Tour of Catalonia, June 13-20

Preview
Prologue
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 5
Stage 6
Stage 7 and Final GC

Preview

The 76th Tour of Catalonia, which started today with an 8.2km Prologue in the village of Platja dAro, boasts another two time trials in its eight days -- a mountain one (Sunday stage 3) and an ordinary one (Wednesday, Stage 6). The Prologue was won by Alex Zulle (ONCE) in 9.56. Second was Zulle's team-mate Patrick Joncker at 9 secs and third Maurizio Fondriest (Roslotto-ZG Mobili) at 12 secs

Teams taking part include ONCE, led by Alex Zulle and featuring Melchor Mauri; Kelme (Angel Edo); Roslotto-ZG Mobili (Maurizio Fondriest); Francesco Casagrande (Saeco); and GAN team (Eddy Seigneur, Francois Simon, Francis Moreau, Pascal Derame, Laurent Desbiens, Philippe Gaumont, Emmanuel Hubert and Francois Lemarchand).

The other stages:

Stage 1, June 14, Platja dAro--Manresa (190.9km)
Stage 2, June 15, Cavas Segura Viudas--Barcelona (147.1km)
Stage 3, June 16, Martinet--Lies de Cerdanya (13.5km mountain TT)
Stage 4, June 17, Seo de Urgel--Luchon (183km)
Stage 5, June 18, Luchon--Lleida (188.8km)
Stage 6, June 19, Vila Seca--Vila Seca (20.4km time trial)
Stage 7, June 20, Port Aventura--Igualada (177.3km)

Prologue, Platja D'Aro - 8.2km

 1. Alex Zulle (Swi) Once 	  9.56 secs 
 2. Patrick Jonker (Aus) 	+ 0.09 
 3. Maurizio Fondriest (Ita) 	+ 0.12 
 4. Mario Cipollini (Ita) 	+ 0.25 
 5. Marco Saligari (Ita) 	+ 0.27 
 6. Eddy Seigneur (Fra) 	+ 0.29 
 7. Andrea Ciurato (Ita) 	  s.t. 
 8. Marco Fincato (Ita) 	+ 0.31 
 9. Federico Beni (Ita) 	  s.t. 
10. Paolo Saldovelli (Ita) 	+ 0.32

News after the Prologue

The organizers of the Volta a Catalunya are not happy with the way their race has been treated this year. They held a press conference after the Prologue devoted to a denunciation of the way in which teams had promised certain riders and then sent in medical certificates to back up their withdrawal. This is what happened with Saecos Francesco Casagrande and also Roslottos Piotr Ugrumov. Festina were turned away en bloc from the race "after having modified their team roster three times and in the end having presented a C team without the leaders that had been promised."

Even Alex Zulle, fresh back from a heavy training session in the Alps and Pyrenees with team-mate Patrick Jonker, wasn't particularly sanguine. "There are a lot of kilometres to the finish and plenty of climbing," he said, "and since I've put in a lot of effort in the last few days, I could well crack." ONCE directeur sportif Manolo Saiz is not to bothered about holding the lead. "The important thing," he said, "is to see how well hes climbing the cols."

Stage 1 Playa de Aro - Manresa 190,9 km:

 1. Marco Saligari (Ita) MG-Technogym          5.01.21 (38,009 km/h)
 2. Maurizio Fondriest (Ita) Roslotto-ZG          s.t.
 3. Massimiliano Gentili (Ita) Cantina Tollo      s.t.
 4. Alex Zulle (Sch) Once                         s.t.
 5. Roberto Petito (Ita) Saeco                  + 0.03
 6. Bo Hamburger (Den) TVM                        s.t.
 7. Laurent Desbiens (Fra) Gan                  + 0.07
 8. Patrick Jonker (Aus) Once                     s.t.
 9. Andrea Paluan (Ita) Cantina Tollo           + 0.11
10. Marco Fincato (Ita) Roslotto-ZG               s.t.
11. Francois Lemarchand (Fr, GAN)
12. Orlando Rodrigues (Port, Banesto)
13. Ignacio Garcia Camacho (Sp, Kelme-Artiach)
14. Marteen Den Bakker (Neth, TVM)
15. Laudelino Cubino (Sp, Kelme-Artiach)
16. Arzili (It, Cantina Tollo)
17. Andrea Ferrigato (It, Roslotto-ZG Mobili)
18. Herminio Diaz Zabala (Sp, ONCE)
19. Vicente Aparicio (Sp, Banesto)
20. Pumar (It, Brescialat)   			all s.t.

