Dutch sprinter Jeroen Blijlevens won the mass sprint ahead of Spaniard Angel Edo and English neo-pro Jeremy Hunt.
There's no suggestion in today's L'Equipe that the stage was reduced to 49.5km as has been reported elsewhere. It gives 82.5km as the distance, which seems reasonable for just over two hours on what was 25 laps of a 3.3km criterium-style circuit around Palma (albeit on a rainy, windy day). The race is "a la carte" -- riders can pick and choose the stages they will ride.
Laurent Jalabert, still recovering from his wrist fracture, avoided the rough and tumble of Sunday's first stage round the houses and will ride one stage in every two, starting with today's stage 2. Meanwhile he is putting in long training rides on the island. Abraham Olano did two laps yesterday and pulled out -- to go off training!
1. Jeroen Blijlevens (Neth, TVM) 2.02.35 2. Angel Edo (Sp, Kelme-Artiach) 3. Jeremy Hunt (GB, Banesto) 4. George Hincapie (USA, Motorola) The Dutch neo-pro Godert de Leeuw, riding for the Foreldorado-team, won the third stage of the Vuelta ciclista a Mallorca in a mass sprint. Francisco Cabello kept his overall lead.Godert de Leeuw (Netherlands, Foreldorado-Golff) outsprinted Rolf Aldag (Germany, Telekom) and Federico Colonna (Mapei-GB) to take the third stage of the Tour of Mallorca, 160.5 km Manacor--Manacor. Francisco Cabello (Sp, Kelme-Artiach) retains the overall lead from compatriot and team-mate Ignacio Garcia Camacho and ONCE's Inigo Cuesto.
Non-starters on the stage: Miguel Indurain and Laurent Jalabert.
Stage 3, Manacor-Manacor 160,5 km:
1. Godert de Leeuw (Ned) Foreldorado-Golff 2. Rolf Aldag (Ger) Telekom 3. Federico Colonna (Ita) Mapei-GB all s.t.Overall:
1. Francisco Cabello (Spa) Kelme-Artiach 7.16.47 2. Ignaco Garcia Camacho (Spa) Kelme-Artiach s.t. 3. Inigo Cuesta (Spa) Once + 0.05 4. Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom + 0.36 5. Angel Edo (Spa) Kelme-Artiach s.t.Fourth stage to Colonna - Olano abandons and Indurain goes home
Federico Colonna won stage 4 of Vuelta a Mallorca in a mass sprint ahead of Jeremy Hunt and Rolf Aldag. Francisco Cabello held on to his overall lead ahead of team mate Ignacio Garcia Camacho.Godert de Leeuw, winner of stage 3, crashed in the last kilometre and was taken to hospital with a broken collarbone.
World champion Abraham Olano abandoned this stage and Miguel Indurain went home to Pamplona.
Stage 4, Cala Rejada-Cala Millor 151,9 km:
1. Federico Colonna (It, Mapei-GB) 155km in 3.25.40 2. Jeremy Hunt (GB, Banesto) 3. Rolf Aldag (Ger, Telekom) 4. Mario Traversoni (It, Carrera) 5. Angel Edo (Sp, Kelme-Artiach) 6. ?? Galvez (Sp, Olympic selection) 7. ?? Aranguren (Sp, Santa Clara-Samara) 8. George Hincapie (USA, Motorola) 9. John Talen (Neth, Foreldorado-Golff)] 10. Blaudzun (Den, Rabobank) all s.t. (132 finishers)Overall
1. Francisco Cabello (Sp, Kelme-Artiach 10.42.27/42pts 2. Ignacio Garcia Camacho (Sp, Kelme-Artiach) s.t./154pts 3. Inigo Cuesta (Sp, ONCE) +5 secs 4. Angel Edo (Sp, Kelme-Artiach) +36 5. George Hincapie (USA, Motorola) 6. Igor Flores (Sp, Euskadi) 7. Rolf Aldag (Ger, Telekom) 8. Bart Leysen (Bel, Mapei-GB) 9. Mariano Rojas (Sp, ONCE) 10. Francisco Benitez (Sp, Kelme-Artiach) all s.t.Stage 4 Report
The weather was cold and windy after a couple of sunny days but the stage was fast -- an average of 45.219kph. A little after the kilometre to go banner, as the sprint wound up, Stage 3 winner Godert De Leeuw (Neth, Forelodrado-Golff) and Euskadi's Asier Guenextea collided, bringing down Melchor Mauri (ONCE) with them.The two Spaniards escaped without injury, but De Leeuw's first "pro" season was brought to a premature halt -- he suffered a broken left collarbone. First and second places were decided by a photo with Mapei's Federico Colonna edging out Banesto's Jeremy Hunt.
Stage 5 Report
Francisco Cabello wins fifth stage and overallFrancisco took his second stage win on Mallorca by winning the fifth stage in great style, over a minute ahead of second-placed Andrea Peron. He also won overall, which was a sort of revenge for him; two years ago he was stripped of his overall win by failing a drug test.
The fifth stage was the first to be disputed on dry roads. Five climbs and a violent wind took their toll; only 57 of the 157 starters finished the stage.
Stage 5, Magaluf-Magaluf 151 km:
1. Francisco Cabello (Spa) Kelme-Artiach 3.41.54 (42,180 km/h) 2. Andrea Peron (Ita) Motorola + 1.09Final Overall:
1. Francisco Cabello (Spa) Kelme-Artiach 14.24.21 2. Ignacio Garcia Camacho (Spa) Kelme-Artiach + 1.13 3. Inigo Cuesta (Spa) Once + 1.18