Vuelta a España 1998 - 20 Navacerrada Zintchenko

Vuelta a España 1998 - 20, Segovia - Alto de Navacerrada, 206 kms

Puerto de La Morcuera 1790m
Alto de Cotos 1860m
Alto de Los Leones 1511m
Alto de Navacerrada 1860m

1. Andrei Zintchenko (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros 5.33.33 (37.056)
2. Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
3. José Maria Jiminez Sastre (Spa) Banesto
4. Fernando Escartin (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
5. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal
6. Marco Serpellini (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas 1.07
7. Abraham Olano Manzano (Spa) Banesto 1.09
8. Marcos Serrano (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 1.18
9. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) ONCE-Deutsche Bank 1.49
10. Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2.01
11. Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto 2.07
12. Oskar Camenzind (Swi) Mapei-Bricobi 2.45
13. Jon Odriozola Mugarza (Spa) Banesto 2.45
14. Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco 3.52
15. Alex Zülle (Fra) Festina-Lotus 5.03
16. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 7.28
17. Laurent Brochard (Fra) Festina-Lotus 8.50
18. Richard Virenque (Fra) Festina-Lotus 8.50
19. Michael Claus Moller (Den) TVM-Farm Frites 9.14
20. Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) Banesto 9.36
21. Niki Aebersold (Swi) Post Swiss Team 11.12
22. Felix M. Garcia Casas (Spa) Festina-Lotus 11.34
23. David Etxebarria Alkorta (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank 12.20
24. Fabrice Gougot (Fra) Casino 13.10
25. José Ramon Uriarte Zubero (Spa) Festina-Lotus 13.34
26. Juan Carlos Vicario Barbera (Spa) Estepona-Brepac 14.29
27. Arsenio Gonzalez Gutierrez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 14.29
28. Mirko Gualdi (Ita) Polti 14.29
29. Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros 14.29
30. Angel Castresana (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 14.29

GC after Stage 20

1. José Maria Jiminez Sastre (Spa) Banesto 88.48.17
2. Fernando Escartin (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 0.06
3. Abraham Olano Manzano (Spa) Banesto 0.38
4. Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 1.34
5. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) ONCE-Deutsche Bank 1.40
6. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal 2.49
7. Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 4.33
8. Alex Zülle (Fra) Festina-Lotus 6.44
9. Marco Serpellini (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas 7.28
10. Marcos Serrano (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 7.41

Stage Report

Early news is that two Spanish cyclists have been thrown out of the Vuelta this morning because their hematocrit levels were above the UCI stipulated 50 per cent. While it is not proof of EPO use, the levels are considered unhealthy and are not inconsistent with the riders taking EPO.

In the early parts of the stage the peloton took it easy. The action only raelly began on the first climb of the Alto de Navacerrada (Cat 1) at the 28 kms mark. Richard Virenque was the first to attack with Alberto Leanizbarrutia (ONCE) following on his wheel. They quickly built up a lead but because Virenque was not that far down on GC, the main peloton was attentive. 5 riders left the main peloton and were quickly joined by another 5 riders and together they chased Virenque and his companion. Olano was still in the main peloton. The 10 riders were - García Acosta (Banesto), Rubiera (Kelme), Camenzind (Mapei), Iñigo Cuesta (ONCE), Santiago Blanco (Vitalicio), Uriarte (Festina), Beltrán (Banesto), Simon (Cantina Tollo), Aerts (Lotto) and Boogerd (Rabobank).

Eventually, Leanizbarrutia paid for his effort and was absorbed by the group of 10 although Rubiera and Blanco had bridged the gap to Virenque. Things were not static in the main peloton however. The tempo was increasing and the first to attack was dangerman, Fernando Escartín (Kelme) who was accompanied by Alex Zuelle (Festina), on the first slopes of Los Leones.

The climb curtailed some ambitions and it was only Blanco who was able to keep a fast tempo with Oskar Camenzind, with Escartín, Zuelle, Virenque, Beltrán, Rubiera, Jiménez and a few others, at 33 seconds behind. Olano reached the top of Los Leones at 1.23. But the worst was yet to come.

As they came to the second and final ascent of the Alto de Navacerrada the serious attacks started. Escartín, Heras, Jiménez and Zintchenko all finished clear with Olano defending grimly and losing only 1.09.