Overall:

 1. Alex Zulle (Sch) Once                      5.11.17
 2. Maurizio Fondriest (Ita) Roslotto-ZG        + 0.12
 3. Patrick Jonker (Aus) Once                   + 0.16
 4. Marco Saligari (Ita) MG-Technogym           + 0.27
 5. Marco Fincato (Ita) Roslotto-ZG             + 0.42
 6. Herminio Diaz Zabala (Spa) Once             + 0.44
 7. Laurent Desbiens (Fra) Gan                  + 0.45
 8. Bo Hamburger (Den) TVM                        s.t.
 9. Roberto Pistore (Ita) MG-Technogym          + 0.46
10. Marcelino Garcia Alonso (Spa) Once          + 0.48

Stage 1 Notes

Alex Zulle made a couple of brisk early attacks. Then 30km from the finish on the colde Montserrat, which includes some 15% stretches, Laudelino Cubino launched an attack that irrevocably split the peloton. Zulle got up to him first, followed by Fondriest, Petito, Hamburger, Jonker, Desbiens and Lemarchand. Inthe suburbs of Monresa, Fondriesttried to get away, but Zulle responded before the uphill finish.

Marco Saligari (It, MG-Technogym) broke clear from a 30-man lead group in the last kilometre to win the 190.9km first stage of the Tour of Catalonia. Maurizio Fondriest (It, Roslotto-ZG Mobili) was second. Alex Zulle (Swi, ONCE) was fourth in the stage and retins his overall lead.

Stage 2, Heredad-Barcelona, 147.1km

 1. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Saeco                 3.33.30
 2. Marcel Wust (Ger) MX Onda
 3. Peter van Petegem (Bel) TVM
 4. Angel Edo (Spa) Kelme-Artiach
 5. Federico De Beni (Ita) Brescialat
 6. Massimiliano Gentili (Ita) Cantina Tollo
 7. Martin Hvastija (Svn) Cantina Tollo
 8. Maurizio Fondriest (Ita) Roslotto-ZG
 9. Rodrigues (Por)
10. Sergei Smetanine (Rus) Santa Clara          all s.t.

Overall:

 1. Alex Zulle (Sch) Once                      8.44.47
 2. Maurizio Fondriest (Ita) Roslotto-ZG        + 0.12
 3. Patrick Jonker (Aus) Once                   + 0.16
 4. Marco Saligari (Ita) MG-Technogym           + 0.27
 5. Marco Fincato (Ita) Roslotto-ZG             + 0.42
 6. Herminio Diaz Zabala (Spa) Once             + 0.44
 7. Laurent Desbiens (Fra) Gan                  + 0.45
 8. Bo Hamburger (Den) TVM                        s.t.
 9. Roberto Pistore (Ita) MG-Technogym          + 0.46
10. Marcelino Garcia Alonso (Spa) Once          + 0.48

Stage 3, Mountain ITT, Martinet - Lles de Cerdanya 13,5 km:

 1. Alex Zulle (Sch) Once                        28.39
 2. Patrick Jonker (Aus) Once                   + 1.09
 3. Marcelino Garcia Alonso (Spa) Once          + 1.37
 4. Marco Fincato (Ita) Roslotto-ZG             + 1.38
 5. Vicente Aparicio (Spa) Banesto              + 1.52
 6. Laudelino Cubino (Spa) Kelme-Artiach        + 1.56
 7. Bo Hamburger (Den) 				+ 2.03 
 8. Massimiliano Gentili (Ita) 			+ 2.23 
 9. Roberto Petito (Ita) 			+ 2.31 
10. Ignacio Garcia (Spa) 			+ 2.43

Overall:

 1. Alex Zulle (Sch) Once                      9.13.26
 2. Patrick Jonker (Aus) Once                   + 1.25
 3. Marco Fincato (Ita) Roslotto-ZG             + 2.20
 4. Marcelino Garcia Alonso (Spa) Once          + 2.48
 5. Bo Hamburger (Den) TVM                      + 2.48
 6. Laudelino Cubino (Spa) Kelme-Artiach        + 2.55
 7. Vicente Aparicio (Spa) 			+ 2:58
 8. Massimiliano Gentili (Ita) 			+ 3:22 
 9. Roberto Petito (Ita) 			+ 3:24 
10. Ignacio Garcia (Spa) 			+ 3:48

