Euskai Bizikleta/Bicicleta Vasca, Cat. 2.2

Spain, May 21-25 1997

1996 Results 

Preview
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4a
Stage 4b
Stage 5 and final GC

Preview

Miguel Indurain will theorically be wearing the number 1 for the next edition of the "Euskal Bizikleta-Bicicleta Vasca", which will be raced between May 21 and 25. Since the Navarran ex-cyclist, winner of the last edition will be paid homage in this way. The organization decided to leave number "1" unused and to start with number 2. The rider to wear number 2 will be Abraham Olano, one of the favorites, not only because he will be racing at home -the first stage finishes in the town where he was born, to honor the ex-World Champion- but also because of his excellent form, which he has shown at la Vuelta a Asturias. Also riding will be Bjarne Riis, which should create an excellent duel, specially before the Tour de France, which will their main objective. There will be a total of 17 teams, with the absence of the Italians which will be at the Giro.

In terms of the route, it will be one typical for this race, with 741 kms. full of mountain difficulties, five stages, with one of them divided in two sectors, three mountain top finishes, which won't give the sprinters many chances and one individual time trial, over 20.3 kms., which will be raced on the penultimate day. 

STAGE 1, Wednesday 21: Eibar-Anoeta, 160 kms., with
the climbs of Udana and Meagas, category 3.

STAGE 2, Thursday 22: Anoeta-Santuario de Oro, 172.9
kms., with the climbs of los Altos de Liernia, a
category 3, Otzaurte (2nd), Opakua (1st), Azazeta
(3rd) and Santuario de Oro (3rd) where the finish line
will be located.

STAGE 3: Friday 23: Murguia-Mendexa, 180.1 kms., with
the climbs of Bikotz (2nd), Autzagane (3rd), Morga
(3rd), Sollube (2nd), Natxitua (3rd), Milloi (3rd) and
Mendexa (3rd), where the finish line will be located.

STAGE 4, Saturday 24: 
First Sector: Lekeitio-Abadiqo, 101 kms., climbs of
San Miguel (2nd), Gantxerugane (3rd) and Bizkaiko Bira
(3rd).
Second Sector: Elorrio-Matiena, 20.300 kms. (ITT)

STAGE 5, Sunday 25: Durango-Alto de Arrate, 106.7
kms., climbs of S.Trokas (3rd), Elgeta (2nd), Ixua
(1st), Trabakua (3rd), Areitio (3rd) and Usartza
(1st), from where they will climb a false flat to the
finish.

The stages:

May 21 Stage 1  Eibar-Anoeta 			160 kms 
May 22 Stage 2  Anoeta-Santuario de Oro 	172.9 kms
May 23 Stage 3  Murguia-Mendexa 		180.1 kms
May 24 Stage 4a Lekeitio-Abadino		101 kms
       Stage 4b Elorrio-Matiena (Time Trial)    20.3 kms
May 25 Stage 5  Durango-Alto de Arrate		106.7 kms

21 Cols to be climbed in all

Stage 1, Eibar-Anoeta, 160 kms:

 1. Givanni Lombardi (Ita) Telecom	4h.08:15
 2. Christophe Capelle (Fra) Cofidis
 3. Federico Colonna (Ita) Asics
 4. Alessio di Basco (Ita) Saeco
 5. Henk Vogels (Bel) Gan
 6. Francesco Arazzi (Ita) Roslotto
 7. Igor Flores (Spa) Euskadi
 8. Marco Zanotti (Ita) Roslotto
 9. Sebastian Hinault (Fra) Gan
10. Michele Zamboni (Ita) Brescialat

35. Giovanni Fidanza (Ita) Saeco
41. Luca Gelfi (Ita) Brescialat
43. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto
50. Fernando Escartin (Spa) Kelme
53. Bjarne Riis (Den) Telekom
60. Udo Bolts (Ger) Telekom                                          
65. Stefano Della Santa (Ita) Mercatone
85. Giorgio Furlan (Ita) Saeco                 
92. Santiago Blanco (Spa) Banesto                
115. Tony Rominger (Swi) Cofidis

Report

Giovanni Lombardi, Italian rider of Team Telekom, won the sprint on the first stage of the 7th edition of la Bicicleta Vasca. Lombardi, achieved in this way his second victory of the season, with the luxury of teammates Bjarne Riis and Jan Ullrich launching him. Ullrich got in front with more than one kilometer to go and then let Riis be the one to take Lombardi to 400 meters from the finish. The breakaway of the day was 137 kms. long by David Garcia (Euskadi) & Frankie Andreu (Cofidis) from km. 20 to 157. They reached a maximum advantage of 5:17 at km. 98 which went down thanks to the work of Banesto.

