Vuelta Stage 10: Speedy Gonzбlez
An undulating 36·5 kilometre course around Cуrdoba was the site to-day of a battle between the Kelme team over the leaders jersey.
In very wet and windy conditions, Tony Tauler Kelme’s time trial specialist, set the early pace with only Christian Vandevelde (US Postal) of the early starters getting near him. Vandevelde was 4th. fastest at the 9 & 19 kilometre marks, then dropped to 9th. at the finish, 1 minute 43 seconds back from the winner Gonzбlez.
Scot David Millar (Cofidis) looked as though he had paced him self perfectly as he started slowly and moved up the times, which was the opposite to Beloki (ONCE) who started fast, top at the first check (9kms) slipping down to fourth at the line. Gonzбlez was second at the first check to Beloki, then from then on lead all the way for a fine victory.
Best ride of the day must go to Sevilla, he finished second, beating all the time trial specialists and holding on to his jersey, by 1 second, not bad for a ”climber”!
Biggest loser of the day, birthday boy Alexandre Vinokourov (29) of Telekom, went from second to sixth overall, now over two minutes adrift, and he was caught by Sevilla.
Tomorrow is a rest day, but the riders will be catching the AVE, high speed train from Cуrdoba to Madrid Central to-night at 20:25, then on to Alcobendas for the start on wednesday.
The UCI vampires were at work this morning, testing nine teams, all well.
Stage 10 Result:
1st. A.Gonzбlez KEL 45.32.
2nd. O.Sevilla KEL at 40 secs.
3rd. D.Millar COF at 1.00.
4th. J.Beloki ONC at 1.01.
5th. A.Tauler KEL at 1.24.
Overall After Stage 10:
1st. O.Sevilla KEL 33.19.05.
2nd. A.Gonzбlez KEL at 1 sec.
3rd. R.Heras USP at 1.42.
4th. I.Mayo EUS at 2.04.
5th. J.Beloki ONC at 2.04.
6th. A.Vinokourov TEL at 2.19.
7th. H.Zubeldia EUS at 2.56.
8th. F.Garcia Casas BIG at 3.05.
9th. J.Jaksche ONC at 3.20.
10th. M.Zarrabeitia ONC at 3.33.
11th. D.Millar COF at 3.36.
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