27th Urkiola Igoera-Subida Urkiola - 1.3

Spain, August 10, 2003

2002 Results Results Past winners

Piepoli for the third time

By Martin Hardie, Cyclingnews correspondent

Leonardo Piepoli (iBanesto) won the Subida Urkiola for the third time in his career today, beating Belgian Dave Bruylandts (Marlux) and Haimar Zubeldia (Euskaltel) to the top of the famed climb. The 160 km race is the traditional "recovery race" following Clasica San Sebastian, and almost always it comes down to a drag race on the final ascent.

Today's 27th Subida Urkiola was run from Durango over a course in which the usual green hills of Euskal Herria are decidedly burned brown from the heatwave that has seared Europe this summer. The obstacle of the day is a granite massif that looms over the start, which is snugly nestled the valley beneath. The course is a meander in the hills around Bizkaia, before returning to Durango to climb Urkiola twice before finishing at the Church, the Santuario Urkiola, at the summit of the testing, 6.1 km, 9.1%, climb.

After the first crossing of the puerto, the race arrives at Otxandio and heads down the Dima pass before circling back to the foot of the climb for the final assault. It was across this patch of ever undulating road that a small group formed at the front of the race, including Koldo Gil (ONCE), Santi Blanco (Relax), Julien Fernandez, Haimar Zubeldia and Gorka Gonzalez (Euskaltel-Euskadi). On the 11 km descent towards Dima, the group swelled to around thirty riders and towards the bottom Oscar Sevilla (Kelme) and Gorka Arrizabalaga (Euskaltel-Euskadi) escaped. As they headed through (Iban Mayo's home town of) Igorre and through Amorebieta the pair had a gap that fluctuated at around 15 seconds.

It was iBanesto that set the pace on the steady incline that drags back to Durango and the main feast of the afternoon. At at the edge of town and the turn off the main road to Urkiola, the leading pair were well within sight. Over the next four kilometres, the road increased in gradient without yet having reached the climb itself. Sevilla and Arrizabalaga where brought back into the fold between Durango and Manaria as those with climbing legs prepared themselves.

The first to have a go was Gorka Beloki, and by the steep fourth hairpin he had a respectable gap. But it was clear he wasn't going any further away. He was soon reached and passed by Gorka Gonzalez (Euskaltel) who had his charge and captain, Haimar Zubeldia on his wheel. With them were Dave Bruylandts (Marlux), Mauricio Ardila (Marlux), Aitor Kintana (Labarca-2-Café Baqué), David Latasa (Kelme) and Mikel Zarrabeitia (ONCE).

As Gonzalez drove, Bruylandts and Piepoli put on the pace. The bunch split quickly with only Gonzalez, Zubeldia and Ardila able to follow. But only for a while. Urkiola is built for the small agile climber that Piepoli typifies. It's not that long, but the ramps are steep.

After the pair passed the 3 km to go banner, Bruylandts and Piepoli had a gap of 12 seconds on the now soloing Zubeldia. The Euskaltel captain valiantly struggled to close the gap and for a short time he did but the successive ramps of 12 and 14% took their toll and he was never able to close. Meanwhile Bruylandts stayed with Piepoli to within the final kilometre, but in the last 500 metres where the gradient is at its peak, the Italian pulled away to take the win. Bruylandts came in 7 seconds behind then collapse from the climb and the heat on the side of the road. Zubeldia was greeted to a roar from the home crowd and came in third at 34 seconds.