In the last kilometers there was also another attempt by six riders: Abraham Olano & Santi Blanco (Banesto), Rafael Diaz Justo (ONCE), Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (Euskadi), Fabrizio Settembrini (Mercatone) & Stephane Goubert (Cofidis). They reached an advantage of 12 seconds at six kms. from the finish, but their lack of cooperation -only Banesto's riders showed any interest- caused them to be caught by the peloton.

Stage 2, Anoeta-Santuario de Oro, 172.9 kms:

 1. Santiago Blanco (Spa) Banesto) 	4.28:31.
 2. Tony Rominger (Swi)            	0.11
 3. Abraham Olano (Spa)                 
 4. Bjarne Riis (Den)               
 5. Fernando Escart n (Spa)             
 6. Daniel Clavero (Spa)                
 7. Rafael Diaz (Spa)                
 8. Alberto Lopez Munain (Spa)         
 9. Cesar Solaun (Spa)                
10. Stefano Della Santa (Ita)     	0.17

16. Giorgio Furlan (Ita) Saeco          0.25
21. Luca Gelfi (Ita) Brescialat         0.43
26. Jan Ullrich (Ger) Telekom       	0.57
74. Udo Bolts (Ger) Telekom       	2:26
99. Giovanni Fidanza (Ita) Saeco	3:45

GC after Stage 2

 1. Santiago Blanco (Spa) Banesto    8.36:46
 2. Abraham Olano (Spa)             	0.11
 3. Daniel Clavero (Spa)               
 4. Fernando Escartin (Spa)             
 5. Bjarne Riis (Den)               
 6. Alberto Lopez Munain (Spa)          
 7. Cesar Solaun (Spa)                
 8. Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa)            
 9. Tony Rominger (Swi)                
10. Stefano Della Santa (Ita)  		0.17

15. Giorgio Furlan (Ita) Saeco		0.25
21. Luca Belfi (Ita) Brescialat		0.43
29. Jan Ullrich (Ger) Telekom		0.57
76. Udo Bolts (Ger) Telekom		2:26
99. Giovanni Fidanza (Ita) Saeco	3:45

Stage 2 Report

Spaniard Santiago Blanco (Banesto) took over the first place in the general classification of la Bicicleta Vasca when he won on Thursday the second stage which was ridden over 172,9 km between Anoeta & Santuario de Oro. Blanco, who achieved his 1st victory of the season & the 3rd of his career, reached the finish alone, after surprising the favorites in the last km., finishing ahead of Tony Rominger by 11 sec. The stage was also marked by a six man breakaway from km 39, which lasted until 25 km before the finish. the escape was caught on the ascent to the cat 1, climb of Opakua. A small group of stars -amongst them, Abraham Olano, Fernando Escartin, Bjarne Riis & Rominger- distinguished themselves on the tough final finish, with slopes of up to 14%, before they were surprised by Blanco. The 3rd stage, will be disputed on Friday, over 101 km between Murgia and the 3rd category climb of Mendexa, in Lekeitio.

Interview with Winner

Santi Blanco (Banesto), new leader of la Bicicleta Vasca'97 said today that it would br "difficult" to win the race, so if he loses the leader's blue jersey, he would dedicate himself to "helping" Abrahan Olano, his team leader. Blanco thanked "the team for their effort", during today's stage, which helped him to win the stage. "I owe this victory to the tean and that's why I dedicate it to them", he said. Blanco had complimentary words for Olano. "He is a great rider, he has blocked for me and I was able to take advantage" "I knew the climb from other years, when I was amateur and at the bottom, I tried to regulate things a bit, but when there wasn't much left, I attacked and was lucky that no one followed me and I was able to win".

"Blanco couldn't hide his happiness for the stage win. One has to take advantage of opportunities, because they don't happen often. It is difficult to win, these days and I'm happy to take at least a stage", he said. Santi Blanco also said that: "Banesto is looking forward to the Tour de France. We have a leader in Abraham, who's in form and that is contagious. He hope that from here to the Tour we get there in full form so that we can win", he added. Blanco hopes to hold the overall lead tomorrow, before confronting the two sectors on Saturday, one of them a time trial, which is not his specialty. "If I lost the leader's jersey, I would like for Abraham to take it and be able to confirm it the last day at the climb of Arrate", he finished.

