Welcome to live coverage of the Vuelta Espana - today is Stage 12.
So today is going to be a classic sprintfest, barring major sprinter apathy. The 169km course from Cuenca to Albacete has one climb early, a Cat 3 that ends at 16km, then it's nothing but downhill and flats, and maybe a minor uphill bump or two, until the finish. Erik Zabel will be looking to spank his rivals once again, but this course actually favors a man like Petacchi a bit more.
Commentary by Locutus and Jaime Nichols.
6:36 am PDT. As we begin our coverage, there is a four man break that includes Constantino Zaballa (Kelme-Costa Blanca), Miguel Martin Perdiguero (Domina Vacanze-Elitron), Paulo Barroso (Milaneza-MSS), and Pedro Diaz Lobato (Paternina-Costa de Almeria).
Well, yesterday there was some confusion as to which Postie had crashed. As it turns out, neither crashed: Heras had to clip out because of a crash, but never went down. This was at the bottom of the climb near the end, and Heras was able to fly up and lose no time.
However, Beltran was caught napping when the field split, and he ended up losing 1' 02", but he was not in a crash either.
Perez (Cofidis) went down in the crash, and had to be helped by his teammate Bingen Fernandez (Cofidis). Perez lost 1' 02", as well as some bark. Perez has been a powerful man in the race so far, so that time loss has got to hurt.
79km left. The break has had a lead of over 5' for awhile. We're waiting for the most recent time gap.
The latest word on the break: their gap is now under 4', and a fierce crosswind is messing with the field. Postal is up near the front of the pack en masse, likely trying to avoid more time losses like yesterday. Spain is beautiful today, by the way.
The peloton is a bit stretched out as Bianchi and Domina Vacanze teams drive the chase. The riders are through the feed zone now. There are some oinking and tearing noises. (Just kidding.) Now, there are a bunch of riders at the front putting the hammer down trying to break away and split up the field in the wind. ONCE is trying to keep things together.
The crosswinds could be pretty dangerous today, and there are a few men gapping off the back.
The gap is now down to 2' 20".
There are some guys in this field who are gonna need some bold moves to make it happen at this point.
Milaneza, Domina Vacanze, and Kelme have been sending men up the road a lot over the last few days, despite the fact that all have ace sprinters. Likely, they are trying to force Fassa Bortolo and Telekom to burn their matches in the chasing.
6:52 am PDT. The break is down a lot. They are in the same straight stretch of road as the peloton. The lead is down to just over a minute or so. US Postal is moving to the front of the pack...
The men in the break are sitting up a bit, looking over their shoulders now. It won't be long. The gap is 57".
The breakaway is in sight, and the peloton is bearing down on the four escapados.
The Fassa Bortolo men are speaking Italian with their hands at the front of the peloton, planning what to do next. Keep a grip on those handlebars, boys!
7:01 am PDT. 61km left The group is all together, rolling along with the Fassa Bortolo men at the point. More attacks will certainly start any minute. On a side note, Lance is thinking of riding the Tour de Georgia! That will be SOOOOO good for that race.
The riders are on a mild up-slope, and they are getting a bit more strung out. Lots of Kelmes and a Telekom or two near the front as well.
The wind is driving the pack into a wedge at the front, and the main field is keeping it close together...Jose Martinez (Paternina-Costa de Almeria) and Michael Sandstod (CSC) go on the attack.
They get a gap of about 100m, but they have their work cut out for them.
7:11am PDT. 53km left. Sandstod and Martinez are now sitting up to wait for the peloton. US Postal is right there at the front of the peloton, watching things to make sure that a field split doesn't cost them more time.
Other news: "Big House" Casagrande has signed for Lampre for 2004. It was a bit of a special 33rd birthday present for him, which was a couple of days ago. The Tuscan has 52 wins in his pro career.
The peloton is now strung out. The pace is up, and it looks like US Postal is on the front driving it! They are trying to split up the field. They are hammering very hard.
They have seven men on the front driving it. All hands on deck for Postal. They are trying to see what kind of damage they can do in the crosswinds.
The field is splitting! Most of the field is being left behind!
There is a gap of about 50 meters, and there are about 40 men up in the front group. It's going to be a tough day for those caught behind.
Benoit Joachim in his Luxembourg Champion Jersey pulls off, making way for the Big Rig, George Hincapie. They are still hammering.
The gap is HUGE! This could be a major move!
