Recently on Cyclingnews.com |
 Giro finale Photo ©: Bettini |
60th Vuelta a España - GT
Spain, August 27-September 18, 2005
Main Page Results Overall standings Stage Details Live report Previous Stage Next Stage
Stage 15 - Sunday, September 11: Cangas de Onis-Valgrande Pajares, 191 km
Heras good as gold
Menchov loses 5'17 by day's end
By Hernan Alvarez Macias in Pajares
|
Picking himself up from the hard crash he suffered three days ago, Roberto Heras (Liberty-Würth) has shown once again he is the king of the Spanish mountains. Crossing the line solo and 5'17 ahead of Denis Menchov (Rabobank), the 31 year-old did more than enough to regain the prestigious golden maillot. Heras now leads the race by exactly 4 minutes and 30 seconds over the Russian on the GC. Arriving in second place was Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel), 32 seconds back, with Javier Pascual Rodriguez (Comunidad Valenciana) taking third, 46 seconds behind the stage winner.
Heras attacked at the penultimate climb of Alto de la Colladiella and straight away, it was obvious Menchov could not follow the Spaniard's tempo, even on the descent. Little by little, Heras edged away from the Russian, and by the day's end just about everyone else. "The Colladiella is a very difficult mountain and we knew it," he said.
"We took risks when going downhill and in strategic terms, the stage went perfectly. I was conscious that I descended with great risk. But the point is that if you want something, you have to take your chances."
|
Heras also wanted to highlight the great work his team did, saying, "It was a sensational team work from all of us. I dedicate this victory to my team-mates because it was theirs," making mention of the fact that there's just one week left in the race.
"It was a bad day," admitted Menchov, his face showing signs of both resignation and tiredness.
"I don't know why this happened, maybe it was the cold weather, but there are no excuses," said the Rabobank rider. "That's cycling. The Liberty team has ridden very well, everything went right for them today," he said. With the advantage Heras has over him, Menchov also believed winning the Vuelta is no longer possible, but said he said he is happy with what he has achieved thus far.
How it unfolded
|
145 riders signed on for today's stage. The attacks were constant from the very beginning, with many moves by riders trying to get in the right breakaway. But that didn't happen until km 60, when 16 riders made their escape, including: mountain maillot Joaquin Rodriguez (Saunier Duval), Angel Vicioso, Joseba Beloki (Liberty Seguros), Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) and Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi).
Behind them, six riders were in pursuit of the lead group: Oscar Pereiro (Phonak), Mario Aerts (Davitamon-Lotto), Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Benjamin Noval (Discovery Channel), Mauricio Ardila (Davitamon-Lotto) and Giampaolo Caruso (Liberty). Seven kilometers later, both groups joined together, making 22 men leading the race, with the peloton around one minute behind.
Rain, cold and heavy fog were all part of the harsh weather dished out today, totally opposing conditions in the first week with boiling heat and dry days throughout Andalusia and Castilla-La Mancha. At noon in Pajares, the thermometer marked 13°C with a very cloudy sky and chances of rain.
|
At km 80, Pereiro punctured when the break's lead was around the two minute mark. A big chase group of 14 riders formed roughly 15 kilometers later with Juan Miguel Mercado (Quick Step), Victor Hugo Peña (Phonak), Pablo Lastras (Illes Balears) and Marcos Serrano (Liberty) among them.
Problems for overnight leader Denis Menchov began soon afterwards, as another Rabobank soldier, Jukka Vastaranta, abandoned the race, leaving just five team members at the 110 kilometre mark. At the summit of the third climb, Joaquin Rodriguez led the first breakaway group, followed by Angel Vicioso, Oscar Pereiro and Francisco Lara (T-Mobile).
|
At the head of the peloton, Roberto Heras decided not to wait for the last climb of Pajares and attacked when climbing the Alto de la Colladiella (summit at km 137.6). Heras' attack took riders with him: Vuelta leader Denis Menchov, Carlos Sastre (CSC), Carlos Garcia Quesada (Comunidad Valenciana), Oscar Sevilla (T-Mobile), Santos Gonzalez (Phonak), Francisco Mancebo (Illes Balears), Ruben Plaza (Comunidad Valenciana) and Juan Miguel Mercado (Quick Step). At that moment, the break held an advantage of around four minutes. Behind, local knowledge saw Heras gap his group by 40 seconds, which proved decisive by the end of the day.
