 2: Alcoriesa - Binefar, 195 km 

 1. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Saeco                     5.13.21
 2. Marcel Wuest (Ger) Festina 
 3. Endrio Leoni (Ita) Aki
 4. Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom
 5. Jeremy Hunt (Gbr) Banesto  
 6. Djamolidin Abdujaparov (Uzb) Lotto  
 7. Tom Steels (Bel) Mapei
 8. Sven Teutenberg (Ger) US Postal
 9. Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Telekom
10. Angel Edo (Spa) Kelme                           all s.t.

Overall after Stage 2:

 1. Bert Dietz (Germany) Telekom                   10.17.29
 2. Eleuterio Anguita (Spain) Toscaf                   0.01
 3. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Saeco                        0.03
 4. Mario Scirea (Italy) Saeco                         0.05
 5. Miguel-Angel Pena (Spain) Banesto                  0.06
 6. Francisco Cerezo (Spain) Toscaf                    0.07
 7. Remigijus Lupeikis (Lit) US Postal
 8. Endrio Leoni (Ita) Aki                         all s.t.     
 9. Brian Holm (Dan) Telekom                           0.08
10. Eddy Gragus (USA) US Postal                        s.t.

Stage 2 Report

Italian sprinter Mario Cipollini (Saeco) achieved his fourth victory of the season when he was the fastest on the second stage of la XXXIV Vuelta a Aragon which was marked by the fall of Melchor Mauri (ONCE), who had to abandon the race. German Bert Dietz (Telekom) was able to remain as overall leader, thanks to three bonus seconds that he earned on an intermediate sprint. Mauri fell together with two other cyclists are kilometer 58, a little before the intermediate sprint at Caspe, after the peloton passed a construction zone. Also involved in the fall were Italian Marco Antonio Di Renzo (Cantina Tollo) and Spaniard Miguel Angel Pena (Banesto) who continued the race, even though he fractured a finger. This 195 kms. stage between Alcorisa and Binefar was characterized by the lack of attacks. All the attempts to escape, were 'token attempts' and didn't superate the 20 seconds. In the last kilometers Saeco and Telekom got in front to work for Cipollini and Zabel respectively. The most important acceleration in the last kms. was by the overall leader, Bert Dietz, who knowing that he would keep the Yellow Jersey, made a last effort for Zabel who had to be content with fourth place.

Catalan cyclist Melchor Mauri (ONCE), the previous winner at la Vuelta a Aragon, has been hospitalized at 3 PM at the Hospital Miguel Servet de Zaragoza after suffering a bad fall during the second stage of la XXXIV Vuelta a Aragon. Melchor Mauri, who started as one of the favorites was the cyclist more affected by the crash which affected a group of cyclists in the first kilometers of the stage.

Stage 3: Binefar - Cerler, 165 km

 1. Mikel Zarabeitia (Spa) Once                      4.46.32
 2. Aitor Garmendia (Spa) Once                         	0.09 (corrected)
 3. Massimo Donati (Ita) Saeco                         	0.10
 4. Fernando Escartin (Spa) Kelme                      	s.t.
 5. Manuel Beltran (Spa) Banesto                       	0.31 (corrected)
 6. Abraham Olano (Spa/Banesto)                    	0.31
 7. Fco. Javier Mauleon (Spa) ONCE                   	0.40
 8. Felix Garcia Casas (Spa) Lotus                 	1.06
 9. Andrea Paluan (Ita) Cantina Tollo              	1.13
10. Juan Carlos Dominguez (Spa) Kelme             	1.13     
11. Claus Moller (Din) Toscaf             		1:13

16. Orlando Rodrigues (Port) Banesto       		1:43
50. Vitor Gamito (Por) Toscaf            	       13:24
58. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Saeco                	       15:09
59. Eric Zabel (Ger) Telekom                   	       15:52
67. Gianni Bugno (Ita) Mapei                   	       19:47

Overall after Stage 3:

 1. Mikel Zarabeitia (Spa) Once                     15.04.04
 2. Aitor Garmendia (Spa) Once                          0.05
 3. Massimo Donati (Ita) Saeco                          0.14
 4. Fernando Escartin (Spa) Kelme                       0.16
 5. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto                         0.37
 6. Manuel Beltran (Spa) Banesto                        0.37
 7. Fco. Javier Mauleon (Spa) ONCE                 	0.46
 8. Felix Garcia Casas (Spa) Lotus               	1:12
 9. Juan Carlos Dominguez (Spa) Kelme            	1:18
10. Claus Moller (Din) Toscaf             		1:19

