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50th Vuelta Andalucía (Ruta Ciclista del Sol) - 2.3
Spain, February 15-19, 2004
2003 results Stage List Preview Start List Past winners
The Stages
- Stage 1 - February 15: Huelva - Sevilla, 181 km
- Stage 2 - February 16: Arcos de la Frontera - Benalmadena, 185 km
- Stage 3 - February 17: Humilladero - Puerto de Alto Virgen de la Sierra, 169 km
- Stage 4 - February 18: Lucena - Jaén, 159 km
- Stage 5 - February 19: La Zubía - Almería, 186 km
Ruta del Sol celebrates lean jubilee
By Jeff Jones
Commencing on Sunday, February 15 is the 50th edition of the Vuelta a Andalucia (Ruta del Sol). This five day/871 km stage race will see most of the top Spanish pros taking part, including Oscar Sevilla (Phonak), Manuel Beltran (US Postal-Berry Floor), Oscar Freire (Rabobank), Juan Miguel Mercado (Quick.Step), Juan Carlos Dominguez (Saunier Duval) and Aitor Osa (Illes Balears). The foreign contingent includes Peter van Petegem and Axel Merckx (Lotto-Domo), Erik Zabel and Daniele Nardello (T-Mobile), Viatcheslav Ekimov (US Postal-Berry Floor), Erik Dekker (Rabobank), Johan Museeuw and Tom Boonen (Quick.Step). The peloton is only 104 riders strong, as the race does not have a major sponsor this year.
The Ruta del Sol starts in Huelva with a 181 km flat stage to Sevilla. Stage 2 is between Arcos de la Frontera and Benalmadena, featuring three categorised climbs, including the Cat. 1 Puerto del Boyar (km 42). The third stage starts in Humilladero and finishes atop the Cat. 1 Puerto de Alto Virgen de la Sierra, and will likely be the decisive stage. Stage 4 from Lucena to Jaén contains several Cat. 2 climbs, but is favourable for the sprinters. The fifth stage from La Zubía to Almería is generally quite mountainous, although the last 30 km is either downhill or flat.
Start list
Comunitat Valenciana-Kelme Relax-Bodysol 1 Eladio Jiménez Sánchez (Spa) 11 Gustavo César Veloso (Spa) 2 Javier Pascual Rodríguez (Spa) 12 Josep Jufre Pou (Spa) 3 Antonio Olmo Menacho (Spa) 13 Nico Mattan (Bel) 4 Adolfo García Quesada (Spa) 14 Luis Pasamontes Rodríguez (Spa) 5 Carlos García Quesada (Spa) 15 Luis Pérez Romero (Spa) 6 David Latasa Lasa (Spa) 16 José Luis Rebollo Aguado (Spa) 7 Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) 17 Bert Roesems (Bel) 8 Carlos Zárate (Spa) 18 Niels Scheuneman (Ned) T-Mobile Team Rabobank 21 Erik Zabel (Ger) 31 Erik Dekker (Ned) 22 Daniele Nardello (Ita) 32 Óscar Freire Gómez (Spa) 23 Steffen Wesemann (Ger) 33 Marc Wauters (Bel) 24 Mario Aerts (Bel) 34 Robert Hunter (RSA) 25 Rolf Aldag (Ger) 35 Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) 26 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) 36 Jan Boven (Ned) 27 Andreas Klier (Ger) 37 Steven De Jongh (Ned) 28 Jan Schaffrath (Ger) 38 Kaesten Kroon (Ned) Costa De Almería-Paternina Quick Step-Davitamon 41 Francisco José Lara Ruiz (Spa) 51 Juan Miguel Mercado Martín (Spa) 42 Carlos Ramón Golbano García (Spa) 52 Johan Museeuw (Bel) 43 Jorge Ferrio Luque (Spa) 53 José A Pecharroman Fabian (Spa) 44 David Fernández Domingo (Spa) 54 Servais Knaven (Ned) 45 David Herrero Llorente (Spa) 55 José Antonio Garrido Lima (Spa) 46 Jonathan González Ríos (Spa) 56 Tom Boonen (Bel) 47 Jokin Ormaetxea (Spa) 57 Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) 48 José Gómez Marchante (Spa) 58 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Cafés Baque Euskaltel-Euskadi 61 Jorge García Marín (Spa) 71 Mikel Artetxe Gezuraga (Spa) 62 Mikel Gaztañaga (Spa) 72 David Etxebarria Alkorta (Spa) 63 Francisco Gutiérrez (Spa) 73 Unai Etxebarria Arana (Ven) 64 Alberto Hierro (Spa) 74 Dionisio Galparsoro Martínez (Spa) 65 Francisco Palacios (Spa) 75 Iñigo Landaluce Intxaurraga (Spa) 66 Sergio Pérez Gómez (Spa) 76 Samuel Sánchez González (Spa) 67 Ricardo Serrano González (Spa) 77 Aitor Silloniz Aresti (Spa) 68 Julen Urbano Aretxabala (Spa) 78 Josu Silloniz Aresti (Spa) Lotto-Domo US Postal Service-Berry Floor 81 Thierry Marichal (Bel) 91 Manuel Beltrán Martínez (Spa) 82 Peter Van Petegem (Bel) 92 Patrick Mccarty (USA) 83 Leon Van Bon (Ned) 93 Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) 84 Axel Merckx (Bel) 94 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) 85 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) 95 Benoit Joachim (Lux) 86 Piotr Wadecki (Pol) 96 Stijn Devolder (Bel) 87 Serge Baguet (Bel) 97 Antonio Cruz (USA) 88 Wim Vansevenant (Bel) 98 David Zabriskie (USA) Illes Balears-Banesto Phonak Hearing Systems 101 José L Arrieta Lujambio (Spa) 111 Oscar Sevilla Ribera (Spa) 102 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) 112 Santiago Pérez Fernández (Spa) 103 Pablo Lastras García (Spa) 113 Daniele Bennati (Ita) 104 José A López Gil (Spa) 114 Martin Elmiger (Swi) 105 David Navas Chica (Spa) 115 Marco Fertonani (Ita) 106 Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) 116 Bert Grabsch (Ger) 107 Steffen Radochla (Ger) 117 Uros Murn (Slo) 108 Vicente Reynes (Spa) 118 Óscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 121 Rafael Casero Moreno (Spa) 122 Juan Carlos Domínguez Domínguez (Spa) 123 David De La Fuente (Spa) 124 Ángel Gómez (Spa) 125 Rubén Lobato Elvira (Spa) 126 Alberto González Barrera (Spa) 127 Joaquin Rodríguez Oliver (Spa) 128 Francesco José Ventoso Alberdi (Spa)
Past winners
2003 Javier Pascual Llorente (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 2002 Toni Colom (Spa) 2001 Erik Dekker (Ned) 2000 Miguel Angel Peña (Spa) 1999 Javier Pascual Rodriguez (Spa) 1998 Marcelino Garcia (Spa) 1997 Erik Zabel (Ger) 1996 Neil Stephens (Aus) 1995 Stefano Della-Santa (Ita) 1994 Stefano Della-Santa (Ita) 1993 Julian Gorospe (Spa) 1992 Miguel-Angel Martinez (Spa) 1991 Roberto Lezaun (Spa) 1990 Eduardo Chozas (Spa) 1989 Fabio Bordonali (Ita) 1988 Edwig Van Hooydonck (Bel) 1987 Rolf Gölz (Ger) 1986 Steven Rooks (Ned) 1985 Rolf Gölz (Ger) 1984 Julian Gorospe (Spa) 1983 Eduardo Chozas (Spa) 1982 Marc Sergeant (Bel) 1981 Adri Schipper (Ned) 1980 Daniel Willems (Bel) 1979 Dietrich Thurau (Ger) 1977 Dietrich Thurau (Ger) 1976 Gerrie Knetemann (Ned) 1975 Freddy Maertens (Bel) 1974 Freddy Maertens (Bel) 1973 Roger Pintens (Bel) 1972 Jan Krekels (Ned) 1971 Jean-Pierre Monsére (Bel) 1970 José Gomez-Lucas (Spa) 1969 Antonio Gomez del Moral (Spa) 1968 Antoine Houbrechts (Bel) 1967 Ramon Mendiburu (Spa) 1966 Jésus Aranzabal (Spa) 1965 José Segu (Spa) 1964 Rudi Altig (Ger) 1963 Antonio Barrutia (Spa) 1962 José-Antonio Momene (Spa) 1961 Angelino Soler (Spa) 1960 Gabriel Mas (Spa) 1959 Miguel Pacheco (Spa) 1958 Gabriel Company (Spa) 1957 Hortensio Vidauretta (Spa) 1956 Miguel Bover (Spa) 1955 José Gomez del Moral (Spa) 1925 Ricardo Montero (Spa) Past winners by Mario Stiehl, www.world-of-cycling.com