Cofidis and Milaneza are driving the rear group. That means Perez and Moller must be caught behind! Postal is all over the front of the lead group. The hammer is down, and ONCE is massed behind them. The gap is 30".
Some ONCE men are now mixing it with the Posties... they must like this split as well.
The second group on the road is a long thin line.... they're in trouble. The wind has split that back group again!
The wind is coming from the left, so Postal has gone to the right hand side of the road so that there is little shelter for the men behind. They are still in their double-echelon team time trial formation. The back group is being blown to pieces. Small groups are now split all over the road! It is chaos!
7:25am PDT. Frigo is in the 3rd group off the back! This is a disaster for him!
Aitor Gonzalez is in that third group as well.
Meanwhile, Oscar Sevilla is in the front group, as are Zabel and Petacchi! The big Postal and ONCE men are all in the front group. They are really wanting to put time in on Frigo.
The gaps aren't opening, but they are all chasing hard, and nothing's happening for them.
The front group with Heras, Beltran, Nozal, and Gonzalez de Galdeano has just under 30" on the Frigo group.
7:31 am PDT. 30km left. The gap is opening... Domina Vacanze is helping drive the front group. Even the big names like Nozal, Heras, and Gonzalez de Galdeano are taking turns in the wind to set the pace! The pack is changing direction, and with that, the wind... Postal is on the front of the first group on the road and they are driving it!
The road is flat from here to the finish. With the two big sprinters and several big GC riders, as well as the team time trial experts Postal and ONCE in that front group, it looks very possible that this front group could take huge time by the end of the stage.
The second two groups on the road have come together, and they are mounting a solid chase; still, the time gap has opened up... Kelme and Frigo are driving that 2nd group of riders. The gap is growing.
Valverde (Kelme) is caught in that 2nd group. He's currently 7th on GC.
Frigo and Aitor Gonzalez (Fassa Bortolo) are on the front, driving that 2nd group. They're not getting much help from that group in the chase. They are getting help from Valverde and some Milaneza men. But that's it.
The gap is 40" between the two group.
7:40am PDT. 25 km to go. There's a lot of fight in that first group, and the second hasn't given up quite yet...There are a lot more men working in that 2nd group now. It looks like a couple of Alessio men are now lending a hand. The speed is 44kph.
Giovanni Lombardi (Domina Vacanze) and Fred Rodriguez (Vini Caldirola) are in that front group. There are a lot of good sprinters there.
20km left. The gap is now at 38". It is staying about the same.
There are about a dozen men taking turns in that 2nd group. Several of the top fifteen men on GC have missed the front group. But even more men are coming to help in the first group as well.
Mixed into all of the Posties are a few iBanesto riders (working for Mancebo, who is himself taking turns on the front), a Rabobank rider, a Domina Vacanze rider, and a few others. This is a vicious race today!
Mancebo can really benefit from this split if it holds. Beltran pulls through on the front, and now Hincapie, Santos Gonzalez, Mancebo... truly a lot of big names are putting the hammer down in that front group.
At the back of the 2nd group are Landis (US Postal) and a few Telekom men, who are happy to see their team leaders well up the road.
It will be interesting to see what kind of effect all this hard riding has on the time trial tomorrow. Several of the big GC men are putting their noses into the wind today, and this could sap their legs for tomorrow. ONCE is no longer helping in that front group. Interesting.
7:55 am PDT. 13km left. It is mainly Postal still driving that front group, and the gap is 42" now. Postal has 7 riders in that break, and they are working HARD up there to create a gap for their leaders.
The crosswinds are now coming from the right, making things rough. The gap is at 45", at 12km to go.
George HIncapie is driving it at the front of the pack... Big George started the Vuelta a little bit on the wrong foot. He had good fitness before the race, but he tells the DP that he got a stomach bug the day before the TTT.
"It pretty much wiped me out" he says. "The first week, I did not feel good at all."
But there's good news, George fans... he's feeling better now, and in the past few days, we've seen him up in the action.
7:59 am PDT. 9km left. The gap is 46". This split is still looking good. It is mainly the domestiques who are doing all the work in the front group now.
With Petacchi, Zabel, Rodriguez, and Lombardi in this front group, the sprint should be spectacular.
8:02 am PDT. 7km left. Heras is sitting on, and his group has a 43" lead still. Heras will climb up the GC a bit if this holds.
