12th Challenge Illes Balears - 1.3 (x5)

Mallorca, Spain, February 2-6, 2003

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Stage 5 - February 6: Magalluf - Palmanova, 149.4 km

Dutch triumph in Balears finale

Kelme's Valverde takes overall

The fifth and final race in the Challenge Illes Balears saw Dutchman Remmert Wielinga (Rabobank) take the win in Palmanova in front of Gorka Gonzalez (Euskaltel). The pair had escaped on the final climb of the day with 17 km to go, and crossed the line with a 1'18 advantage over third placed Juan Antonio Flecha (iBanesto.com).

The overall winner of the event was Kelme's Alejandro Valverde, who finished fifth on the stage to clinch the classification ahead of Joaquin Rodriguez (ONCE) and last year's winner Francisco Cabello (Kelme), all of whom finished in the same time. Valverde doesn't gain any UCI points however, as the Challenge Illes Balears is not an official UCI stage race - it's treated as five separate one day races with riders able to pick and choose which races they start in.

The final stage from Magalluf to Palmanova measured just 149.4 km, but contained several Cat. 2 and Cat. 3 climbs. With the first four races ending in bunch sprints, it was predicted that today would be different, and overnight leader Erik Zabel would probably not hold on to the overall.

The start was at midday in cool 11 degree temperatures, with the sun finding it hard to try and break through the clouds. The first rider to attack was Euskaltel's Julen Fernandez after 6 km, but he was only allowed a few kilometres of freedom. A counter by Remco van der Ven (Bankgiroloterij) and Aitor Osa (iBanesto.com) saw them take the first meta volante sprint at km 18.5, with the peloton at 45". The pair lasted until km 23 when they were caught again.

A kilometre later on the Cat. 2 climb of Coll de sa Gramola, a group of seven riders attacked with Patrik Sinkewitz (Quick Step) leading Koldo Gil and Alberto Contador (ONCE) over the top of the climb. They were caught on the descent, but the tough pace on the climb was already causing problems for Erik Zabel and many others.

Euskaltel, iBanesto and Kelme drove it hard in the lead up to the next climb, and a group of 40 riders including Valverde, Cabello and Allan Davis came to the bottom of the Coll de Claret (Cat. 3, km 54) with a 1'05 lead on Zabel's group.

For the next 35 km, the second group tried in vain to bridge the gap, but it remained stubbornly at 1'05, and several more riders, including Davis lost contact with the front. By km 80, the gap had grown to 2'52 as the second group stopped chasing completely.

After 95 km, José Juliá (Kelme) and Santiago Blanco (Relax-Fuenlabrada) broke away from the leading group, gaining 45 seconds before they were reabsorbed after 104 km. Alejandro Valverde showed his strength on the next climb, the Cat. 2 Valldemossa where he crossed in front of Davide Rebellin and Remmert Wielinga. Over the top of the climb a group of 14 riders went clear, including Valverde, Cabello, Jose Ivan Gutierrez (iBanesto) and Joaquín Rodríguez (ONCE).

This was a crucial move, and Gutierrez tried several times to attack, but each time was brought back. Instead it was Gorka Gonzalez (Euskaltel) and Remmert Wielinga who made the final decisive attack, going away on the Cat. 3 Galilea climb at km 132. They went over the top with a 30" lead over Juan Antonio Flecha, and 1'12 over the next group of eight that contained Valverde, Cabello and Gutierrez.

Flecha continued to chase on his own but he couldn't bring back Gonzalez and Wielinga on the descent into Palmanova, and the leading pair could fight out the finish without fear from behind. Wielinga was far stronger in the sprint, and Gonzalez had to settle for second place. Flecha finished next, followed by Rebellin and Valverde in the group of eight, giving Valverde the overall classification due to his better finishing places.