15. Orlando Rodrigues (Port) Banesto               	1:49
49. Vitor Gamito (Por) Toscaf                          13:30
57. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Saeco                        15:09
58. Eric Zabel (Ger) Telekom                           15:55
70. Gianni Bugno (Ita) Mapei                           20:16

Stage 3 Report

The cyclist from Vizcaya, Mikel Zarrabeitia (ONCE) has become the new overall leader at la XXXIV Vuelta a Aragon when he took the third stage by himself, although with a minimum advantage over his teammate Aitor Garmendia, who's the main favorite for the overall win. After getting over some tiredness, Zarrabeitia launched his final attack a little bit before the final kilometer, surprising Fernando Escartin (Kelme-Costa Blanca), who had carried the weight during the most part of the ascent at Cerler.

Team ONCE once more showed their strength, even though yesterday they went through a low after losing the Melchor Mauri in a fall, who was the favorite to win. The third stage which covered 165 kms. went from Binefar to Cerler, over a route where the cold weather and the rain were protagonist. Today the first serious attack of the stage came right after the mid point by German Marcel Wust (Lotus), who rolled by himself almost 60 kms. and reached a maximum advantage of 4:23 over the peloton. But nobody was betting on the German sprinter, since the peloton was rolling along at a high speed. That's why the ascents over the three category two mountain climbs, Benabarre, Bonansa and Espina, were done all together, until combative Alvaro Gonzalez de Galdeano (Euskadi) launched his attack on the descent of the Espina.

Behind, the riders from Kelme-Costa Blanca, Marcos Serrano and Jose Luis Rubiera tried to reach Gonzalez de Galdeano, plus they tried to make the tempo of the race harder to benefit their teammate Fernando Escartin. At that time German Jan Ullrich (Telekom) jumped from the main group and reached the three escapees, each of which he superated by the time there were 5 kms. of climbing alone, although the tempo imposed by Escartin in the back helped to catch the german quickly and to make the almosr definite final race selection.

The only riders able to respond to Escartin's attack were at first Massimo Donati (Saeco) and Aitor Garmendia, who were later joined by Zarrabeitia, who went through a bad time, but got over it and was able to get the win. Abraham Olano (Banesto) was not able to follow the best and although he's starting to reach a good level he had to be satisfied with sixth place at 31 seconds from the winner, which could allow him to reach the final podium. Two sectors will be disputed tomorrow, the morning one between Benasque and Monzon over 111.6 kms., which should be very fast and in the afternoon an individual time trial of 26.8 kms., which unless there is a surprise on Sunday, should be decisive for the final overall.

The rider from Guipozcoa Aitor Garmendia (ONCE), after arriving second at Cerler at only three seconds from his teammate Mikel Zarrabeitia: "I have felt better than expected". " I was worried about this stage", said Garmendia, "because I haven't been so good in the last few days, but I was pretty strong on the last climb, enough to stay with the best". Garmendia didn't mind working for his teammate Mikel Zarrabeitia, who finished winning the stage. "I have seen that he was coming from behind and I have imposed a tempo so that he could join us and when he joined us, it was Mikel himself who took off, because Escartin wasn't moving". For tomorrow's ITT and after the withdrawal today of Russian Viatjeslav Ekimov (US Postal), Aitor Garmendia is going to be, together with Abraham Olano the main favorites to win the stage.

Stage 4a, Benasque-Monzon, 80 km:

  1. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Saeco               2.00.50
  2. Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom
  3. Sven Teutenberg (Ger) US Postal
  4. Marcel W|st (Ger) Festina
  5. Djamolidine Abdujaparov (Uzb) Lotto
  6. Mirko Rossato (Ita) Sgrigno 
  7. Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Toscaf
  8. Endrio Leoni (Ita) Aki Safi
  9. Jeremy Hunt (Gbr) Banesto
 10. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei         all s.t.

Report

Italian sprinter Mario Cipollini (Saeco) achieved his second stage win at la XXXIV Vuelta a Aragon when he was the fastest at the first sector of stage four which was disputed under cold weather and rain. The stage which was supposed to be disputed between Benasque (where there was rain/snow falling) and Monzon, was neutralized in its first 30 kms., because of possible rock slides, so the riders only rode 80 kms. The stage was controlled by ONCE, while Saeco took over in the final kilometers for their sprinter Cipollini who finished up his teammate's work.

