Prologue, Jardmn del Mar-Hotel La Serena Club Resort, 4,4 km:1. Santiago Botero (Col) Kelme 4.43,87 2. Humer Sousa (Bra) Caloi 4.44,15 3. Rubin Perogmn (Arg) Mendoza 4.44,23 4. Hernandes Quadri (Bra) Caoli 4.45,02 5. Pascal Hervi (Fra) Festina 4.45,93 6. Emilio Carricondo (Arg) Mendoza 4.46,01 7. Marcio Mai (Bra) Caloi 4.46,44 8. Daniel Rogelin ((Bra) Caoli 4.46,50 9. Filix Garcma (Spa) Festina 4.46,57 10. Marco Arriagada (Chi) Ekono 4.47,28 Prologue: Vuelta a ChileColombian Santiago Botero of Kelme-Telecom took the prologue of the Vuelta a Chile and will wear the leader's jersey when today's 151K stage takes off. Botero covered the 4.4K course in 4:38.87 for an average speed of 55.8 kph and validated his coach's training schedule which in just the first two months of the season has seen him ride 6000K in training rides and another 1000K in competition.Botero, 24, who is starting his second year as a pro, finished fourth in the 1996 Vuelta a Chile, behind 3 Festina riders, and has already won twice at this early point in the season. While showing great strength in the flats in both his wins, he is also a solid climber and roulleur, one of the new breed of all-round Colombian rider. Botero, however, was a last minute addition to the Kelme team, replacing another Colombian, Jose "Chepe" Gonzalez, who had to drop the Vuelta because of health problems. Mesa had planned to run Botero with his split squad running in the Colombian Clasico RCN which overlaps with the Vuelta a Chile and is probably glad he didn't. Perhaps the most surprising outcome of the prologue was the relatively weak showing of the Festina and the very strong rides put in by the entire Calois team of Brazil. Taking 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, 15th and 16th, the team seems poised to make a strong run at the Festina and Kelme squads. As for Festina, only Pascal Herve finished in the top ten, holding down the 5th place finish. Not surprising at all was the relatively weak showing of the Chilean riders. Chile's top two stars of the season and in the rankings, Marco Arriagada and Jose Medina finished almost dead even in 10th and 11th in the overall. Today's stage, running from Avenida del Mar to Ovalle, will pass through two KOM point finishes, one in Las Cardas, the other at Recoleta, and will give the peloton an opportunity to select out from among the Festina, Kelme, and Calois riders. As for now, Colombia's Santiago Botero put his early and strong stamp on the leader's jersey. Stage 1, La Serena-Ovalle, 151,5 km:1. Filix Garcma Casas (Spa) Festina 3.43.11 2. Victor Garrido (Chi) Vibrogam + 0.25 3. Simone Zucchi (Ita) Ekono + 0.27 4. Luciano Pabliarini (Bra) Caloi + 0.31 5. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina 6. Luis Sepzlveda (Chi) Curics 7. Darmo Colla (Arg) Mendoza 8. Patrice Halgand (Sch) Festina 9. Jean Philippe Duracka (Fra) Aulnat 63 10. Pascal Hervi (Fra) Festina ------ 13. Rubin Galvan (Spa) Kelme 18. Santiago Botero (Col) Kelme 26. Josi Rodriguez (Spa) Kelme 36. Severo Rodrmguez (Spa) Kelme 37. Hernan Buenahora (Col) Kelme all s.t. Overall:1. Filix Garcma Casas (Spa) Festina 3.45.57 2. Rubin Pegorin (Arg) Mendoza + 0.25 3. Santiago Botero (Col) Kelme + 0.28 4. Huber Souza (Bra) Caloi + 0.28 5. Simone Zucchi (Ita) Ekono + 0.28 6. Daniel Rogelin (Bra) Caloi + 0.29 7. Pascal