Photography

Images by Challenge Illes Balears

Kelme controlled the final stage from start to finish
Remmert Wielinga (Rabobank) takes the win ahead of Gorka Gonzalez (Euskaltel) after their 17km escape
Overall winner Alejandro Valverde (Kelme) wonders where his big cheque is
Category winners (L to R): Mountains - Koldo Gil (ONCE); Metas Volantes - Remco Van Der Ven (Bankgiroloterij); Special Sprints - Rafael Casero (Paternina); GC - Alejandro Valverde (Kelme)

Results

1 Remmert Wielinga (Ned) Rabobank                    3.55.53 (38.002 km/h)
2 Gorka Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
3 Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) iBanesto.com                1.18
4 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner                    1.52
5 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
6 Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) Quick Step-Davitamon
7 Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Spa) iBanesto.com
8 Luis Pasamontes (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada
9 Francisco Cabello (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
10 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Eroski
11 Francisco Perez (Spa) Milaneza-MSS
12 Miguel Martinez (Fra) Phonak Hearing Systems         4.23
13 Vicente Reynes (Spa) L.A. Pecol
14 Xavier Florencio (Spa) ONCE-Eroski
15 Gerhard Trampusch (Aut) Gerolsteiner
16 David Lopez (Spa) Labarca 2-Café Baque
17 Ivan Ramiro Parra (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca           4.35
18 Santiago Blanco (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada
19 Bart Voskamp (Ned) Bankgiroloterij                   4.58
20 Jose Cayetano Julia (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
21 Bram Schmitz (Ned) Bankgiroloterij
22 Gorka Gerrikagoitia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi          5.01
23 Rafael Casero (Spa) Paternina-Costa Almeria
24 David Bernabeu (Spa) Milaneza-MSS
25 Ruben Plaza (Spa) iBanesto.com
26 Bruno Castanheira (Por) L.A. Pecol
27 Domingo Segado (Spa) Paternina-Costa Almeria
28 Francisco Jose Lara (Spa) Team Coast
29 David Muñoz (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
30 Udo Bolts (Ger) Gerolsteiner
31 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank
32 Thorwald Veneberg (Ned) Rabobank                    13.19
33 Yon Bru (Spa) L.A. Pecol
34 Alberto Contador (Spa) ONCE-Eroski
35 Torsten Hiekmann (Ger) Telekom
36 Roberto Lozano (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
37 Ruben Diaz de Cerio (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
38 Alexandre Moos (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems
39 Dario Gadeo (Spa) Paternina-Costa Almeria           23.39
40 Benjamin Noval (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada
41 Jose Luis Martinez (Spa) Paternina-Costa Almeria
42 Allan Davis (Aus) ONCE-Eroski                       24.59
43 Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom                            25.24
44 Robert Forster (Ger) Gerolsteiner                   27.17
45 Uwe Peschel (Ger) Gerolsteiner
46 Pavel Brutt (Rus) Lokomotiv                         27.22
47 Rui Roque (Por) L.A. Pecol                          27.25
48 Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                            27.28
49 Thomas Ziegler (Ger) Team Wiesenhof                 27.34
50 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank
51 Matthe Pronk (Ned) Bankgiroloterij
52 Jose Luis Rebollo (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada
53 Jon Odriozola (Spa) iBanesto.com
54 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) iBanesto.com
55 Tristan Hoffman (Ned) Team CSC
56 Rafael Mateos (Spa) iBanesto.com
57 Juan Llaneras (Spa) Spanish National Team
58 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Telekom
59 Christian Werner (Ger) Telekom
60 Jhonathan Gonzalez (Spa) ONCE-Eroski                27.40
61 Eladio Jimenez (Spa) iBanesto.com
62 Julen Fernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi             27.46
63 Alexis Rodriguez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
64 David Latasa (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
65 Dionisio Galparsoro (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
66 Hector Guerra (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada
67 Denis Smyslov (Rus) Lokomotiv
68 Iker Camaño (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems
69 Inigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
70 Remco Van Der Ven (Ned) Bankgiroloterij
71 Bert Hiemstra (Ned) Bankgiroloterij
72 Roger Beuchat (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems
73 Marcos Serrano (Spa) ONCE-Eroski
74 David Arroyo (Spa) ONCE-Eroski
75 Nuno Ribeiro (Por) L.A. Pecol
76 Juan Miguel Cuenca (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
77 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Davitamon
78 Jan Van Velzen (Ned) Bankgiroloterij
79 Manuel Calvente (Spa) Team CSC
80 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) iBanesto.com
81 Jav Pascual Rodriguez (Spa) iBanesto.com
82 Alberto Lopez de Munain (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
83 Joseba Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
84 Nicki Sorensen (Den) Team CSC
85 Gerben Löwik (Ned) Bankgiroloterij
86 Robert Bartko (Ger) Rabobank
87 Santiago Perez (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems
88 Vincent Van Der Kooy (Ned) Bankgiroloterij
89 Gregory Rast (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems
90 Gonzalo Bayarri (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems
91 Aitor Kintana (Spa) Labarca 2-Café Baque
92 Francisco J. Cerezo (Spa) Labarca 2-Cafe Baque
93 Jose A. Pecharroman (Spa) Paternina-Costa Almeria
94 Carlos Golbano (Spa) Paternina-Costa Almeria
95 Koldo Gil (Spa) ONCE-Eroski
96 Bekim Christensen (Den) Team Coast
 