Stage 3, Zuia-Alto de Mendexa, 180,1 km:

  1. Santiago Blanco (Spa) Banesto         4.32.04
  2. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto            + 0.05
  3. Alberto Lopez (Spa) Euskadi
  4. Bjarne Riis (Den) Telekom
  5. Giorgio Furlan (Ita) Saeco
  6. Tony Rominger (Sch) Cofidis
  7. Luis Perez (Spa) Once
  8. Amilcare Tronca (Ita) Scrigno
  9. Fernando Escartin (Spa) Kelme
 10. Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) Once         all s.t.

Overall:

  1. Santiago Blanco (Spa) Banesto        13.08.50
  2. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto            + 0.16
  3. Bjarne Riis (Den) Telekom
  4. Daniel Clavero (Spa) Cafis Toscaf
  5. Fernando Escartmn (Spa) Kelme
  6. Alberto Lspez Munain (Spa) Euskadi
  7. Rafael Dmaz Justo (Spa) Once
  8. Tony Rominger (Sch) Cofidis
  9. Stefano Della Santa (Ita) Mercatone
 10. Amicare Tronca (Ita) Scrigno       all s.t.
 11. Giorgio Furlan (Ita) Saeco           + 0.30


  ..
 20. Luca Gelfi (ITA/Brescialat)          1:04
 22. Jan Ullrich (ALE/Telekom)            1:18
 50. Udo Bolts (ALE/Telekom)               2:33
 97. Giovanni Fidanza (ITA/Saeco)         13:38

Report

Santi Blanco (Banesto) repeated today his solitary victory on today's 3rd stage at la Bicicleta Vasca'97 thanks to an attack in the last km on the climb of Mendexa (3rd), which the riders reached after 180 km after a start at Murnia (Alava). With the 5 sec achieved today, Blanco makes it 17 seconds in front of the favorites, which came in behind Blanco: Abrahan Olano (Banesto), Bjarne Riis (Telekom), who came in fourth behind Alberto Lopez de Munain (Euskadi).

Like in the first two stages there was a long escape today, which was caught, which included Laurent Desbiens (Cofidis), who jumped from the peloton at km 82 and was hunted at 3 km from the finish, right at the start of the last climb. The Cofidis riders would have likes some company to help him stay away, but Gines Salmeron (Saeco) & Josue Barrigon (Once), which took off from the peloton at km. 121 couldn't catch up with him. On the last climb Bjarne Riis appeared, riding very relaxed all stage long and stretched the peloton before the final attack by Santi Blanco.

The penultimate stage will be disputed tomorrow in two sectors. The first a road race between Lekeitio & Abadiqo, over 101 km. In the afternoon the decisive 14.9 km time trial will be raced between Elorrio & Abadino, with a flat route, with only a slight ride in the middle.

Interview with winner

Santi Blanco (Banesto), who today confirmed his overall leadership at la Bicicleta Vasca'97 with his second solitary win in a row declared that: he trusted in himself, but admitted that "there are riders who are bigger favorites than I", for the final victory. Blanco also said: "I can't ask for more. To win two stages in a row for a rider like me who wins little as great to gain morale. Many times one does the job right and doesn't get results. Now it looks like we are on a streak and I hope that it doesn't end". He also said that contrary to yesterday, he didn't know today's finish. "They had told me that the toughest section was at the bottom. I felt good when Riis attacked, I was able to follow and I tried my luck", he explained. With tomorrow ahead of him, Blanco hopes to "do my best in the morning sector" and confront the afternoon time trial with the intentions of "losing the least amount of time possible and maybe give the rest a little scare". "I have to be realistic, I trust in myself and I can do well, but there are bigger favorites than me. I hope that if I can't kee the leadership, that Abraham can get the jersey".

Stage 4a, Lekeitio-Abadino, 101 km:

  1. Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Scrigno)         2.34.21
  2. Christophe Capelle (Fra) Cofidis
  3. Henk Vogels (Aus) Gan
  4. Eleuterio Anguita (Spa) Cafis Toscaf
  5. Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Brescialat
  6. Igor Flores (Spa) Euskadi
  7. Christophe Detilloux (Bel) Lotto
  8. Francois Simon (Fra) Gan
  9. Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Saeco
 10. Cristiano Colleoni (Ita) Polti        all s.t.