Nozal and Gonzalez de Galdeano have been sitting on for a long time now. They will have fresh legs for the ITT tomorrow.
5km left. The gap is now 45". Postal still drives the front group, with the few men from other teams mixed in.
Under 4km left. This group will stay away. It's just a matter of how much time they take. The gap is growing! It is now 49".
3km left. Big Matt White is pounding the pedals for Postal on the front. Hincapie pulls through, and they are firing off like a well-oiled machine. Their gap is now grown to 54".
They are now in the final kilometer. Hincapie leads through the corner.
Now an Euskaltel rider attacks! But here come the sprinters! Rodriguez attacks! Here comes Petacchi! It is close! Zabel and Petacchi will go to the photo finish. Petacchi thinks he won.
Now here comes Aitor Gonzalez leading the 2nd group. They come in, down by 1' 08"! Amazing!
What a move by US Postal! They put the hurt on a lot of the GC threats, and put their two climbers in a much stronger position to take the podium with a dangerously long time trial tomorrow. Also, they forced many of their rivals to burn matches before the time trial.
ONCE came out the best today. They gained time with little work, Nozal and Gonzalez de Galdeano.
Petacchi wins it by a tire!
Petacchi came down the right-hand side, with Zabel trying to come around him on the left. Zabel's 2nd place will keep him in the Polka-Dot Points Jersey.
So Petacchi has three wins to Zabel's two wins. And there are still a few opportunities for a sprint finishes before Madrid. This is getting very interesting.
1. Petacchi, 2. Zabel, 3. Fred Rodriguez. Great to see Fred right there too.
Man, that was just like a tread-length victory by Petacchi, not even a tire. It was by the hair on his knuckles that he won.
Thanks for joining us today, and be here tomorrow for the time trial.
Stage 12 Results
1º Petacchi, Alessandro Ita Fas 3:41:49
2º Zabel, Erik Ger Tel m.t.
3º Rodriguez, Fred Usa Vin m.t.
4º Bertolini, Alessandro Ita Als m.t.
5º Schweda, Raphael Ger Tbi m.t.
6º Vicioso, Angel Esp One m.t.
7º Mancebo, Francisco Esp Ban m.t.
8º Barry ,Michael Can Usp m.t.
9º Rasmussen, Michael Den Rab m.t.
10º Sevilla, Oscar Esp Kel m.t.
11º Heras, Roberto Esp Usp m.t.
12º Nozal, Isidro Esp One m.t.
13º Lastras, Pablo Esp Ban m.t.
14º Lombardi, Giovanni Ita Dve m.t.
15º Arrieta, José Luis Esp Ban m.t.
16º Glez. Galdeano, Igor Esp One m.t.
17º Perez, Luis Esp Cof m.t.
18º Beltran, Manuel Esp Usp m.t.
19º Etxebarria, Unai Ven Eus m.t.
20º Rund, Thorsten Ger Tbi m.t.
21º Joachim, Benoit Lux Usp m.t.
22º Gonzalez, Santos Esp Dve m.t.
23º Pradera, Mikel Esp One m.t.
24º Hayman, Mathew Aus Rab a 16
25º Hincapie, George Usa Usp a 22
26º Rubiera, José Luis Esp Usp a 41
27º White, Matthew Aus Usp a 1:01
28º Boonen, Tom Bel Qsd a 1:09
29º Lopeboselli, Angelo Ita Cof a 1:09
30º Cañada, David Esp Qsd m.t.
31º Herrero, Ivan Esp L2c m.t.
32º Pepoli, Christian Ita Sae m.t.
33º Mondini, Gianpaolo Ita Dve m.t.
34º Del Olmo, Txema Esp Mil m.t.
35º Sanchez, Domingo Esp Alm m.t.
36º Burgos, Nacor Esp Crf m.t.
37º Laguna, Oscar Esp Crf m.t.
38º Amorim, Gonçalo Por Mil m.t.
39º Valverde, Alejandro Esp Kel m.t.
40º Gonzalez, Aitor Esp Fas m.t.
41º Kroon, Karsten Ned Rab m.t.
42º Latasa, David Esp Kel m.t.
43º Furlan, Angelo Ita Als m.t.
44º Ferrio, Jorge Esp Alm m.t.
45º Frigo, Dario Ita Fas m.t.
46º Silva, Renato Por Mil m.t.
47º Jufre, José Esp Crf m.t.
