Clasica Alcobendas, Cat 1.4

Spain, May 11, 1997


1996 Results

Race Distance - 184 kms:

  1. Sergei Smetanine (Rus) Cafis Toscaf	4.19.47
  2. Angel Edo (Spa) Kelme
  3. Alexander Gontchenkov (Rus) Roslotto
  4. Giovanni Fidanza (Ita) Saeco
  5. Giancarlo Riamondi (Ita) Brescialat
  6. Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Scrigno
  7. Rafael Dmaz (Spa) Once
  8. Unai Etxeberria (Spa) Euskadi
  9. Miguel Lspez (Spa)
 10. Josi Luis Rubiera (Spa) Kelme               all s.t.

  Other classifications

  Mountains: Josi Jaime "Chepe" Gonzalez (Col) Kelme
  Metas volantes: Michele Zamboni (Ita) Brescialat
  Sprints especiales: Carlos Carneiro (Por) Recer Boavista
  Teams: Cafis Toscaf (Spa)

Report

Russian cyclist Serguei Smetanin from Spanish Team Toscaf, achieved his third victory of the 1997 season when he show his strength against Spaniard Angel Edo's best speed at the Madrid classic disputed today. Smetanin, who spent 4:19:47 in covering the 184 kms., has already won a stage at la Setmana Catalana and another one at la Vuelta a La Rioja, victories which make him one of the fashionable "sprinters" for the Spanish teams. Amateur, Jose Francisco Jarque (Porcelanatto), made the escape of the day and at km. 94 he reached a maximum advantage of 4:20 and was neutralized at km. 159. This adventure of the Spanish cyclist helped give some excitement to an otherwise boring race, due to the control by the sprinter's teams. Until Jarque's escape the race was tranquil and the wind was the only thing worth mentioning when none of the 18 teams wanted to assume responsibility. Jarque's attacked helped so that teams like Kelme (Angel Edo), Banesto (Jeremy Hunt) or Toscaf (Smetanin) would come up front to join forces and bring back the escape, since Jarque is considered an excellent rolleur. In the last kms. of the urban circuit in Alcobendas, Banesto and Kelme were fightinng it out, which turned out to benefit Smetanin, who was favored by the finish which had a slight climb, over Edo and Hunt. A nice finish due to a good group of sprinters that were participating in the race.