Mountains
 
Coll De Sa Gramola - Cat. 2, km 24.80
 
1 Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) Quick Step-Davitamon             10 pts
2 Koldo Gil (Spa) ONCE-Eroski                              7
3 Alberto Contador (Spa) ONCE-Eroski                       5
4 Javi Pascual Llorente (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca           3
5 Ivan Ramiro Parra (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca               2
6 Santiago Blanco (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada          1
 
Coll De Claret - Cat. 3, km 54.00
 
1 Miguel Martinez (Fra) Phonak Hearing Systems             6 pts
2 Alberto Contador (Spa) ONCE-Eroski                       4
3 Rafael Casero (Spa) Paternina-Costa Almeria              2
4 Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) Quick Step-Davitamon              1
 
Coll De Soller - Cat. 2, km 86.00
 
1 Miguel Martinez (Fra) Phonak Hearing Systems            10 pts
2 Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) Quick Step-Davitamon              7
3 Udo Bolts (Ger) Gerolsteiner                             5
4 Gerhard Trampusch (Aut) Gerolsteiner                     3
5 Juan Carlos Dominguez (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems       2
6 Xavier Florencio (Spa) ONCE-Eroski                       1
 
Valldemosa - Cat. 2, km 107.00
 
1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca             10 pts
2 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner                       7
3 Remmert Wielinga (Ned) Rabobank                          5
4 Gorka Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                   3
5 Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) Quick Step-Davitamon              2
6 Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Spa) iBanesto.com                   1
 
Coll De Galilea - Cat. 3, km 132.00
 
1 Gorka Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                   6 pts
2 Remmert Wielinga (Ned) Rabobank                          4
3 Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Spa) iBanesto.com                   2
4 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca              1
 
Metas Volantes
 
Andratx, km 18.00
 
1 Remco Van Der Ven (Ned) Bankgiroloterij                  3 pts
2 Aitor Osa (Spa) iBanesto.com                             2
3 Matthe Pronk (Ned) Bankgiroloterij                       1
 
Puigpuyent, km 126.00
 
1 Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Spa) iBanesto.com                   3 pts
2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca              2
3 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner                       1
 
Special Sprints
 
Deia, km 66.00
 
1 Rafael Casero (Spa) Paternina-Costa Almeria              3 pts
2 Francisco Jose Lara (Spa) Team Coast                     2
3 David Muñoz (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                     1
 
Calvia, km 141.00
 
1 Gorka Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                   3 pts
2 Remmert Wielinga (Ned) Rabobank                          2
3 Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) iBanesto.com                   1
 
Teams
 
1 iBanesto.com                                      11.55.50
2 Kelme-Costa Blanca                                    0.08
3 Gerolsteiner                                          3.05
4 Euskaltel-Euskadi                                    10.09
5 Rabobank
6 ONCE-Eroski                                          11.23
7 L.A. Pecol                                           14.32
8 Relax-Fuenlabrada                                    21.55
9 Paternina-Costa Almeria                              25.30
10 Bankgiroloterij                                     29.19
11 Phonak Hearing Systems                              37.17
12 Labarca 2-Cafe Baque                                51.44
13 Telekom                                             58.06
14 Team CSC                                          1.14.55
 