Hervi (Fra) Festina + 0.30 8. Marcio May (Bra) Caloi + 0.30 9. Marco Arriagada (Chi) Ekono + 0.31 10. Fabian Jeker (Sch) Festina + 0.31 ------- 12. Rubin Galvan (Spa) Kelme + 0.32 18. Severo Rodrmguez (Spa) Kelme + 0.39 23. Hernan Buenahora (Col) Kelme + 0.47 25. Josi Rodrmguez (Spa) Kelme + 0.49 Stage 1 ReportUnfortunately, El Mercurio, Chile's premier newspaper, forgot that the nation's major road race was running and didn't bother reporting about it. However, from other sources we know that stage 1, a 151K stage with some climbing, was won by Spaniard Felix Garcia of Festina. Garcia broke free on the final climb of the day and held off the peloton which stormed across the finish 30 seconds down. The advantage was more than enough to put Garcia in the leader's jersey. The Colombian Santiago Botero continues in third place, two seconds behind the Argentine Ruben Pogorin (Mendoza). Today's stage will be run between Los Vilos and Limache over a distance of 178 kilometers.Stage 2, Los Vilos-Limache, 179,2 km:1. Pascal Hervi (Fra) Festina 4.23.56 2. Laurent Lefebre (Fra) Festina 3. Patrice Halgand (Fra) Festina 4. Simone Zucchi (Ita) Ekono 5. Filix Garcma Casas (Spa) Festina 6. Josi Medina (Chi) Curics 7. Lylian Lebreton (Fra) Festina 8. Fabian Jeker (Sch) Festina 9. Santiago Botero (Col) Kelme all s.t. 10. Marcio May (Bra) Caloi + 1.04 ------ 12. Angel Edo (Spa) Kelme + 1.15 13. Rubin Galvan (Spa) Kelme s.t. 17. Hernan Buenahora (Col) Kelme + 5.21 18. Josi Rodrmguez (Spa) Kelme s.t. 29. Severo Rodrmguez (Spa) Kelme s.t. Overall:1. Filix Garcma Casas (Spa) Festina 8.12.07 2. Pascal Hervi (Fra) Festina + 0.13 3. Simone Zucchi (Ita) Ekono + 0.25 4. Santiago Botero (Col) Kelme + 0.26 5. Patrice Halgand (Fra) Festina + 0.30 6. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina + 0.30 7. Fabian Jeker (Sch) Festina + 0.32 8. Josi Medina (Chi) Curics + 0.32 9. Lylian Lebreton (Fra) Festina + 0.59 10. Marcio May (Bra) Caloi + 1.21 11. Rubin Galvan (Spa) Kelme + 1.33 ------- 14. Angel Edo (Spa) Kelme + 4.00 16. Hernan Buenahora (Col) Kelme + 5.55 17. Josi Rodrmguez (Spa) Kelme + 5.57 20. Severo Rodrmguez (Spa) Kelme + 6.24 KOM: Felix Garcia (Spa-Festina) Sprints: Simone Zucchi (Ita-Ekono) Teams: 1. Festina 24.23.15 2. Kelme 2:24 3. Caloi 11.02 4. Aulnat 63 15.11 Stage 2 reportFrenchman Pascal Herve of Andorra's Festina won the second stage on the Vuelta a Chile as his team consolidated its hold on the leadership jersey.As the stage unfolded the early figure of the stage was Argentine Dario Ramirez of the Chilean ACHS team who opened up a 4 minute lead over the nonchalant peloton. Ramirez, already 15 minutes behind the leaders, caused little worry. As the stage entered the final 50 kilometers, Festina team manager Miguel Moreno sent out the orders to his riders to increase the pace. Despite the secondanry nature of the Vuelta and the low calibre of most of the riders, the stage was raced at a very fast 40.712 Kph. With Festina at the front, and the Kelme tucked in tight behind, the pack quickly swallowed up Ramirez. As the race entered a windy, twisting, and hilly section of the course, the peloton began to shadder under the pressure of the Festina juggernaut. With 15 kilometers to go, Pascal Herve jumped off the front and the Festina boys quickly neutralized the efforts of Kelme's Botero