Stage 4b, Elorrio-Abadino, 14,9 km:

  1. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto              16.34 (53,916 km/h) 
  2. Luis Perez (Spa) Once                   + 0.34
  3. Fernando Escartin (Spa) Kelme           + 0.38
  4. Francisque Teyssier (Fra) Gan           + 0.39
  5. David Canada (Spa) Once                 + 0.39
  6. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (Spa) Euskadi + 0.43
  7. Bjarne Riis (Den) Telekom               + 0.43
  8. Santiago Blanco (Spa) Banesto           + 0.46
  9. Daniel Clavero (Spa) Cafes Toscaf       + 0.48
 10. Tony Rominger (Sch) Cofidis             + 0.50
 11. Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) Once            + 0.56
 12. Marino Alonso  (Spa) Banesto            + 0.56
 13. Alberto Leanizbarrutia (Spa) Once       + 0.59

Overall after Stage 4b:

  1. Abraham Olano  (Spa) Banesto          15.59.26
  2. Santiago Blanco (Spa) Banesto           + 0.30
  3. Fernando Escartin (Spa) Kelme           + 0.38
  4. Bjarne Riis (Den) Telekom               + 0.43
  5. Daniel Clavero (Spa) Cafes Toscaf       + 0.48
  6. Luis Perez (Spa) Once                   + 0.48
  7. Tony Rominger (Sch) Cofidis             + 0.50
  8. Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) Once            + 0.56
  9. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (Spa) Euskadi + 1.13
 10. Alberto Lopez Munain (Spa) Euskadi      + 1.28
 11. Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Lotto              + 1.35
 12. Stefano Della Santa (Ita) Mercatone     + 1.40

Stage 4a Report

Italian Fabrizio Guidi (Scrigno), won the sprint of the first sector of stage 4 at la Bicicleta Vasca'97, disputed today between Lekeitio & Abadino, over 101 km. Guidi came in ahead of a group which included all the favorites, which will dispute the individual time trial this afternoon. The protagonist of the stage was Cisar Solaun (Euskadi), who was caught at 1,500 meters from the finish after an escape from the first climbs of the stage at km 40. Once Solaun was neutralized, which was done by Tony Rominger, who worked in vain to try to assure victory for his team's (Cofidis) sprinters, Guidi took advantage of the work of his teammate Alessandro Petacci, to achieve his 2nd victory of the season and his 19th as a pro.

Stage 4b Report

Abraham Olano, Spanish rider for Banesto, won the second sector of the 4th stage of la Bicicleta Vasca'97, a 14.9 km individual time trial between Elorrio & Abadino, in which he beat Dane Bjarne Riis and took the Blue Leader's Jersey from his teammate Santi Blanco, who is 2nd overall now. Olano finished with a time of 16:34, at an average speed of 53.916 km/hr (33.428 MPH) and beat the past Tour de France winner by 44 sec in what was expected to be an advance on the duel that will ocurr at the Tour de France. Olano will start tomorrow with a 31 sec advantage over Blanco, 39 over Escartmn (Kelme), 44 over Riis (Telekom), 49 over Daniel Clavero (Cafis Toscaf) & Luis Pirez (Once) & 51 over Tony Rominger (Cofidis). Rominger was not his usual at the time trial, but Escartin showed that he was riding strong in a discipline in which he has never performed well.

La Bicicleta Vasca'97 will conclude tomorrow with a stage between Iurreta (Vizcaya) & Arrate, category 1 climb located atEibar. The stage will be a continuous up & down, with 5 climbs, Elgeta (2nd) & Trokas, Ixua, Trabakua, Areitio & Usartza, all 3rd category.

Stage 5, Euskal Telebista (ETB)-Arrate, 106.7 km:

  1. Udo Bolts (Ger) Telekom                 2.40.47 (39,818 km/h)
  2. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto             	0.35
  3. Fernando Escartmn (Spa) Kelme
  4. Daniel Clavero (Spa) Deportpublic    	s.t.
  5. Luis Perez (Spa) Once                   	0.56
  6. Alberto Lspez (Spa) Euskadi               	s.t.
  7. David Canada (Spa) Once                 	1.01
  8. Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Lotto              	1.02
  9. Kevin Livingston (Usa) Cofidis
 10. Stefano Della Santa (Ita) Mercatone
  ----
 11. Bjarne Riis (Den) Telekom             	s.t.
 18. Jan Ullrich (Ger) Telekom               	1.42

Final overall:

  1. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto            18.40.48 (40,075 km/h)
  2. Fernando Escartin (Spa) Kelme           	0.39
  3. Daniel Clavero (Spa) Deportpublic       	0.49
  4. Luis Perez (Spa) Once                   	1.10
  5. Bjarne Riis (Den) Telekom               	1.11
  6. Santiago Blanco (Spa) Banesto           	1.38
  7. Rafael Diaz (Spa) Once                  	1.48
  8. Alberto Lopez (Spa) Euskadi             	1.50
  9. Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Lotto              	2.03
 10. Stefano Della Santa (Ita) Mercatone     	2.08
  ----
 18. Jan Ullrich (Ger) Telekom               	3.25