Final general classification
 
1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca       18.10.07
2 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE-Eroski
3 Francisco Cabello (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
4 Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Spa) iBanesto.com
5 Francisco Perez (Spa) Milaneza-MSS
6 Vicente Reynes (Spa) L.A. Pecol                       2.31
7 Xavier Florencio (Spa) ONCE-Eroski
8 Gerhard Trampusch (Aut) Gerolsteiner
9 Jose Cayetano Julia (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca          3.06
10 Francisco Jose Lara (Spa) Team Coast                 3.09
11 Gorka Gerrikagoitia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
12 David Bernabeu (Spa) Milaneza-MSS
13 Ivan Ramiro Parra (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca           3.52
14 Domingo Segado (Spa) Paternina-Costa Almeria         4.48
15 Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) Quick Step-Davitamon          5.40
16 Luis Pasamontes (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada      7.25
17 Miguel Martinez (Fra) Phonak Hearing Systems         7.30
18 David Muñoz (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                 8.08
19 Rafael Casero (Spa) Paternina-Costa Almeria          8.36
20 Alberto Contador (Spa) ONCE-Eroski                  11.27
21 Bruno Castanheira (Por) L.A. Pecol                  14.08
22 Yon Bru (Spa) L.A. Pecol                            15.33
23 Ruben Plaza (Spa) iBanesto.com                      18.01
24 Bram Schmitz (Ned) Bankgiroloterij                  19.50
25 Allan Davis (Aus) ONCE-Eroski                       23.07
26 Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom                            23.28
27 Jose Luis Rebollo (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada   25.42
28 Matthe Pronk (Ned) Bankgiroloterij
29 Hector Guerra (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada       25.54
30 Jan Van Velzen (Ned) Bankgiroloterij
31 Koldo Gil (Spa) ONCE-Eroski
32 Benjamin Noval (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada      26.46
33 Jose Luis Martinez (Spa) Paternina-Costa Almeria    30.20
34 Gerben Löwik (Ned) Bankgiroloterij                  35.13
35 Rui Roque (Por) L.A. Pecol                          36.32
36 Robert Bartko (Ger) Rabobank                        38.35
37 Remco Van Der Ven (Ned) Bankgiroloterij             40.46
38 Tristan Hoffman (Ned) Team CSC                      41.22
39 Denis Smyslov (Rus) Lokomotiv                       46.12
 
Mountains classification
 
1 Koldo Gil (Spa) ONCE-Eroski                             35 pts
2 Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) Quick Step-Davitamon             32
3 Alberto Contador (Spa) ONCE-Eroski                      23
4 Miguel Martinez (Fra) Phonak Hearing Systems            21
5 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca             17
6 David Muñoz (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                    13
7 Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom                                 5
8 Ivan Ramiro Parra (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca               4
9 Gerhard Trampusch (Aut) Gerolsteiner                     3
10 Xavier Florencio (Spa) ONCE-Eroski                      3
11 Hector Guerra (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada           3
 
Metas volantes classification
 
1 Remco Van Der Ven (Ned) Bankgiroloterij                  9 pts
2 Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Spa) iBanesto.com                   3
3 Koldo Gil (Spa) ONCE-Eroski                              3
4 Matthe Pronk (Ned) Bankgiroloterij                       3
5 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca              2
6 David Muñoz (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                     2
7 Xavier Florencio (Spa) ONCE-Eroski                       1
 
Special sprints classification
 
1 Rafael Casero (Spa) Paternina-Costa Almeria             12 pts
2 David Muñoz (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                     2
3 Francisco Jose Lara (Spa) Team Coast                     2
4 Jose Cayetano Julia (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca             2
5 Jose Luis Martinez (Spa) Paternina-Costa Almeria         2
6 David Bernabeu (Spa) Milaneza-MSS                        1
 
Teams classification
 
1 Kelme-Costa Blanca                                54.32.59
2 Gerolsteiner                                          3.02
3 ONCE-Eroski                                          11.20
4 Rabobank                                             11.42
5 iBanesto.com                                         15.01
6 Euskaltel-Euskadi                                    15.05
7 Relax-Fuenlabrada                                    26.51
8 Bankgiroloterij                                      29.08
9 L.A. Pecol                                           29.34
10 Paternina-Costa Almeria                             32.33
11 Phonak Hearing Systems                              52.46
12 Telekom                                             58.18
13 Labarca 2-Cafe Baque                              1.50.30
14 Team CSC                                          1.57.11