to follow after. This allowed Herve to open up an appreciable lead. "Botero is a dangerous rival", said Moreno, "and we absolutely had to find a way to waste him before we hit the mountains tomorrow. Our goal is to take out seconds on him whenever we can and we were able to do that today. Tomorrow we will see if we were successful in weakening Kelme but I know we won't be able to rest. I'm happier than I was after the prologue but we still have a lot of work to do." Botero, boxed in by the entire Festina squad, and in a small super-peloton of just 19 riders, tried on repeated occassions to sprint out of the group and catch Herve. The constant attacks and neutralizations, however, did serve to reduce Herve's lead to a manageable 8 seconds, with an additional 10 seconds of stage bonus time. The real problem, according to Herve, is the time trial. "According to our coach, and given what he did in the prologue, Botero is a very strong time trialler and we need to have a good advantage going into the ITT. And little by little, we are achieving that advantage." Meanwhile, Spaniard Felix Garcia finished the stage with the group of 8 chasers and held his leader jersey for another day. With two consecutive stage wins and the top two positions in the overall, Festina is on the verge of making the Vuelta a Chile their private preserve for the second year running. Stage 31. Laurent Lefevre (FRA, Festina) 4.18:00 2. Patrice Halgand (FRA, Festina) 0.04 3. Angel Edo (ESP, Kelme) 0.06 4. Fabian Jeker (SUI, Festina) 0.10 5. Marcio May (BRA, Caloi) 6. Lylian Lebreton (FRA, Festina) s.t. 7. Jean Pierre Bourgeot (FRA, Aulnat 63) 1.23 8. Pascal Herve (FRA, Festina) 9. Felix Garcia Casas (FRA, Festina) 10. Santiago Botero (COL, Kelme) all s.t. GC after Stage 31. Laurent Lefevre (FRA, Festina) 12.30:36 2. Patrice Halgand (FRA, Festina) 0.03 3. Fabia Jeker (SUI, Festina) 0.14 4. Lylian Lebreton (FRA, Festina) 0.40 5. Felix Garcia Casas (ESP, Festina) 0.53 6. Marcio May (BRA, Caloi) 0.59 7. Pascal Herve (FRA, Festina) 1:04 8. Santiago Botero (COL, Kelme) 1:20 9. Jose Medina (CHI, Curico) 1:26 10. Angel Edo (ESP, Kelme) 3:37 Teams: 1. Festina (Andorra) 37.17.41 2. Kelme (Espana) 37.35.28 3. Caloi (Brasil) 37.57:01 4. Union Ciclista Curico (Chile) 38.00:59 5. Aulnat 63 (Francia) 38.02:22 Stage 4, Santiago de Chile1. Angel Edo (ESP, Kelme) 5h.00.07 2. Jean Phillippe Duracka (FRA, Aulnat 63) 5h.00.11 3. Victor Garrido (CHI, Ekono) 5h.00.13 4. Patrick Halband (SUI, Festina) 5h.00.17 5. Juan Aguirre (CH, Chillan) 6. Dario Colla (ARG, Mendoza) 7. Pascal Herve (FRA, Festina) 8. Cristian Gaete (CHI, Loto) 9. Alvaro Munoz (CHI, Curico) 10. Juan Fierro (CHI, Los Angeles) 11. Santiago Botero (COL,Kelme) 12. Jean Pierre Bourgeot (FRA, Aulnat) 13. Jean Pierre Duracka (FRA, Aulnat) 14. Rafael Vallas (FRA, Aulnat) 15. Daniel Robelin (BRA,Caloi) 16. Marcio May (BRA, Caloi) 17. Hernandes Guadri (BRA, Caloi) 18. Glaubert Souza (BRA, Caloi) 19. Valdir Lermen (BRA, Caloi) 20. Luciano Pagliarini (BRA, Caloi) 21. Felix Garcia (ESP, Festina) 22. Fabian Jeker (SUI, Festina) 23. Lauren Lefevre (FRA, Festina) 24. Lylian Lebreton (FRA, Festina) 25. Severo Rodriguez (ESP, Kelme) 26. Ruben Galvan (ESP, Kelme) 27. Hernan Buenahora (COL, Kelme) all s.t. GC after Stage 41.Lauren Lefevre (FRA, Festina) 17h.30.53 2.Patrick Halgand (SUI,Festina) 