Tony Rominger (Cofidis) was the other player in the stage, because of his bravery. The 36 year old Swiss and winner of 3 editions of la Vuelta, wanted to show his strength and not stay in the background. So he left the peloton on km 53 and reached a maximum advantage of 12 minutes. It almost looked like he could pull it off, but the distance would be too long. Rominger started to show weakness after Navacerrada. He started looking back and then quit when he saw how his advantage was been reduced. In the end he reached the finish 8:30 minutes behind the winner.
Jose Maria Jimenez won the 19th stage of the Tour of Spain on Wednesday to give Spanish cycling its best performance in its home Tour for four years.
His gutsy win, secured after a strong burst up the final hill at the country club estate finish, north of Madrid, was the host nation's fifth this Tour, equalling 1993 and going some way towards erasing memories of a blank 1996.
Spanish champion Jimenez was undeterred after two second places, a third, and a fourth in earlier stages. Even when he and his Swiss co-leader Pascal Richard were caught one kilometre from the end of the 193.3-km stage from Valladolid, Jimenez was not finished.
As his compatriots Daniel Clavero and Roberto Heras dithered on the hill 300 metres from the line, each waiting for the other to make his move, Jimenez launched his attack and swept past to win by a second. Clavero fought off Heras for second place with Olympic champion Richard taking fourth.
"I really suffered for this win," said Jimenez. "I gave everything I had with that final attack. Now I am content." Alex Zuelle, race leader since the ninth day, has now worn the yellow jersey for a total of 34 days over three Tours -- more than any other rider in the race's 62-year history.
Belgian Gustaav Deloor, who won the first two Tours, and 1945 winner Delio Rodriguez of Spain have each spent 32 days as leader. On Thursday Zuelle finished 50 seconds behind Jimenez but maintained his overall lead of two minutes 46 seconds on Spain's Fernando Escartin. "The next stage is a little different from this one but it will be another dangerous day," he said. "Escartin is still a strong rival." His fellow Swiss, Tony Rominger, figured in a bold solo over 117 kms that ended after two mountain climbs and with 23 kms remaining.
Rominger, who started the day nearly 28 minutes behind Zuelle, led by 12 minutes at one point but eventually finished 8:33 adrift of Jimenez. "I attacked and found myself alone, so I continued," said Rominger. "It was good for my morale and even better that I should be caught by two Swiss (Richard and Fabian Jeker).
1. JIMENEZ,José María ESP BANESTO 4.31.38 12 sec bonus 42,697 km/h 2. CLAVERO, Daniel ESP ESTEPONA - TOSCAF 0.01 8 sec bonus 3. HERAS, Roberto ESP KELME - COSTA BLANCA 0.01 4 sec bonus 4. RICHARD, Pascal SUI CASINO 0.18 5. JALABERT, Laurent FRA ONCE 0.31 6. IVANOV, Serguei RUS TVM 0.31 7. BROCHARD, Laurent FRA LOTUS 0.31 8. FARESIN, Gianni ITA MAPEI - GB 0.31 9. BORDENAVE,Philippe FRA CASINO 0.31 10. GARCIA CASAS,Félix ESP LOTUS 0.31 11. NOE, Andrea ITA ASICS - CGA 0.39 12. SERRANO, Marcos A. ESP KELME - COSTA BLANCA 0.39 13. OSA, Aitor ESP BANESTO 0.39 14. TEYSSIER, Franc. FRA GAN 0.39 15. URIA, José Manuel ESP ESTEPONA - TOSCAF 0.39 16. AJURIA, Ibon ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 0.39 17. CONTRERAS, Carlos COL FLAVIA - TELECOM 0.39 18. AGUIRRE, Julio C. COL FLAVIA - TELECOM 0.39 19. AIARZAGUENA, Iñaki ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 0.39 20. THIBOUT, Bruno FRA COFIDIS 0.48 21. ESCARTIN, Fernando ESP KELME - COSTA BLANCA 0.50 22. ZÜLLE, Alex SUI ONCE 0.50 23. DUFAUX, Laurent SUI LOTUS 0.50 24. ZAINA, Enrico ITA ASICS - CGA 0.50 25. GONTCHAR, Serguei UKR AKI - SAFI 0.50 26. CHIAPPUCCI,Claudio ITA ASICS - CGA 0.50 27. LANFRANCHI, Paolo ITA MAPEI - GB 0.50 28. JEKER, Fabian SUI LOTUS 0.50 29. PIEPOLI, Leonardo ITA REFIN - MOBILVETTA 0.50 30. LEDANOIS, Yvon FRA GAN 0.50 31. CASTELBLANCO, José COL FLAVIA - TELECOM 0.50 32. LAISEKA, Roberto ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 0.50 33. CEREZO, Francisco ESP ESTEPONA - TOSCAF 1.05 34. LEANIZBARRUTIA, A. ESP ONCE 1.21 35. PLAZA, David ESP COFIDIS 1.34 36. COLAGE, Stefano ITA REFIN - MOBILVETTA 1.42 37. SERPELLINI, Marco ITA BRESCIALAT - OYSTER 3.23 38. MASSI, Rodolfo ITA CASINO 3.23 39. MUÑOZ, Fedérico COL FLAVIA - TELECOM 3.23 40. NARDELLO, Daniele ITA MAPEI - GB 3.23 41. GENTILI, M. ITA CANTINA TOLLO 3.23 42. VASSEUR, Cédric FRA GAN 4.16 43. MAURI, Melcior ESP ONCE 4.16 44. DOMINGUEZ,J.Carlos ESP KELME - COSTA BLANCA 4.16 45. ALONSO, Marino ESP BANESTO 4.16 46. HERVE, Pascal FRA LOTUS 4.16 47. FURLAN, Giorgio ITA SAECO 8.33 48. VICARIO, Juan C. ESP ESTEPONA - TOSCAF 8.33 49. G. GALDEANO, Igor ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 8.33 50. ROMINGER, Tony SUI COFIDIS 8.33 51. MAULEON, F. Javier ESP ONCE 8.33 52. CUESTA, Iñigo ESP ONCE 8.33 53. SIMEONI, Filippo ITA ASICS - CGA 8.33 54. VOSKAMP, Bart NED TVM 13.26 55. VAN BON, Leon NED RABOBANK 13.26 56. PICCOLI, Mariano ITA BRESCIALAT - OYSTER 13.26 57. SGAMBELLURI, R. ITA BRESCIALAT - OYSTER 13.26 58. JONASSON, Danny DEN RABOBANK 13.26 59. MOREAU, Francis FRA COFIDIS 13.26 60. LOPEZ URIARTE, O. ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 13.26 61. GONZALEZ, Arsenio ESP KELME - COSTA BLANCA 13.26 62. ZINTCHENKO, Andrei RUS ESTEPONA - TOSCAF 13.26 63. GUIDI, Fabrizio ITA SCRIGNO - GAERNE 13.26 64. MORATILLA, Victor ESP ESTEPONA - TOSCAF 13.26 65. CONTE, Biagio ITA SCRIGNO - GAERNE 13.26 66. MICHAELSEN, Lars DEN TVM 13.26 67. HERNANDEZ, Jairo COL FLAVIA - TELECOM 13.26 68. HAMBURGER, Bo DEN TVM 13.26 69. BAKER, Darren USA US POSTAL SERVICE 13.26 70. RICO, Efrain COL FLAVIA - TELECOM 13.26 71. BUGNO, Gianni ITA MAPEI - GB 13.26 72. CASAROTTO, Davide ITA SCRIGNO - GAERNE 13.26 73. VIERHOUTEN, Aart NED RABOBANK 13.26 74. TRONCA, Amilcare ITA SCRIGNO - GAERNE 13.26 75. RODRIGUEZ, José ESP KELME - COSTA BLANCA 13.26 76. MOERENHOUT, Koos NED RABOBANK 13.26 77. RAMIREZ,Juan Diego COL FLAVIA - TELECOM 13.26 78. OUSLAMINE, Sergei RUS REFIN - MOBILVETTA 13.26 79. DIAZ ZABALA, H. ESP ONCE 13.26 80. BETTIN, Mauro ITA REFIN - MOBILVETTA 13.26 81. PETILLEAU,Stéphane FRA TVM 13.26 82. INDURAIN,Prudencio ESP BANESTO 13.26 83. LIETTI, Marco ITA REFIN - MOBILVETTA 13.26 84. FONDRIEST,Maurizio ITA COFIDIS 13.26 85. GARMENDIA, Aitor ESP ONCE 13.26 86. JONKER, Patrick NED RABOBANK 13.26 87. OSORIO, Carlos COL FLAVIA - TELECOM 13.26 88. GORINI, Gianluca ITA AKI - SAFI 13.26 89. NELISSEN, Danny NED RABOBANK 13.26 90. STEPHENS, A. Neil AUS LOTUS 13.26 91. ZARRABEITIA, Mikel ESP ONCE 13.26 92. TEBALDI, Valerio ITA LOTUS 13.26 93. VAN HEESWIJK, Max NED RABOBANK 13.26 94. TEUTENBERG, Sven GER US POSTAL SERVICE 13.26 95. MILESI, Marco ITA BRESCIALAT - OYSTER 18.59 96. SVORADA, Jan CZE MAPEI - GB 18.59 97. GELFI, Luca ITA BRESCIALAT - OYSTER 19.24 98. SCHIAVINA, Samuele ITA ASICS - CGA 19.24 99. ROSCIOLI, Fabio ITA ASICS - CGA 19.24 100. BRAMATI, Davide ITA MAPEI - GB 19.24 101. EKIMOV, Vjatceslav RUS US POSTAL SERVICE 19.24 102. LUPEIKIS, Remigius LTU US POSTAL SERVICE 19.24 103. BESSY, Frédéric FRA CASINO 19.24 104. RUE, Gérard FRA GAN 19.24 105. BALLERINI, Franco ITA MAPEI - GB 19.24 106. SCIREA, Mario ITA SAECO 19.24 107. SALVATO, Cristian ITA REFIN - MOBILVETTA 19.24 108. WERNER, Jürgen GER REFIN - MOBILVETTA 19.24 109. CALCATERRA, G. ITA SAECO 19.24 110. DI BASCO, Alessio ITA SAECO 19.24 111. APOLLONIO, Massimo ITA SCRIGNO - GAERNE 19.24 112. CAMIN, Claudio ITA BRESCIALAT - OYSTER 19.24 113. BOTERO, Santiago COL KELME - COSTA BLANCA 19.24 114. PIERI, Dario ITA SCRIGNO - GAERNE 19.24 115. GARCIA, David ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 19.24 116. DURAND, Jacky FRA CASINO 19.24 117. PALUAN, Andrea ITA CANTINA TOLLO 19.24 118. GARCIA ACOSTA, J. ESP BANESTO 19.24 119. ZANETTI, Mauro ITA AKI - SAFI 19.24 120. RADAELLI, Mauro ITA AKI - SAFI 19.24 121. FRIZZO, Maurizio ITA CANTINA TOLLO 19.24 122. FERRARI, Diego ITA ASICS - CGA 19.24 123. CEMBALI, Stefano ITA CANTINA TOLLO 19.24 124. DALLA COSTA, Oscar ITA AKI - SAFI 19.24 125. HVASTIJA, Martin SLO CANTINA TOLLO 19.24 126. AGGIANO, Elio ITA REFIN - MOBILVETTA 19.24 127. RAMACCIOTTI,Nicola ITA CANTINA TOLLO 19.24 128. CANZONIERI, Angelo ITA SAECO 19.24 129. WUST, Marcel GER LOTUS 19.24
1. ZÜLLE, Alex SUI ONCE 81.37.27 2. ESCARTIN, Fernando ESP KELME - COSTA BLANCA 2.46 3. DUFAUX, Laurent SUI LOTUS 3.39 4. ZAINA, Enrico ITA ASICS - CGA 5.07 5. HERAS, Roberto ESP KELME - COSTA BLANCA 5.24 6. CLAVERO, Daniel ESP ESTEPONA - TOSCAF 6.32 7. SERRANO, Marcos A. ESP KELME - COSTA BLANCA 6.59 8. JALABERT, Laurent FRA ONCE 9.29 9. FARESIN, Gianni ITA MAPEI - GB 10.51 10. LEDANOIS, Yvon FRA GAN 11.22 11. BORDENAVE,Philippe FRA CASINO 12.51 12. CHIAPPUCCI,Claudio ITA ASICS - CGA 12.57 13. GARCIA CASAS,Félix ESP LOTUS 14.07 14. URIA, José Manuel ESP ESTEPONA - TOSCAF 15.44 15. SERPELLINI, Marco ITA BRESCIALAT - OYSTER 17.25 16. CONTRERAS, Carlos COL FLAVIA - TELECOM 17.32 17. JEKER, Fabian SUI LOTUS 18.53 18. DOMINGUEZ,J.Carlos ESP KELME - COSTA BLANCA 24.12 19. LANFRANCHI, Paolo ITA MAPEI - GB 24.25 20. MASSI, Rodolfo ITA CASINO 27.33 21. BROCHARD, Laurent FRA LOTUS 28.14 22. JIMENEZ,José María ESP BANESTO 28.25 23. AJURIA, Ibon ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 30.42 24. TEYSSIER, Franc. FRA GAN 32.52 25. PIEPOLI, Leonardo ITA REFIN - MOBILVETTA 33.07 26. CASTELBLANCO, José COL FLAVIA - TELECOM 33.31 27. MAURI, Melcior ESP ONCE 33.45 28. G. GALDEANO, Igor ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 34.18 29. ROMINGER, Tony SUI COFIDIS 35.21 30. IVANOV, Serguei RUS TVM 35.30 31. AGUIRRE, Julio C. COL FLAVIA - TELECOM 35.32 32. GENTILI, M. ITA CANTINA TOLLO 39.24 33. CEREZO, Francisco ESP ESTEPONA - TOSCAF 40.00 34. AIARZAGUENA, Iñaki ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 43.15 35. THIBOUT, Bruno FRA COFIDIS 45.03 36. HAMBURGER, Bo DEN TVM 48.53 37. RICHARD, Pascal SUI CASINO 49.50 38. ALONSO, Marino ESP BANESTO 51.07 39. PLAZA, David ESP COFIDIS 51.38 40. MUÑOZ, Fedérico COL FLAVIA - TELECOM 54.22 41. HERVE, Pascal FRA LOTUS 54.49 42. ZARRABEITIA, Mikel ESP ONCE 54.57 43. LEANIZBARRUTIA, A. ESP ONCE 55.23 44. LAISEKA, Roberto ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 58.27 45. INDURAIN,Prudencio ESP BANESTO 58.54 46. GONZALEZ, Arsenio ESP KELME - COSTA BLANCA 1.01.32 47. VASSEUR, Cédric FRA GAN 1.02.31 48. OSA, Aitor ESP BANESTO 1.03.54 49. STEPHENS, A. Neil AUS LOTUS 1.05.11 50. NOE, Andrea ITA ASICS - CGA 1.05.55 51. LOPEZ URIARTE, O. ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 1.06.40 52. PICCOLI, Mariano ITA BRESCIALAT - OYSTER 1.07.11 53. FONDRIEST,Maurizio ITA COFIDIS 1.08.58 54. COLAGE, Stefano ITA REFIN - MOBILVETTA 1.09.57 55. HERNANDEZ, Jairo COL FLAVIA - TELECOM 1.11.32 56. NARDELLO, Daniele ITA MAPEI - GB 1.13.52 57. GONTCHAR, Serguei UKR AKI - SAFI 1.16.00 58. GARCIA, David ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 1.18.28 59. TRONCA, Amilcare ITA SCRIGNO - GAERNE 1.28.35 60. MAULEON, F. Javier ESP ONCE 1.30.00 61. BETTIN, Mauro ITA REFIN - MOBILVETTA 1.30.01 62. RICO, Efrain COL FLAVIA - TELECOM 1.31.01 63. RODRIGUEZ, José ESP KELME - COSTA BLANCA 1.32.27 64. CUESTA, Iñigo ESP ONCE 1.33.50 65. BESSY, Frédéric FRA CASINO 1.35.06 66. JONKER, Patrick NED RABOBANK 1.35.58 67. BAKER, Darren USA US POSTAL SERVICE 1.38.14 68. GARCIA ACOSTA, J. ESP BANESTO 1.39.25 69. EKIMOV, Vjatceslav RUS US POSTAL SERVICE 1.40.26 70. RAMIREZ,Juan Diego COL FLAVIA - TELECOM 1.40.44 71. MORATILLA, Victor ESP ESTEPONA - TOSCAF 1.41.11 72. GORINI, Gianluca ITA AKI - SAFI 1.46.09 73. SIMEONI, Filippo ITA ASICS - CGA 1.47.47 74. FURLAN, Giorgio ITA SAECO 1.48.41 75. MOERENHOUT, Koos NED RABOBANK 1.49.05 76. DIAZ ZABALA, H. ESP ONCE 1.49.20 77. MICHAELSEN, Lars DEN TVM 1.51.09 78. SALVATO, Cristian ITA REFIN - MOBILVETTA 1.51.13 79. VAN BON, Leon NED RABOBANK 1.51.47 80. OSORIO, Carlos COL FLAVIA - TELECOM 1.52.46 81. DI BASCO, Alessio ITA SAECO 2.03.38 82. MILESI, Marco ITA BRESCIALAT - OYSTER 2.04.55 83. GELFI, Luca ITA BRESCIALAT - OYSTER 2.05.16 84. RUE, Gérard FRA GAN 2.07.08 85. VICARIO, Juan C. ESP ESTEPONA - TOSCAF 2.08.36 86. SGAMBELLURI, R. ITA BRESCIALAT - OYSTER 2.09.19 87. PETILLEAU,Stéphane FRA TVM 2.10.15 88. VIERHOUTEN, Aart NED RABOBANK 2.12.56 89. CANZONIERI, Angelo ITA SAECO 2.13.00 90. VAN HEESWIJK, Max NED RABOBANK 2.13.26 91. CAMIN, Claudio ITA BRESCIALAT - OYSTER 2.13.59 92. LIETTI, Marco ITA REFIN - MOBILVETTA 2.15.01 93. OUSLAMINE, Sergei RUS REFIN - MOBILVETTA 2.16.01 94. GUIDI, Fabrizio ITA SCRIGNO - GAERNE 2.16.21 95. BUGNO, Gianni ITA MAPEI - GB 2.18.20 96. MOREAU, Francis FRA COFIDIS 2.18.32 97. TEBALDI, Valerio ITA LOTUS 2.18.37 98. NELISSEN, Danny NED RABOBANK 2.19.39 99. BALLERINI, Franco ITA MAPEI - GB 2.21.22 100. BOTERO, Santiago COL KELME - COSTA BLANCA 2.23.12 101. RADAELLI, Mauro ITA AKI - SAFI 2.24.32 102. PALUAN, Andrea ITA CANTINA TOLLO 2.25.16 103. ZANETTI, Mauro ITA AKI - SAFI 2.27.00 104. FERRARI, Diego ITA ASICS - CGA 2.27.52 105. SCHIAVINA, Samuele ITA ASICS - CGA 2.28.04 106. BRAMATI, Davide ITA MAPEI - GB 2.28.49 107. APOLLONIO, Massimo ITA SCRIGNO - GAERNE 2.29.03 108. CASAROTTO, Davide ITA SCRIGNO - GAERNE 2.29.26 109. WERNER, Jürgen GER REFIN - MOBILVETTA 2.29.44 110. WUST, Marcel GER LOTUS 2.29.59 111. VOSKAMP, Bart NED TVM 2.33.10 112. TEUTENBERG, Sven GER US POSTAL SERVICE 2.33.36 113. HVASTIJA, Martin SLO CANTINA TOLLO 2.35.12 114. ROSCIOLI, Fabio ITA ASICS - CGA 2.37.14 115. JONASSON, Danny DEN RABOBANK 2.37.32 116. SCIREA, Mario ITA SAECO 2.38.31 117. DALLA COSTA, Oscar ITA AKI - SAFI 2.41.07 118. RAMACCIOTTI,Nicola ITA CANTINA TOLLO 2.43.06 119. CALCATERRA, G. ITA SAECO 2.43.34 120. ZINTCHENKO, Andrei RUS ESTEPONA - TOSCAF 2.48.17 121. DURAND, Jacky FRA CASINO 2.48.48 122. SVORADA, Jan CZE MAPEI - GB 2.51.04 123. PIERI, Dario ITA SCRIGNO - GAERNE 2.56.08 124. GARMENDIA, Aitor ESP ONCE 2.58.41 125. FRIZZO, Maurizio ITA CANTINA TOLLO 3.01.35 126. AGGIANO, Elio ITA REFIN - MOBILVETTA 3.02.07 127. CONTE, Biagio ITA SCRIGNO - GAERNE 3.08.20 128. LUPEIKIS, Remigius LTU US POSTAL SERVICE 3.09.30 129. CEMBALI, Stefano ITA CANTINA TOLLO 3.27.54