Results - 160 km

1 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) iBanesto.com                            3.53.59
2 Dave Bruylandts (Bel) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf                       0.07
3 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                    0.39
4 Mauricio Ardila (Col) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf                       0.54
5 Gorka Gonzalez Larranaga (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                  1.00
6 Aitor Kintana Zarate (Spa) Labarca-2-Café Baqué                   1.27
7 David Latasa Lasa (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                            
8 Jonathan Gonzalez Rios (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                      1.30
9 Joaquin Lopez Torrella (Spa) Paternina-Costa de Almeria           1.59
10 Julen Fernandez Bijandi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                  2.01
11 Juan Fuentes Angullo (Spa) Saeco                                 2.20
12 Oscar Mason (Ita) Vini Caldirola-SO.DI                           2.27
13 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                   2.36
14 Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                 2.40
15 Juan Miguel Mercado Martin (Spa) iBanesto.com                    2.56
16 Josep Jufre Pou (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada                  3.07
17 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                   3.45
18 Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                   3.51
19 Gorka Beloki Dorronsoro (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                        
20 Alberto Lopez De Munain (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                  4.17
21 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                         4.26
22 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems                   4.39
23 Jose Azevedo (Por) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                                   
24 Patrick Calcagni (Swi) Vini Caldirola-SO.DI                      4.43
25 Florent Brard (Fra) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf                        4.46
26 Nacor Burgos Rojo (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada                4.52
27 David De La Fuente (Spa) Vini Caldirola-SO.DI                    5.07
28 Dioni Galparsoro Martinez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                5.35
29 David Navas Chica (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada                5.46
30 David Garcia Dapena (Spa) Cantanhede-Marques de Marialva         6.14
31 Koldo Gil Perez (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                            6.28
32 Óscar Sevilla Ribera (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                    6.45
33 Santiago Blanco Gil (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada                  
34 José Luis Martinez (Spa) Paternina-Costa de Almeria                  
35 Jose Manuel Maestre (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada              7.13
36 Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Team Saeco                          7.24
37 Gorka Arrizabalaga Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                7.59
38 Joseba Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                   8.03
39 Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) iBanesto.com                           8.15
40 Carlos Garcia Quesada (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                   8.22
41 Denis Menchov (Rus) iBanesto.com                                 8.50
42 Adolfo Garcia Quesada (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                   9.48
43 César Garcia Calvo (Spa) Labarca-2-Café Baqué                   10.16
DNF Xabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) iBanesto.com                            
DNF José Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) iBanesto.com                       
DNF Angel Castresana Del Val (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                      
DNF Sergio Perez Gomez (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada                  
DNF Pablo Lastras Garcia (Spa) iBanesto.com                             
DNF Francisco Javier Cerezo Perales (Spa) Labarca-2-Café Baqué          
DNF Ricardo Serrano Gonzalez (Spa) Labarca-2-Café Baqué                 
DNF Gustavo Otero Gomez (Spa) Labarca-2-Café Baqué                      
DNF Francisco Gutierrez (Spa) Labarca-2-Café Baqué                      
DNF Ruben Diaz De Cerio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                         
DNF Rafael Mateos Perez (Spa) iBanesto.com                              
DNF Antonio Colom Mas (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada                   
DNF Alberto Hierro (Spa) Labarca-2-Cafe Baque                           
DNF Carlos Torrent Tarres (Spa) Paternina-Costa de Almeria              
DNF Jorge Ferrio Luque (Spa) Paternina-Costa de Almeria                 
DNF Domingo José Sanchez Segado (Spa) Paternina-Costa de Almeria        
DNF Giampaolo Cheula (Ita) Vini Caldirola-SO.DI                         
DNF Massimo Apollonio (Ita) Vini Caldirola-SO.DI                        
DNF Mauro Gerosa (Ita) Vini Caldirola-SO.DI                             
DNF Marco Gili (Ita) Vini Caldirola-SO.DI                               
DNF Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf                     
DNF Charles Guilbert (Fra) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf                        
DNF Saulius Ruskys (Ltu) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf                          
DNF Dmitri Konyshev (Rus) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf                         
DNF Geert Verheyen (Bel) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf                          
DNF Francisco Palacios (Spa) Labarca-2-Cafe Baque                       
DNF Marius Sabaliauskas (Ltu) Team Saeco                                
DNF Marcos Antonio Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski              
DNF Ivan Ramiro Parra Pinto (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca                    
DNF Antonio Tauler Llul (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                        
DNF David Muñoz Bañon (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                          
DNF Alex Zuelle (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                            
DNF Gonzalo Bayarri Esteve (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems                 
DNF Juan Carlos Dominguez Dominguez (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems        
DNF Niki Aebersold (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems                         
DNF Iker Camano Ortuzar (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems                    
DNF Óscar Laguna Garcia (Spa) Colchon-Relax Fuenlabrada                 
DNF Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Team Saeco                                     
DNF Vladimir Karpets (Rus) iBanesto.com                                 
DNF Andrea Tonti (Ita) Team Saeco                                       
DNF Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Vini Caldirola-SO.DI                         
DNF Steve Zampieri (Swi) Vini Caldirola-SO.DI                           
DNF Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Vini Caldirola-SO.DI                           
DNF José Alberto Martinez Trinidad (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi              
DNF José Antonio Pecharroman Fabian (Spa) Paternina-Costa de Almeria    
DNF Rafael Casero Moreno (Spa) Paternina-Costa de Almeria               
DNF Pedro Diaz Lobato (Spa) Paternina-Costa de Almeria                  
DNF Jose Antonio Garrido Lima (Spa) Paternina-Costa de Almeria          
DNF Igor Astarloa (Spa) Team Saeco                                      
 