48º Osa, Unai Esp Ban m.t.
49º Zaballa, Constantino Esp Kel m.t.
50º Osa, Aitor Esp Ban m.t.
...
61º Casagranda, Stefano Ita Als m.t.
64º Cardenas, Felix Col L2c m.t.
79º Mercado, Juan Miguel Esp Ban m.t.
80º Leipheimer, Levy Usa Rab m.t.
82º Landis, Floyd Usa Usp m.t.
85º Noval, Benjamín Esp Crf a 10:30
88º Bayarri, Gonzalo Esp Pho m.t.
93º Fernandez, Bingen Esp Cof m.t.
95º Julich, Bobby Usa Tel m.t.
96º Millar, David Gbr Cof m.t.
100º Navas, David Esp Crf m.t.
109º Jaksche, Jörg Ger One m.t.
110º Van Heeswijk, Max Ned Usp m.t.
115º Mutsaars, Ronald Ned Rab m.t.
116º Laiseka, Roberto Esp Eus m.t.
126º Van Goolen, Jurgen Bel Qsd m.t.
131º De Jongh, Steven Ned Rab m.t.
137º Möller, Klaus Den Mil m.t.
143º Piepoli, Leonardo Ita Ban m.t.
147º Sastre, Carlos Esp Csc m.t.
151º Etxebarria, David Esp Eus m.t.
162º Bertogliati, Rubens Sui Lam m.t.
General Classification after Stage 12
1º Nozal, Isidro Esp One 40:54:29
2º Glez. Galdeano, Igor Esp One a 1:48
3º Beltran, Manuel Esp Usp a 3:03
4º Heras, Roberto Esp Usp a 3:28
5º Mancebo, Francisco Esp Ban a 3:40
6º Rasmussen, Michael Den Rab a 4:04
7º Frigo, Dario Ita Fas a 4:14
8º Valverde, Alejandro Esp Kel a 5:06
9º Gonzalez, Aitor Esp Fas a 5:09
10º Osa, Unai Esp Ban a 5:23
11º Perez, Luis Esp Cof a 5:27
12º Cardenas, Felix Col L2c a 7:30
13º Scarponi, Michele Ita Dve a 8:03
14º Gonzalez, Santos Esp Dve a 8:56
15º Serrano, Marcos Esp One a 10:19
16º Del Olmo, Txema Esp Mil a 10:27
17º Sevilla, Oscar Esp Kel a 10:40
18º Flores, Iker Esp Eus a 11:11
19º Garcia Casas, Félix Esp Tbi a 11:29
20º Pereiro, Oscar Esp Pho a 14:09
21º Trentin, Guido Ita Cof a 15:31
22º Jufre, José Esp Crf a 21:19
23º Piepoli, Leonardo Ita Ban a 36:24
24º Calvente, Manuel Esp Csc a 36:48
25º Cuesta, Iñigo Esp Cof a 36:58
Points Classification after Stage 12
1º Zabel, Erik Ger Tel 112
2º Petacchi, Alessandro Ita Fas 101
3º Valverde, Alejandro Esp Kel 81
4º Nozal, Isidro Esp One 66
5º Rasmussen, Michael Den Rab 63
6º Etxebarria, Unai Ven Eus 57
7º Rodriguez, Joaquin Esp One 57
8º Perez, Luis Esp Cof 55
9º Edo, Angel Esp Mil 55
10º Cardenas, Felix Col L2c 51
11º Glez. Galdeano, Igor Esp One 49
12º Boonen, Tom Bel Qsd 49
13º Frigo, Dario Ita Fas 44
14º Mancebo, Francisco Esp Ban 42
15º Zaballa, Constantino Esp Kel 40
16º Etxebarria, David Esp Eus 40
17º Osa, Unai Esp Ban 37
18º Beltran, Manuel Esp Usp 34
19º Hruska, Jan Cze One 32
20º Rodriguez, Fred Usa Vin 30
KOM after Stage 12
1º Cardenas, Felix Col L2c 132
2º Osa, Aitor Esp Ban 106
3º Horrach, Joan Esp Mil 97
4º Perez, Luis Esp Cof 62
5º Jufre, José Esp Crf 55
6º Rodriguez, Joaquin Esp One 49
7º Valverde, Alejandro Esp Kel 42
8º Zaballa, Constantino Esp Kel 40
9º Rasmussen, Michael Den Rab 37
10º Osa, