1. Dmitry Konyshev (Russia) AKI 5.41.24 2. Bo Hamburger (Denmark) TVM 3. Gianni Bugno (Italy) MG 4. Paolo Valoti (Italy) Cantina all s.t. 5. Serguei Smetanine (Russia) Santa Clara 5:07 6. Pascal Chanteur (France) Petit Casino 7. Giuseppe Citterio (Italy) AKI 8. Luca Pavanello (Italy) AKI 9. Oscar Aranguren (Spain) Santa Clara 10. Alessandro Petacchi (Italy) Scrigno 11. Marcel Wust (Germany) MX Onda 12. Angel Edo (Spain) Kelme 13. Stefano Dante (Italy) Cantina 14. Sauro Gallorini (Italy) Scrigno 15. Jose Espinosa (Spain) MX Onda 16. Mario Kummer (Germany) Telekom 17. Jurgen Werner (Germany) Telekom 18. Hendrik Redant (Belgium) TVM 19. Asier Guenetxea (Spain) Euskadi 20. Martin Hvastija (Slovenia) Cantina all s.t.
1. Alex Zuelle (Switzerland) ONCE 82.31.26 2. Laurent Jalabert (France) ONCE 1:10 3. Laurent Dufaux (Switzerland) Lotus 5:17 4. Roberto Pistore (Italy) MG 7:12 5. Georg Tostching (Austria) Polti 8:34 6. Tony Rominger (Switzerland) Mapei 8:51 7. Stefano Faustini (Italy) AKI 9.09 8. Davide Rebellin (Italy) Polti 9:42 9. Melchor Mauri (Spain) ONCE 10:32 10. Bobby Julich (USA) Motorola 12:47 11. Andrea Peron (Italy) Motorola 13:05 12. Neil Stephens (Australia) ONCE 13:57 13. Daniel Clavero (Spain) MX Onda 15:02 14. Fernando Escartin (Spain) Kelme 15:20 15. Marcos Serrano (Spain) Kelme 15:28 16. Mikel Zarrabeitia (Spain) ONCE 15:42 17. Jose Maria Jimenez (Spain) Banesto 15:50 18. Massimo Apollonio (Italy) Scrigno 16:32 19. Vladislav Bobrik (Russia) Gewiss 16:52 20. Mauro Gianetti (Switzerland) Polti 17:02
Konyshev, who made a break midway through with Italians Gianni Bugno, Paolo Valotti and Denmark's Bo Hamburger, sprinted first across the line more than four minutes ahead of the pack in this stage from Benasque to Zaragoza.
Stomach problems amongst ONCE riders may cause problems in the run-in to the event but sporting director Manolo Saiz refused to reveal the extent of the problems.
The team's ill effects began the day before on the final climb at Ampriu where Zulle felt unwell and Spain's Alberto Leanizbarrutia pulled out.
Despite their problems Zuelle and second-placed team mate Laurent Jalabert held on to their positions inthe overall classification in Wednesday's 18th stage, which was won by Russia's Dmitry Konyshev.
Zuelle leads Jalabert by a provisional one minute and 10 seconds, with third-placed Laurent Dufaux over four minutes further back.
ONCE team officials on Wednesday acknowledged the existence of a problem, but said they had neither analyzed it nor found its cause.
``I have great faith in the professionalism of my team, and I'm sure we're able to get over this,'' said ONCE team manager Manolo Saiz.
Later ONCE rider Melchor Mauri played down the extent of the problem, saying only one of his team mates had been affected.
But other teams were preparing to challenge ONCE's grip over the overall standings in Thursday and Friday's final mountain stages.
``We'll test Zuelle early in Thursday's stage,'' said Miguel Moreno, manager of Dufaux's Lotus team.
At the beginning of Wednesday's stage the ONCE riders made a rare mistake and had to work hard to haul in a group that included Dufaux, Roberto Pistore and Georg Tostching, who are third, fourth and fifth respectively in the overall standings.
A four-man group of less-threatening riders had better luck after breaking away after 100 kms of the 222 kms stage.
The pack was buffeted by side winds throughout the day and showed little interest in catching Konyshev, who was accompanied by former World champion Gianni Bugno, another Italian Paolo Valoti, and Danish rider Bo Hamburger.
Konyshev outmanouevered his rivals to take a relatively straightforward victory at the line.
Bugno -- who has drifted into obscurity since his heyday in the early 1990s -- fell from his bike at the finish in what appeared to be a gesture of rage at his inability to compete.
The race favourites arrived together over five minutes behind.
The riders are due to fly Madrid on Wednesday, ready for Thursday's 19th stage, which takes them over 212 kms from Getafe to Avila.