Mountains
 
Alto Urkiola (I) - Cat. 1, km 105.8                                     
1 Gorka Gonzalez Larranaga (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                    16 pts
2 Mauricio Ardila (Col) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf                         12
3 Jonathan Gonzalez Rios (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                        10
4 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) iBanesto.com                                  8
5 Aitor Kintana Zarate (Spa) Labarca-2-Café Baqué                      6
6 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                       4
7 Jose Azevedo (Por) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                                   2
8 Juan Miguel Mercado Martin (Spa) iBanesto.com                        1
 
Alto Urkiola (II) - Cat. 1, km 160.4                                    
1 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) iBanesto.com                                 16 pts
2 Dave Bruylandts (Bel) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf                         12
3 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                      10
4 Mauricio Ardila (Col) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf                          8
5 Gorka Gonzalez Larranaga (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                     6
6 Aitor Kintana Zarate (Spa) Labarca-2-Café Baqué                      4
7 David Latasa Lasa (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                           2
8 Jonathan Gonzalez Rios (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                         1
 
Mountains classification
 
1 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) iBanesto.com                                 24 pts
2 Gorka Gonzalez Larranaga (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                    22
3 Mauricio Ardila (Col) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf                         20
4 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                      14
5 Dave Bruylandts (Bel) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf                         12
6 Jonathan Gonzalez Rios (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                        11
7 Aitor Kintana Zarate (Spa) Labarca-2-Café Baqué                     10
8 David Latasa Lasa (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                           2
9 Jose Azevedo (Por) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                                   2
10 Juan Miguel Mercado Martin (Spa) iBanesto.com                       1
 
Metas volantes
 
Atxondo                                                                 
1 Pedro Diaz Lobato (Spa) Paternina-Costa de Almeria                   3 pts
2 César Garcia Calvo (Spa) Labarca-2-Café Baqué                        2
3 Alberto Lopez De Munain Ruiz De Gauna (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi        1
 
Iurreta                                                                 
1 Gonzalo Bayarri Esteve (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems                  3 pts
2 Pedro Diaz Lobato (Spa) Paternina-Costa de Almeria                   2
3 Francisco Javier Cerezo Perales (Spa) Labarca-2-Café Baqué           1
 
Izurtza                                                                 
1 Denis Menchov (Rus) iBanesto.com                                     3 pts
2 Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) iBanesto.com                               2
3 Jose Azevedo (Por) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                                   1
 
Metas volantes classification
 
1 Denis Menchov (Rus) iBanesto.com                                     3 pts
2 Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) iBanesto.com                               2
3 César Garcia Calvo (Spa) Labarca-2-Café Baqué                        2
4 Jose Azevedo (Por) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                                   1
5 Alberto Lopez De Munain Ruiz De Gauna (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi        1
 
Teams
 
1 Euskaltel - Euskadi                                           11.45.37
2 Marlux - Wincor Nixdorf                                           2.07
3 Once - Eroski                                                     4.11
4 Ibanesto.Com                                                      6.01
5 Vini Caldirola - So.Di                                            8.37
6 Colchon Relax - Fuenlabrada                                      10.05
7 Kelme - Costa Blanca                                             12.54
8 Labarca-2 Cafe Baque                                             14.17

Past Winners

2002 Dario Frigo (Ita) Tacconi Sport    160.0 kms in 3.47.18
2001 Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa)        160.0 kms in 3.55.47
2000 Francesco Casagrande (Spa)         160.0 kms in 3.50.52
1999 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita)             160.0 kms in 3.59.25
1998 Simone Borgheresi (Ita)            160.0 kms in 4.01.01
1997 Beat Zberg (Swi)                   160.6 kms in 3.53.28
1996 José-Maria Jimenez (Spa)           160.6 kms in 3.49.00
1995 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita)             160.6 kms in 3.47.25
1994 José-Maria Jimenez (Spa)           160.0 kms in 4.02.02
1993 Tony Rominger (Swi)                160.0 kms in 4.03.23
1992 Claudio Chiappucci (Ita)           160.0 kms in 4.22.30
1991 Pedro Delgado (Spa)                160.0 kms in 3.59.34
1990 Andrew Hampsten (USA)              170.0 kms in 4.24.50
1989 Andrew Hamsten (USA)               167.0 kms in 4.17.03
1988 Marino Lejarreta (Spa)             166.0 kms in 3.59.15
1987 Marino Lejarreta (Spa)             165.0 kms in 4.05.09
1986 Oscar de Jesus Vargas (Spa)
1969 Gabriel Mascaro (Spa)
1968 Joaquim Galera (Spa)
1966 Eusebio Velez (Spa)
1965 Julio Jimenez (Spa)
1964 Julio Jimenez (Spa)
1962 Julio Jimenez (Spa)
1961 Antonio Karmany (Spa)
1936 Claudio Leturiaga (Spa)
1931 Ricardo Ontera (Spa)   

Past winners by Mario Stiehl, www.world-of-cycling.com