17h.30.56 3.Fabian Jeker (SUI, Festina) 17h.31.06 4. Lilyan Lebreton (FRA, Festina) 17h.31.33 5. Felix Garcia (ESP, Festina) 17h.31.45 6. Marcio May (BRA, Caloi) 17h.31.52 7. Pascal Herve (FRA, Festina) 17h.31.57 8. Santiago Botero (COL,Kelme) 17h.32.13 9. Jose Medina (CHI,Curico) 17h.32.19 10. Angel Edo (ESP, Kelme) 17h.34.20 11. Juan Aguirre (CHI, Chillan) 17h.35.08 12. Jean Pierre Bourgeot (FRA, Aulnat) 17h.38.13 16. Ruben Galvan (ESP, Kelme) 17h.46.34 17. Rafael Vallas (FRA, Aulnat) 17h.49.24 18. Hernan Buenahora (COL, Kelme) 17h.50.36 Team's Classification1. Festina Watches (France) 39h.24.02 2. Kelme (Espana) 39h.26.29 3. Caloi (Brasil) 39h.35.08 4. Union Ciclista Curico (Chile) 39h.37.44 5. Aulnat (Francia) 39h.39.17 6. Ekono (Chile) 39h.39.40 7. Vibrobam (Chile) 39h.41.13 8. Chillan (Chile) 39h.42.08 9. Isla de maipo (Chile) 39h.53.26 10. Mendoza (Argentina) 39h.54.45 11. Loto (Chile) 40h.01.83 12. Copiapo (Chile) 40h.03.57 13. Los Angeles (Chile) 40h.16.46 14. Paty Mountain (Chile) 40h.47.20 Stage 4 ReportSpaniard Angel Edo, of Kelme, took the fourth stage of the Vuelta a Chile while Festina placed Santiago Botero, their last perceived threat to the overall title, under strict control. With five of the top placings and only the ITT stage presenting a significant threat to their hold on first, Festina appears to have this year's Vuelta well in hand.The stage was slow as Festina placed Kelme and Botero under close watch. Numerous sprint bonuses were granted to members of the peloton and several escapes were given the blessing of the Festina juggernaut. It was two Chileans, Nelson Pacheco and Maximo Valdes, who finally took advantage of the slow pace to spring free and stay out for nearly 100 kilometers, reaching a ten minute lead over the pack. Nonetheless, with 40K to go, Kelme and two Chilean teams, Ekono and Isla de Maipo, moved to the front and ratcheted the speed up over 50kph. The escapees were quickly caught, absorbed, and then spit out the pack as the pack hammered towards Curico. As the finish neared the pack broke into a sprint, the Festina boys holding back slightly, and Edo pipped Jean Philippe Duracka (Fra-Aulnat 63) at the line. "Our strategy worked", stated team leader Laurent Lefevre. "We need to keep at least 50 seconds up on Botero, who is very strong in the time trial. As long as we keep him more than a minute back, we will win. So we kept him under tight defense, allowing others to break out of the pack to take the time bonuses in the sprints." Stage 5, San Javier-Chillan, 139 km:1. Simone Zucchi (Ita) Ekono) 3 27.05 2. Angel Edo (Spa) Kelme + 0.04 3. Jean Phillippe Duracka (Fra) Aulnat 63 + 0.06 4. Anbel Pirez (Chi) Isla de Maipo + 0.10 5. Luciano Pagliarini (Bra) Caloi 6. Lylian Lebreton (Fra) Festina 7. Luis Sepzlveda (Chi) Curics 8. Daniel Robelin (Bra) Caloi 9. Vmctor Garrido (Chi) Ekono 10. Richard Rodrmguez (Chi) Curics all s.t. Overall after Stage 5:1. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina 20.58.08 2. Patrice Halgand (Sch) Festina + 0.03 3. Fabian Jeker (Sch) Festina + 0.13 4. Lylian Lebreton (Fra) Festina + 0.40 5. Filix Garcma (Spa) Festina + 0.52 6. Marcio May (Bra) Caloi + 0.59 7. Pascal Herve (Fra) Festina + 1.04 8. Santiago Botero (Col) Kelme + 1.20 9. Josi Medina (Chi) Curics + 1.30 10. Angel Edo (Spa) Kelme + 3.21. Stage 6a, Pemuco-Yungay (ITT), 19,6 km:1. Rubin Pegormn (Arg) Mendoza) 25.06 (46,85 km/h) 2. Fabian Jeker (Sch) Festina) s.t. 3. Santiago Botero (Col) Kelme) 25.19 4. Filix Garcma Casas (Spa) Festina) 25.25 5. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina) 25.32 6. Patrice Halgand (Fra) Festina) 26.03 7. Josi Medina (Chi) Curics) 26.07 8. Marcio May (Bra) Caloi) 26.08 9. Pascal Hervi (Fra) Festina) 26.09 10. Daniel Rogelin (Bra) Caloi) 26.15. Overall:1. Fabian Jeker (Sch) Festina) 21.23.27 2. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina) + 0.13 3. Patrice Halgand (Fra) Festina) + 0.47 4. Filix Garcma Casas (Spa) Festina) + 0.58 5. Santiago Botero (Col) Kelme) + 1.20 6. Marcio May (Bra) Caloi) + 1.48 7. Pascal Hervi (Fra) Festina) + 1.54 8. Josi Medina (Chi) Curics) + 2.14 9. Lylian Lebreton (Fra) Festina) + 2.22 10. Angel Edo (Spa) Kelme) + 4.49. Teams overall:1.- Festina (France) 63.58.52 2.- Kelme (Spain) 64.24.25 3.- Caloi (Brazil) 64.47.35 4.- Aulnat 63 (France) 64.50.45 5.- Unisn Ciclista Curics (Chile) 64.55.23 6.- Chillan (Chile) 64.59.38 7.- Vibrogam (Chile) 64.59.58 8.- Ekono (Chile) 65.05.02 9.- Isla de Maipo (Chile) 65.22.23 10.- Mendoza (Argentina) 65.22.41 11.- San Fernando (Chile) 65.48.33 12.- Copiaps (Chile) 65.53.17 13.- Los Angeles (Chile) 66.09.24 14.- Paty Mountain (Chile) 66.42.55. Stage 6b, Pemuco-Concepcisn, 129,8 km:1. Patrice Halgand (Sch) Festina 3.01.57 2. Darmo Coya (Arg) Mendoza + 0.02 3. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina + 4.12 4. Angel Pirez (Chi) Isla de Maipo) + 4.15 5. Angel Edo (Spa) Kelme 6. Jean Philippe Duracka (Fra) Aulnat 7. Simone Zucchi (Ita) Ekono 8. Glaubert Souza (Bra) Caloi 9. Rubin Galvan (Spa) Kelme 10. Pascal Hervi (Fra) Festina all s.t. Overall:1. Patrice Halgand (Fra) Festina 24.26.11 2. Fabian Jeker (Sch) Festina + 3.24 3. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina + 3.38 4. Filix Garcma Casas (Spa) Festina + 4.25 5. Santiago Botero (Col) Kelme + 4.45 6. Marcio May (Bra) Caloi + 5.15 7. Pascal Hervi (Fra) Festina + 5.21 8. Josi Medina (Chi) Curics + 5.21 9. Lylian Lebreton (Fra) Festina + 5.49 10. Angel Edo (Spa) Kelme + 8.16 Stage 7, San Pedro-Los Angeles, 141,5 km:1. Simone Zucchi (Ita) Ekono 3.04.04 2. Angel Edo (Spa) Kelme 3. Victor Garrido (Chi) Vibrogam 4. Jean Philippe Duracka (Fra) Aulnat 5. Patrice Halgand (Fra) Festina 6. Pascal Hervi (Fra) Festina 7. Rubin Galvan (Spa) Kelme 8. Fabian Jeker (Sch) Festina 9. Filix Garcma Casas (Spa) Festina 10. Richard Rodrmguez (Chi) Curics 11. Juan Aguirre (Chi) Chillan 12. Lilyan Lebretsn (Fra) Festina 13. Santiago Botero (Col) Kelme 14. Luis Sepzlveda (Chi) Curics 15. Jean Pierre Duracka (Fra) Aulnat 17. Darmo Colla (Arg) Mendoza 18. Marcio May (Bra) Caloi 19. Steve Clausse (Fra) Aulnat 20. Valdir Lermen (Bra) Caloi 21. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina all s.t. Overall:1. Patrice Halgand (Fra) Festina 27.30.25 2. Fabian Jeker (Sch) Festina + 3.27 3. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina + 3.38 4. Filix Garcma (Spa) Festina + 4.25 5. Santiago Botero (Col) Kelme + 4.47 6. Marcio May (Bra) Caloi + 5.15 7. Pascal Hervi (Fra) Festina + 5.21 8. Josi Medina (Chi) Curics + 5.41 9. Lilyan Lebretsn (Fra) Festina + 5.49 10. Angel Edo (Spa) Kelme + 8.10 11. Juan Aguirre (Chi) Chillan + 8.59 12. Patricio Aedo (Chi) Vibrogam + 19.04 13. Simone Zucchi (Ita) Ekono + 19.51 14. Juan Fierro (Chi) Vibrogam + 21.34 15. Rubin Galvan (Spa) Kelme + 23.40 16. Glauber Souza (Bra) Caloi + 24.26 17. Hernandes Quadri (Bra) Caloi + 24.46 19. Rafael Vallas (Fra) Aulnat + 25.55 20. Jean Philippe Duracka (Fra) Aulnat + 26.40 21. Hernan Buenahora (Col) Kelme + 26.59 22. Severo Rodrmguez (Spa) Kelme + 27.26 Stage 7 ReportItalian Simone Zucchi, from Chilean Team Ekono, won today the seventh stage of the XX Vuelta Ciclista a Chile and Frenchman Patrice Halgand, from Festina, remains the overall leader. Zucchi, finished the 141.5 kms. from San Pedro to Los Angeles in 3:04:04. Second place went to Spaniard Angel Edo, from Team Kelme, who finished four seconds behind and third for Chilean Victor Garrido, from Team Vibrogam, at six seconds.Stage 8, Bulnes-San Javier, 167.3 km:1. Angel Pirez (Chi) Isla de Maipo 4.14.17 2. Patrice Halgand (Fra) Festina 3. Simone Zucchi (Ita) Ekono 4. Jean Pierre Duracka (Fra) Aulnat 5. Rubin Galvan (Spa) Kelme 6. Juan Aguirre (Chi) Chillan 7. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina 8. Victor Garrido (Chi) Vibrogam 9. Pascal Hervi (Fra) Festina 10. Fitzgerald Palma (Chi) Copiaps 11. Filix Garcma (Spa) Festina ---------- 14. Fabian Jeker (Sch) Festina 30. Lylian Lebretsn (Fra) Festina 31. Steve Clausse (Fra) Aulnat 32. Jean Philippe Duracka (Fra) Aulnat 33. Rafael Vallas (Fra) Aulnat 35. Angel Edo (Spa) Kelme 36. Severo Rodrmguez (Spa) Kelme all s.t. Overall:1. Patrice Halgand (Fra) Festina 31.44.46 2. Fabian Jeker (Sch) Festina + 3.33 3. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina + 3.44 4. Filix Garcia (Spa) Festina + 4.31 5. Santiago Botero (Col) Kelme + 4.53 6. Marcio May (Bra) Caloi + 5.21 7. Pascal Hervi (Fra) Festina + 5.27 8. Josi Medina (Chi) Curics + 5.47 9. Lylian Lebretsn (Fra) Festina + 5.55 10. Angel Edo (Spa) Kelme + 8.16 ----------- 13. Simone Zucchi (Ita) Ekono + 19.52 15. Rubin Galvan (Spa) Kelme + 23.46 19. Rafael Vallas (Fra) Aulnat + 26.01 20. Jean Philippe Duracka (Fra) Aulnat + 26.46 22. Severo Rodrmguez (Spa) Kelme + 27.32 29. Jean Pierre Duracka (Fra) Aulnat + 29.42 36. Steve Clausse (Fra) Aulnat + 34.32 Teams overall:1. Festina (France) 95.06.48 2. Kelme (Spain) 95.33.00 3. Caloi (Brazil) 95.52.55 4. Curics (Chile) 95.59.23 5. Aulnat-63 (France) 96.03.34 Stage 8 ReportChilean Angel Perez, from Team Isla de Maipo, won today the eight stage of la XX Vuelta Ciclista a Chile, and Frenchman Patrice Halgand, from Festina, second, retains the overall lead. Perez, who gave Chile their first victory at this edition of la vuelta, finished with a time of 4:14:17 for the 167.3 kms between Bulnes and San Javier, 300 kms. from Santiago, with an average speed of 39.450 kms/hr. Behind Perez and Halgand came Simone Zucchi, from Team Ekono and Frenchman Jean Pierre Duracka, from Team Aulnat-63. Festina retains the first place in the Team competition followed by Kelme and Caloi.Stage 9, Pelarco-Rengo, 176,1 km (with bonuses):1. Hernandes Quadri (Bra) Caloi 4.09.51 (42,261 km/h) 2. Angel Pirez (Chi) Isla de Maipo + 0.08 3. Jean Philippe Duracka (Fra) Aulnat + 0.10 4. Simone Zucchi (Ita) Ekono + 0.14 5. Victor Garrido (Chi) Vibrogam 6. Patrice Halgand (Fra) Festina 7. Pascal Hervi (Fra) Festina 8. Hernan Buenahora (Col) Kelme 9. Fitzgerald Palma (Chi) Copiaps 10. Sven Harms (Chi) Team Paty 11. Santiago Botero (Col) Kelme 12. Filix Garcma (Spa) Festina ----- 14. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina 19. Fabian Jeker (Sch) Festina 30. Severo Rodrmguez (Spa) Kelme 32. Lylian Lebretsn (Fra) Festina all s.t. Overall:1. Patrice Halgand (Fra) Festina 35.54.51 2. Fabian Jeker (Sch) Festina + 3.33 3. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina + 3.44 4. Filix Garcma (Spa) Festina + 4.31 5. Santiago Botero (Col) Kelme + 4.53 6. Marcio May (Bra) Caloi + 5.21 7. Pascal Hervi (Fra) Festina + 5.27 8. Josi Medina (Chi) Curics + 5.47 9. Lylian Lebretsn (Fra) Festina + 5.55 10. Juan Aguirre (Chi) Chillan + 9.01 ----- 17. Rubin Galvan (Spa) Kelme + 26.32 19. Hernan Buenahora (Col) Kelme + 27.05 20. Severo Rodrmguez (Spa) Kelme + 27.32. Stage 9 ReportA weary and beaten peloton made its way into Rengo, Chile, as the Brazilian Hernandez Quadri of the Caloi squad edged out stage eight winner, Angel Perez and Aulnat 53's Jean Philippe Duracka (Fra) in a mass sprint. Of the 83 riders who started the Vuelta, only 56 made it to Rengo, 81 kilometers from the end of the Vuelta. Two hard and mass crashes in stage eight sent two Chilean riders to the hospital and led directly to the abandonment of Spaniard's Jose Rodriguez and Angel Edo along with 5 other cyclists. The tenth and final stage, a tough climb through the Andes with 11 passes is likely to add to the number of abandons and lead to a small but determined peloton which will finally enter Santiago, Chile. Team Festina, and its leader Patrice Halgand of France, are virtually guaranteed a win with Colombia's Santiago Botero nearly 5 minutes down and with Kelme reduced to only 4 riders. But if any change is going to happen, it will have to occur tomorrow becuase Chile's 20th Vuelta, a boring and drab affair with little climbing, will finally draw to an end.Stage 10, Circuit in Vicatura, 81,4 km:1. Lylian Lebretsn (Fra) Festina 2.00.48 2. Pascal Hervi (Fra) Festina 3. Filix Garcma (Spa) Festina 4. Patrice Halgand (Fra) Festina all s.t. 5. Josi Medina (Chi) Curics + 3.34 6. Hernan Buenahora (Col) Kelme s.t. 7. Santiago Botero (Col) Kelme + 4.58 8. Marcio May (Bra) Caloi + 6.16 9. Severo Rodrmguez (Spa) Kelme 10. Juan Fierro (Chi) Vibrogam 11. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina all s.t. 12. Rafael Vallas (Fra) Aulnat + 6.26 Final overall:1. Patrice Halgand (Fra) Festina 37.55.47 2. Filix Garcma (Spa) Festina + 04.25 3. Pascal Hervi (Fra) Festina + 05.17 4. Lylian Lebretsn (Fra) Festina + 05.47 5. Josi Medina (Chi) Curics + 09.13 6. Santiago Botero (Col) Kelme + 09.43 7. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Festina + 09.49 8. Marcio May (Bra) Caloi + 11.26 9. Juan Aguirre (Chi) Chillan + 20.49 10. Simone Zucchi (Ita) Ekono + 26.23 11. Juan Fierro (Chi) Vibrogam + 27.45 12. Hernan Buenahora (Col) Kelme + 30.31 13. Luis Sepzlveda (Chi) Curics + 31.35 14. Rafael Vallas (Fra) Aulnat + 32.19 15. Severo Rodrmguez (Spa) Kelme + 33.37 Teams overall:1. Festina (France) 113.39.57 2. Kelme (Spain) + 40.27 3. Curics (Chile) + 1.13.18 4. Caloi (Brazil) + 1.27.09 5. Aulnat-63 (France) + 1.34.27 6. Vibrogam (Chile) + 1.38.56 7. Ekono (Chile) + 1.39.41 8. Chillan (Chile) + 1.44.47 9. Isla de Maipo (Chile) + 2.51.39 10. Team Paty (Chile) + 4.26.29 Other classifications/h3>
|