Stage 4b, Monzon - Monzon, 27 km

 1. Aitor Garmendia (Spa) Once                 0.32.41
 2. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto                   0.14
 3. Mikel Zarabeitia (Spa) Once                   0.26
 4. Victor Gamito (Por) Toscaf                    ?
 5. Juan-Carlos Dominguez (Spa)                   1.02
 6. Michelangelo Cauz (Ita) Aki                   1.08
 7. Claus-Michael Moeller (Dan)                   1.29
 8. Jan Ullrich (Ger) Telekom                     1.36
 9. Gianluca Sironi (Ita) Aki                     1.38
10. Uwe Peschel (Ger) Cantina Tollo               1.41

Report

The cyclist from Guipuzcoa, Aitor Garmendia, from Team ONCE, made good the forecasts and achieved the overall lead of the XXXIV Vuelta a Aragon, when he won the 26.8 kms. individual time trial with authority, which was raced in Monzon. In this way, Garmendia achieved his second victory of the season, taking the leader's jersey from his teammate Mikel Zarrabeitia and placed himself as overall leader with a 21 second advantage. Garmendia rolled at over 49 kms/hr over the almost 27 kms. of the stage and came in 14 seconds over Abraham Olano who finished second in the stage. Mikel Zarrabeitia, on his part, proved that the leader's yellow jersey gives wings and attempted to defend his leader's jersey by going all out, finishing third which allowed him to remain in second place in the overall.

Aitor Garmendia, who has finished second in the last two editions has now in his reach the final overall which would be the first stage race victory of his eight year pro career, since tomorrow's stage is considered transitional and unless there is a surprise, it shouldn't influence the overall.

Stage 5, Barbastro - Saragossa, 135 km

 1. Jeremy Hunt (Grb) Banesto                  2.59.47
 2. Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom  
 3. Sergei Smetanine (Rus) Toscaf
 4. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Saeco
 5. Mirko Rossato (Ita) Scrigno
 6. Jose-Ramon Uriarte (Spa) Banesto
 7. Fabien De Waele (Bel) Lotto
 8. Emmanuel Magnien (Fra) Festina
 9. Oskar Camenzind (Sui) Mapei
10. Unai Etxebarria (Ven) Euskadi             all s.t

Final Overall Standings:

 1. Aitor Garmendia (Spa) Once                20.37.27 
 2. Mikel Zarrabeitia (Spa) Once                  0.21
 3. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto                   0.45 
 4. Manuel Beltran (Spa) Banesto                  2.13
 5. Juan-Carlos Dominguez (Spa) Kelme             2.15
 6. Fernando Escartin (Spa) Kelme                 2.27
 7. Francisco-Javier Mauleon (Spa) Once           2.29
 8. Claus-Michael Moeller (Dan)                   2.43
 9. Jan Ullrich (Ger) Telekom                     3.06
10. Massimo Donati (Ita) Saeco                    3.34

Stage 5 Report

Aitor Garmendia (ONCE), who finished second overall in the 1995 and 1996 editions, finally won the overall at la XXXIV Vuelta a Aragon. Together with Garmendia on the podium Mikel Zarrabeitia in second place and Abraham Olano (Banesto) in third, who continues to progress towards the Tour de France. This fifth and last stage was disputed under rain during the 135 kms. between Barbastro and the capital of Aragon. The winner was British Jeremy Hunt (Banesto), who took the greater risks, due to the state of the roads in the last kilometers, getting in Zaragoza his second win of the season.

The stage progressed without surprises and the cyclists finished the stage at an average speed of 40 kms/hr in which only Cesar Solaun (Euskadi) was a protagonist with a 40 kms. escape which reached a gap of two minutes. But his escape was condemned from the start, because the sprinter's teams were not going to allow him to get away. So after Solaun was caught, Saeco took over the peloton to place Mario Cipollini, who already had two stage victories.

The only one with strength to surprise, was Belgian Nico Mattan (Mapei-GB) who attacked with six kilometers to go in the streets of Zaragoza, but was caught by Saeco. The final kilometers were very dangerous due to the road conditions and the winner would have to take risks and it was there that Hunt took advantage of his adversaries and prevented Erik Zabel (Telekom) from winning any stages.