Stage 4, La Seu d'Urgell to Superbagneres, 180km

 1. Patrick Jonker (Aus) Once                  5.24.34 (35,124 km/h)
 2. Alex Zulle (Sch) Once                         s.t.
 3. Marco Fincato (Ita) Roslotto-ZG             + 1.20
 4. Massimiliano Gentili (Ita) Cantina Tollo    + 1.26
 5. Laudelino Cubino (Spa) Kelme-Artiach        + 3.02
 6. Roberto Pistore (Ita) MG-Technogym          + 3.43
 7. Bo Hamburger (Den) TVM                        s.t.
 8. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Roslotto-ZG          + 4.13
 9. Marco Saligari (Ita) MG-Technogym           + 4.35
10. Marcelino Garcia Alonso (Spa) Once          + 4.42

Overall:

 1. Alex Zulle (Sch) Once                     14.38.20
 2. Patrick Jonker (Aus) Once                   + 1.05
 3. Marco Fincato (Ita) Roslotto-ZG             + 3.20
 4. Massimiliano Gentili (Ita) Cantina Tollo    + 4.28
 5. Laudelino Cubino (Spa) Kelme-Artiach        + 5.35
 6. Bo Hamburger (Den) TVM                      + 6.11
 7. Marcelino Garcia Alonso (Spa) Once          + 6.47
 8. Roberto Pistore (Ita) MG-Technogym          + 7.20
 9. Marco Saligari (Ita) MG-Technogym           + 8.09
10. Ignacio Garcia Camacho (Spa) Kelme-Artiach  + 8.43.

Stage 4 Report

ONCE amply demonstrated their supremacy in a stage that included four cols: the Canto, Bonaiga, Portillon and the final ascent to Superbagneres. The whole ONCE team (apart from Rincon) was in the 20- man attack that broke clear on the Portillon) after which Alex Zulle's long stretches on the front shook off all contenders apart from his team-mate Patrick Jonker and Fincato. Fincato having been disposed of,

Jonker was dropped by Zulle on the fianl climb but was encouraged by his team-leader to take his wheel. At the line Zulle eased off to offer the stage to the Australian. The first Banesto rider, Jimenez, came in seven minutes down. "In the Tour," said Banesto directeur sportif Jose-Miguel Echavarri, "things will be different. When thy're around Miguel [Indurain] the boys seem more responsible."

Stage 5, Luchon to Lerida, 188km

 1. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Saeco                5.13.47 (36,101 km/h)
 2. Marcel Wust (Ger) MX Onda
 3. Andrea Ferrigato (Ita) Roslotto-ZG
 4. Maurizio Fondriest (Ita) Roslotto-ZG
 5. Peter van Petegem (Bel) TVM
 6. Claudio Camin (Ita) Brescialat
 7. Nicola Loda (Ita) MG-Technogym
 8. Massimiliano Gentili (Ita) Cantina Tollo
 9. Sergei Smetanine (Rus) Santa Clara         all s.t.

Overall:

 1. Alex Zulle (Sch) Once                     19.52.07
 2. Patrick Jonker (Aus) Once                   + 1.05
 3. Marco Fincato (Ita) Roslotto-ZG             + 3.20
 4. Massimiliano Gentili (Ita) Cantina Tollo    + 4.28
 5. Laudelino Cubino (Spa) Kelme-Artiach        + 5.35
 6. Bo Hamburger (Den) TVM                      + 6.11
 7. Marcelino Garcia Alonso (Spa) Once          + 6.47
 8. Roberto Pistore (Ita) MG-Technogym          + 7.20
 9. Marco Saligari (Ita) MG-Technogym           + 8.09

Stage 6, Playa de Pineda - Port Aventura (ITT) 20,4 km:

 1. Alex Zulle (Sch) Once                        22.53 (53,489 km/h)
 2. Patrick Jonker (Aus) Once                   + 0.03
 3. Francis Moreau (Fra) Gan                    + 0.38
 4. Marco Fincato (Ita) Roslotto-ZG             + 1.03
 5. Maurizio Fondriest (Ita) Roslotto-ZG        + 1.09
 6. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Roslotto-ZG          + 1.21
 7. Herminio Diaz Zabala (Spa) Once             + 1.33
 8. Bo Hamburger (Den) TVM                      + 1.35
 9. Roberto Pistore (Ita) MG-Technogym            s.t.
10. Marcelino Garcia Alonso (Spa) Once          + 1.40
11. Marco Saligari (Ita) MG-Technogym           + 1.46
12. Vitor Gamito (Por) MX Onda                  + 1.47
13. Alberto Leanizbarrutia (Spa) Once           + 1.51
14. Pascal Lino (Fra) Roslotto-ZG               + 1.53
15. Alvaro Gonzalez de Galdeano (Spa) Euskadi   + 1.55

Overall:

 1. Alex Zulle (Sch) Once                     20.15.00
 2. Patrick Jonker (Aus) Once                   + 1.08
 3. Marco Fincato (Ita) Roslotto-ZG             + 4.23
 4. Massimiliano Gentili (Ita) Cantina Tollo    + 7.05
 5. Laudelino Cubino (Spa) Kelme-Artiach        + 7.40
 6. Bo Hamburger (Den) TVM                      + 7.46
 7. Marcelino Garcia Alonso (Spa) Once          + 8.27
 8. Roberto Pistore (Ita) MG-Technogym          + 8.55
 9. Marco Saligari (Ita) MG-Technogym           + 9.55
10. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Roslotto-ZG          +10.04
11. Ignacio Garcia Camacho (Spa) Kelme-Artiach  +11.09
12. Herminio Diaz Zabala (Spa) Once             +12.43
13. Vicente Aparicio (Spa) Banesto              +13.58
14. Jose Maria Jimenez (Spa) Banesto            +14.24
15. Andrea Ferrigato (Ita) Roslotto-ZG          +14.50
16. Maurizio Fondriest (Ita) Roslotto-ZG        +15.08
17. Fabrizio Arzilli (Ita) Cantina Tollo        +15.43
18. Omar Pumar (Ven) Brescialat                 +17.56
19. Orlando Rodrigues (Por) Banesto             +18.49
20. Giuseppe Petito (Ita) Saeco                 +18.56

Stage 7, Port Aventura - Igualada 190 km:

 1. Marcel Wust (Ger) MX-Onda                  4.30.27 (42,152 km/h)
 2. Angel Edo (Spa) Kelme-Artiach                 s.t.
 3. Peter van Petegem (Bel) TVM                   s.t.
 4. Claudio Camin (Ita) Brescialat                s.t.
 5. Andrea Ferrigato (Ita) Roslotto-ZG          + 0.02
 6. Sergei Smetanine (Rus) Santa Clara
 7. Bo Hamburger (Den) TVM
 8. Roberto Petito (Ita) Saeco
 9. Massimiliano Gentili (Ita) Cantina Tollo
10. Nicola Loda (Ita) MG-Trchnogym              all s.t.

Final overall:

 1. Alex Zulle (Sch) Once                     24.45.29
 2. Patrick Jonker (Aus) Once                   + 1.08
 3. Marco Fincato (Ita) Roslotto-ZG             + 4.23
 4. Massimiliano Gentili (Ita) Cantina Tollo    + 7.05
 5. Laudelino Cubino (Spa) Kelme-Artiach        + 7.40
 6. Bo Hamburger (Den) TVM                      + 7.46
 7. Marcelino Garcia Alonso (Spa) Once          + 8.27
 8. Roberto Pistore (Ita) MG-Technogym          + 8.55
 9. Marco Saligari (Ita) MG-Technogym           + 9.55
10. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Roslotto-ZG          +10.17
11. Ignacio Garcia Camacho (Spa) Kelme-Artiach  +11.09
12. Herminio Diaz Zabala (Spa) Once             +12.43
13. Vicente Aparicio (Spa) Banesto              +13.58
14. Jose Maria Jimenez (Spa) Banesto            +14.24
15. Andrea Ferrigato (Ita) Roslotto-ZG          +14.50
16. Maurizio Fondriest (Ita) Roslotto-ZG        +15.08