Soon after, the Liberty leader made contact with the chase group. Stijn Devolder (Discovery Channel), Joaquin Rodriguez (Saunier Duval), Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel), Oscar Pereiro (Phonak) and Alexandre Botcharov (Credit Agricole) and Nicki Sorensen (CSC) were still leading the race, but the chasers were now just 20 second behind. This latter group included not only Heras, but also Joseba Beloki, Angel Vicioso, Michele Scarponi and Paolo Bettini.
Little by little, Heras was making inroads into Menchov's lead, and at km 172 (19 km to go), Heras became the virtual race leader.
|
In fact, Heras' tempo was so good that he soon caught the lead riders, well supported by his team-mate Michele Scarponi and in the company of Francisco Lara (T-Mobile), Javier Pascual Rodriguez (Comunidad Valenciana) and Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel).
With less than 6km to the finish, Heras attacked his group and found himself on his own. Pedalling with authority, and seemingly oblivious to the terrible conditions, the three-time winner showed he had completely recovered from his crash and was still King of the Spanish mountains.
Stage 16 - September 13: Leon-Valladolid, 162.5 km
The ride from Leon to Valladolid will be a typically flat one. With no climbs in sight and the highest point will be La Mudarra at 860 m. above sea level, it's another occasion for the sprinters' teams to show their qualities, with a breakaway unlikely to succeed. The three intermediate sprints are: Mansilla de las Mulas (km 15.5), Valderas (km 68.9) and La Mudarra (km 131.8). And it goes without saying that it's very unlikely that the top positions on the GC will change.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by AFP
- The peloton started out in fair conditions, but the weather soon turned nasty.
- The peloton led by men from T-Mobile and Liberty Seguros.
- Roberto Heras' face says it all. Menchov's face says nothing.
- Francisco Mancebo (Illes Balears) forces the rhythm at the head of affairs.
- Michele Scarponi (Liberty Seguros, L) has been Roberto Heras' ever-faithful team-mate in the mountains.
- Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Liberty Seguros) sets a cracking pace for his leader Roberto Heras.
- Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) sets a cracking pace of his own, soloing to victory atop Pajares.
- Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) gets the tongue-action happening.
- Denis Menchov (Rabobank) looks concerned at Roberto Heras leaves his group behind.
- Carlos Sastre (CSC) held onto his third place overall.
- Denis Menchov (Rabobank) attempts to limit his losses, but lost too much by the day's end.
- Denis Menchov's team was just five-strong by the end of the day.
- Denis Menchov (Rabobank) looks like a beaten man.
- Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) claims victory in Valgrande Pajares.
- Number 4 in the bag? Roberto Heras thinks so.
- There's even time for fun and games at the end of the day for Roberto Heras.
Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti
- Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) flies up the climb of Pajares.
- Denis Menchov's time in gold came to a bleak and bitter end today.
- Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) showed today it's never over till it's over.
- The new race leader - Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros).
- Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) does it again
- Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) almost there
- Javier Pascual Rodriguez (Comunidad Valenciana) wants it to end
- Michele Scarponi (Liberty Seguros) battles his way up the climb
- Carlos Garcia Quesada (Comunidad Valenciana) finishes well for fourth
- Mauricio Ardila (Davitamon-Lotto) was the fifth rider on the road
- Mario Aerts (Davitamon-Lotto) digging a bit deeper
- Carlos Sastre (CSC) struggles with Pereiro
- Stijn Devolder (Discovery Channel) rode well for a top 10
- Oscar Sevilla (T-Mobile) en route to 12th
- Francisco Mancebo (Illes Balears) limiting his losses
- Daniel Atienza (Cofidis) in the hurt box
- Tom Danielson (Discovery Channel) rides ahead of Adolfo Garcia Quesada
- Juan Miguel Mercado and Oscar Sevilla ride clear of Denis Menchov
- Denis Menchov (Rabobank) really in pain
- Joaquin Rodriguez (Saunier Duval) suffers in the wet
- Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) wins the stage in Pajares
- Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) a strong second
- Javier Pascual Rodriguez (Comunidad Valenciana) comes home for a solid third place
- Michele Scarponi (Liberty Seguros) finishes on the Pajares
- Ardila finishes the stage
- Oscar Pereiro (Phonak) finishes ahead of Sastre
- Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) tries the jersey on for size
- Heras likes it
- Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) back in gold
- Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) returns to the podium
- Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) leads the points classification
- Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) is the best rider in the combination classification too
- Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) salutes as the combination jersey wearer
Results
1 Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 4.53.53 2 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0.32 3 Javier Pascual Rodriguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 0.46 4 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 2.28 5 Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Davitamon - Lotto 3.11 6 Carlos Garcia Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 3.12 7 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 3.19 8 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 3.47 9 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 10 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel 4.09 11 Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 4.33 12 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) T-Mobile Team 4.45 13 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 4.47 14 Tom Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel 5.03 15 Daniel Atienza Urendez (Spa) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 5.08 16 Julian Sanchez Pimienta (Spa) Fassa Bortolo 5.09 17 Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) Quick Step - Innergetic 5.17 18 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 19 Francisco José Lara (Spa) T-Mobile Team 20 Adolfo Garcia Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 21 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step - Innergetic 5.23 22 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole 6.29 23 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 6.42 24 Christophe Kern (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 6.54 25 Nicki Sørensen (Den) Team CSC 7.42 26 Santos Gonzalez (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 7.48 27 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 8.44 28 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 8.47 29 Luis Pasamontes Rodriguez (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 8.51 30 Patrick Calcagni (Swi) Liquigas - Bianchi 9.56 31 Pablo Lastras (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 11.22 32 Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 11.55 33 Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 34 David Blanco Rodiguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 35 Josep Jufre (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 12.10 36 Unai Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 37 Bingen Fernandez (Spa) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 38 Victor Hugo Peña (Col) Phonak Hearing Systems 39 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre - Caffita 40 Christian Vandevelde (USA) Team CSC 12.42 41 Sven Montgomery (Swi) Gerolsteiner 12.57 42 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Davitamon - Lotto 43 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 13.03 44 Michael Barry (Can) Discovery Channel 13.53 45 Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 14.10 46 Marcos Antonio Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 47 Joan Horrach (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 16.32 48 Nacor Burgos (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 17.08 49 Jose Miguel Elias (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 17.34 50 Rolf Aldag (Ger) T-Mobile Team 51 Aitor Gonzalez Jimenez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 17.40 52 David Cañada (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 17.42 53 Manuel Calvente (Spa) Team CSC 19.07 54 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Rabobank 22.28 55 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 24.16 56 Joseba Beloki Dorronsoro (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 57 Sergio Ghisalberti (Ita) Domina Vacanze 58 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir 59 Constantino Zaballa Gutierrez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 60 Francisco Pérez (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 61 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 62 Angel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 63 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Lampre - Caffita 64 Bram De Groot (Ned) Rabobank 24.56 65 Francisco José Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 25.05 66 Leon Van Bon (Ned) Davitamon - Lotto 26.09 67 Moises Dueñas (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 26.33 68 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team CSC 69 David Latasa (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 70 David Lopez Garcia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 71 Lorenzo Bernucci (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 72 Andrea Peron (Ita) Team CSC 28.11 73 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 30.02 74 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 75 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 76 Erik Zabel (Ger) T-Mobile Team 77 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française des Jeux 78 Marco Velo (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 79 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 80 Hervé Duclos-Lassalle (Fra) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 81 Mauro Gerosa (Ita) Liquigas - Bianchi 82 Rafael Casero (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 83 Alessandro Cortinovis (Ita) Domina Vacanze 84 Matej Jurco (Svk) Domina Vacanze 85 Guido Trenti (USA) Quick Step - Innergetic 86 Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre - Caffita 87 Mikel Pradera (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 88 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 89 Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team CSC 90 Ignacio Gutierrez (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 91 Volker Ordowski (Ger) Gerolsteiner 92 Jorge Garcia (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 93 Ian McLeod (RSA) Française des Jeux 94 Aketza Peña (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 95 Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 96 Marco Zanotti (Ita) Liquigas - Bianchi 97 Matej Mugerli (Slo) Liquigas - Bianchi 98 Daniele Nardello (Ita) T-Mobile Team 99 Thomas Ziegler (Ger) Gerolsteiner 100 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner 101 Dariusz Baranowski (Pol) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 102 Thorwald Veneberg (Ned) Rabobank 103 Fabio Baldato (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 104 Angel Gomez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 105 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 106 Eladio Jimenez Sanchez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 107 Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Liquigas - Bianchi 108 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux 109 Pedro Horrillo Munoz (Spa) Rabobank 110 Benjamin Noval (Spa) Discovery Channel 111 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 112 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas - Bianchi 113 Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 114 David Bernabeu (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 115 Devis Miorin (Ita) Liquigas - Bianchi 116 Juan Manuel Fuentes (Spa) Lampre - Caffita 117 Andreas Matzbacher (Aut) Lampre - Caffita 118 Uwe Peschel (Ger) Gerolsteiner 119 José Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 120 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) T-Mobile Team 121 Gorka Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 122 Nick Gates (Aus) Davitamon - Lotto 123 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 124 Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) Crédit Agricole 125 Andreas Klier (Ger) T-Mobile Team 126 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 127 Charles Wegelius (GBr) Liquigas - Bianchi 128 Bart Dockx (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 129 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) T-Mobile Team 130 André Korff (Ger) T-Mobile Team 131 Rafael Nuritdinov (Uzb) Domina Vacanze 132 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 133 Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 134 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 135 René Haselbacher (Aut) Gerolsteiner 32.50 136 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Crédit Agricole 36.45 137 Yohann Gène (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 38.48 138 Martin Elmiger (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems 39.27 139 Allan Johansen (Den) Team CSC 39.38 140 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 40.47 141 Frédéric Finot (Fra) Française des Jeux 41.51 DNF Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Cofidis, le credit par telephone DNF Julian Dean (NZl) Crédit Agricole DNF Matthias Russ (Ger) Gerolsteiner DNF Jukka Vastaranta (Fin) Rabobank Sprints S.I. Priandi, km 44,5 1 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 4 pts 2 Angel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 2 3 José Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 1 S.I. San Pedro de Villaria, km 71 1 Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Davitamon - Lotto 4 pts 2 Daniel Atienza Urendez (Spa) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 2 3 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 1 S.I. Pola de Lena, km 161 1 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole 4 pts 2 Nicki Sørensen (Den) Team CSC 2 3 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step - Innergetic 1 Points 1 Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 25 pts 2 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 20 3 Javier Pascual Rodriguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 16 4 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 14 5 Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Davitamon - Lotto 12 6 Carlos Garcia Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 10 7 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 9 8 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 8 9 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 7 10 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel 6 11 Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 5 12 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) T-Mobile Team 4 13 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 3 14 Tom Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel 2 15 Daniel Atienza Urendez (Spa) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 1 Mountains Alto de la Faya de los Lobos, km 56 - Cat. 3 1 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 6 pts 2 Joseba Beloki Dorronsoro (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 4 3 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 2 4 Angel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 1 Alto de la Colladona, km 79 - Cat. 1 1 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 16 pts 2 Joseba Beloki Dorronsoro (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 12 3 Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Davitamon - Lotto 10 4 Angel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 8 5 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 6 6 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 4 7 Daniel Atienza Urendez (Spa) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 3 8 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2 9 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel 1 Alto de Santo Emiliano, km 115 - Cat. 3 1 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 6 pts 2 Angel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 4 3 Unai Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 2 4 Francisco José Lara (Spa) T-Mobile Team 1 Alto de Colladiella, km 138 - Cat. 1 1 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 16 pts 2 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole 12 3 Joseba Beloki Dorronsoro (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 10 4 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 8 5 Francisco José Lara (Spa) T-Mobile Team 6 6 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 4 7 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel 3 8 Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Davitamon - Lotto 2 9 Javier Pascual Rodriguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 1 Puerto de Pajares, km 188 - HC 1 Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 30 pts 2 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 25 3 Javier Pascual Rodriguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 20 4 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 16 5 Carlos Garcia Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 12 6 Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Davitamon - Lotto 10 7 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 8 8 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 6 9 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 4 10 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel 3 11 Julian Sanchez Pimienta (Spa) Fassa Bortolo 2 12 Daniel Atienza Urendez (Spa) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 1 Teams 1 Comunidad Valenciana 14.50.10 2 Liberty Seguros - Würth Team 8.07 3 Quick Step - Innergetic 10.53 4 Davitamon - Lotto 10.56 5 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 14.34 6 Euskaltel - Euskadi 14.58 7 Phonak Hearing Systems 14.59 8 Team CSC 15.40 9 T- Mobile Team 19.05 10 Illes Balears - Caisse D'Epargne 19.48 11 Saunier Duval - Prodir 27.48 12 Relax Fuenlabrada 29.38 13 Cofidis, le credit par telephone 38.49 14 Rabobank 44.10 15 Fassa Bortolo 53.13 16 Lampre - Caffita 57.57 17 Bouygues Telecom 58.27 18 Liquigas - Bianchi 1.01.29 19 Team Gerolsteiner 1.04.30 20 Credit Agricole 1.04.45 21 Domina Vacanze 1.15.49 22 La Francaise Des Jeux 1.21.35 General classification after stage 15 1 Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 61.47.40 2 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 4.30 3 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 4.50 4 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 6.45 5 Carlos Garcia Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 8.02 6 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) T-Mobile Team 11.16 7 Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 11.30 8 Tom Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel 12.05 9 Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) Quick Step - Innergetic 13.32 10 Santos Gonzalez (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 14.20 11 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 14.53 12 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 15.33 13 Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Davitamon - Lotto 15.56 14 David Blanco Rodiguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 22.21 15 Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 24.14 16 Francisco José Lara (Spa) T-Mobile Team 24.31 17 Unai Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 29.49 18 Daniel Atienza Urendez (Spa) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 29.54 19 Josep Jufre (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 30.11 20 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre - Caffita 34.25 21 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 34.41 22 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole 34.47 23 Marcos Antonio Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 35.32 24 Victor Hugo Peña (Col) Phonak Hearing Systems 36.54 25 Christophe Kern (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 39.49 26 Manuel Calvente (Spa) Team CSC 42.29 27 Joan Horrach (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 42.59 28 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Davitamon - Lotto 43.23 29 Aitor Gonzalez Jimenez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 46.20 30 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel 46.22 31 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 47.26 32 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 49.56 33 Pablo Lastras (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 50.38 34 Luis Pasamontes Rodriguez (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 50.49 35 Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 53.53 36 Adolfo Garcia Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 55.00 37 Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 1.00.25 38 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step - Innergetic 1.00.47 39 Christian Vandevelde (USA) Team CSC 1.05.23 40 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 1.06.09 41 Julian Sanchez Pimienta (Spa) Fassa Bortolo 1.06.40 42 David Bernabeu (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 1.07.10 43 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir 1.08.11 44 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Lampre - Caffita 1.08.46 45 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 1.10.18 46 David Cañada (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 1.11.08 47 Joseba Beloki Dorronsoro (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 1.13.55 48 Nicki Sørensen (Den) Team CSC 1.14.04 49 Francisco Pérez (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 1.14.15 50 Michael Barry (Can) Discovery Channel 1.14.17 51 Jose Miguel Elias (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 1.14.46 52 Eladio Jimenez Sanchez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 1.15.50 53 Benjamin Noval (Spa) Discovery Channel 1.16.05 54 Bingen Fernandez (Spa) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 1.16.13 55 Angel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 1.17.08 56 Patrick Calcagni (Swi) Liquigas - Bianchi 1.17.12 57 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner 1.19.33 58 Rolf Aldag (Ger) T-Mobile Team 1.19.40 59 Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) Crédit Agricole 1.21.17 60 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Rabobank 1.21.36 61 Gorka Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 1.21.48 62 Moises Dueñas (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 1.23.29 63 Javier Pascual Rodriguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 1.26.15 64 Thomas Ziegler (Ger) Gerolsteiner 1.26.26 65 Charles Wegelius (GBr) Liquigas - Bianchi 1.29.04 66 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 1.31.17 67 Rafael Casero (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 1.31.36 68 Juan Manuel Fuentes (Spa) Lampre - Caffita 1.32.47 69 Bram De Groot (Ned) Rabobank 1.33.34 70 Constantino Zaballa Gutierrez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 1.36.15 71 Daniele Nardello (Ita) T-Mobile Team 1.36.53 72 Nacor Burgos (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 1.37.43 73 Erik Zabel (Ger) T-Mobile Team 1.40.44 74 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Crédit Agricole 1.41.10 75 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) T-Mobile Team 1.45.13 76 Mikel Pradera (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 1.45.19 77 Ignacio Gutierrez (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 1.45.24 78 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 1.45.55 79 Andrea Peron (Ita) Team CSC 1.47.59 80 Jorge Garcia (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 1.48.28 81 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 1.50.08 82 Dariusz Baranowski (Pol) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 1.51.58 83 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux 1.52.55 84 David Latasa (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 1.53.51 85 Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 1.54.20 86 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team CSC 1.54.31 87 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 1.58.30 88 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 1.59.12 89 Lorenzo Bernucci (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 2.00.07 90 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 2.00.08 91 David Lopez Garcia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2.00.36 92 Angel Gomez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 2.00.37 93 Alessandro Cortinovis (Ita) Domina Vacanze 2.03.06 94 Francisco José Ventoso (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 2.03.23 95 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 2.06.46 96 Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 2.07.01 97 Andreas Matzbacher (Aut) Lampre - Caffita 2.10.01 98 José Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 2.11.11 99 Aketza Peña (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2.12.25 100 Guido Trenti (USA) Quick Step - Innergetic 2.13.31 101 Thorwald Veneberg (Ned) Rabobank 2.13.41 102 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 2.13.58 103 Sven Montgomery (Swi) Gerolsteiner 2.15.32 104 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 2.17.46 105 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 2.17.51 106 Bart Dockx (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 2.18.25 107 Matej Mugerli (Slo) Liquigas - Bianchi 2.19.19 108 Sergio Ghisalberti (Ita) Domina Vacanze 2.21.09 109 Marco Velo (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 2.22.22 110 Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre - Caffita 2.22.28 111 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) T-Mobile Team 2.23.46 112 Leon Van Bon (Ned) Davitamon - Lotto 2.24.27 113 Uwe Peschel (Ger) Gerolsteiner 2.24.36 114 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 2.26.32 115 Volker Ordowski (Ger) Gerolsteiner 2.27.43 116 Pedro Horrillo Munoz (Spa) Rabobank 2.28.22 117 Andreas Klier (Ger) T-Mobile Team 2.30.26 118 Devis Miorin (Ita) Liquigas - Bianchi 2.30.34 119 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 2.31.49 120 Martin Elmiger (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems 2.32.34 121 Ian McLeod (RSA) Française des Jeux 2.34.24 122 Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 2.36.38 123 Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Team CSC 2.36.43 124 Mauro Gerosa (Ita) Liquigas - Bianchi 2.38.15 125 Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Liquigas - Bianchi 2.40.30 126 Marco Zanotti (Ita) Liquigas - Bianchi 2.41.27 127 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 2.41.55 128 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas - Bianchi 2.43.20 129 Rafael Nuritdinov (Uzb) Domina Vacanze 2.46.20 130 Hervé Duclos-Lassalle (Fra) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 2.48.41 131 André Korff (Ger) T-Mobile Team 2.49.13 132 Fabio Baldato (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 2.52.54 133 René Haselbacher (Aut) Gerolsteiner 2.54.01 134 Nick Gates (Aus) Davitamon - Lotto 2.54.14 135 Allan Johansen (Den) Team CSC 3.01.57 136 Matej Jurco (Svk) Domina Vacanze 3.05.55 137 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 3.08.13 138 Frédéric Finot (Fra) Française des Jeux 3.11.09 139 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française des Jeux 3.19.27 140 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 3.22.35 141 Yohann Gène (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 3.23.54 Points classification 1 Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 132 pts 2 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 117 3 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 104 4 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 92 5 Erik Zabel (Ger) T-Mobile Team 89 6 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 78 7 Carlos Garcia Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 64 8 Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 60 9 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 58 10 Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Davitamon - Lotto 50 11 Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 49 12 Marco Zanotti (Ita) Liquigas - Bianchi 44 13 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 41 14 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) T-Mobile Team 40 15 Santos Gonzalez (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 40 16 Tom Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel 38 17 Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 36 18 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner 36 19 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 35 20 Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 33 21 Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) Quick Step - Innergetic 29 22 David Blanco Rodiguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 29 23 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 28 24 Eladio Jimenez Sanchez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 27 25 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 27 Mountains classification 1 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 176 pts 2 Eladio Jimenez Sanchez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 109 3 Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 106 4 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 66 5 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 60 6 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 53 7 Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 52 8 Carlos Garcia Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 49 9 Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 43 10 Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Davitamon - Lotto 41 11 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 34 12 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 34 13 Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 32 14 Adolfo Garcia Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 32 15 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Cofidis, le credit par telephone 27 16 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 26 17 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 26 18 Joseba Beloki Dorronsoro (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 26 19 Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) Quick Step - Innergetic 23 20 Constantino Zaballa Gutierrez (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 21 21 Angel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 21 22 Javier Pascual Rodriguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 21 23 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Lampre - Caffita 20 24 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 18 25 Pablo Lastras (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 13 Combination classification 1 Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 5 pts 2 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 8 3 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 12 4 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 16 5 Carlos Garcia Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 20 6 Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 32 7 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 33 8 Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Davitamon - Lotto 33 9 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 46 10 Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 47 11 Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) Quick Step - Innergetic 49 12 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) T-Mobile Team 51 13 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 55 14 Santos Gonzalez (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 57 15 Tom Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel 59 16 Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir 61 17 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 62 18 Roberto Laiseka Jaio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 68 19 David Blanco Rodiguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 69 20 Eladio Jimenez Sanchez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 78 21 Pablo Lastras (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 87 22 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 90 23 Adolfo Garcia Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 92 24 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Lampre - Caffita 94 25 Luis Pasamontes Rodriguez (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada 100 Teams classification 1 Comunidad Valenciana 185.45.48 2 Liberty Seguros - Würth Team 25.31 3 Phonak Hearing Systems 30.28 4 Team CSC 32.03 5 Illes Balears - Caisse D'Epargne 40.43 6 Euskaltel - Euskadi 44.41 7 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 44.42 8 Davitamon - Lotto 1.02.20 9 Quick Step - Innergetic 1.11.37 10 T- Mobile Team 1.13.49 11 Saunier Duval - Prodir 1.43.16 12 Lampre - Caffita 1.45.36 13 Relax Fuenlabrada 1.54.46 14 Cofidis, le credit par telephone 2.14.40 15 Rabobank 2.25.40 16 Credit Agricole 2.40.48 17 Bouygues Telecom 3.09.02 18 Fassa Bortolo 3.51.38 19 Team Gerolsteiner 3.55.06 20 Liquigas - Bianchi 4.11.28 21 La Francaise Des Jeux 5.48.12 22 Domina Vacanze 6.09.12
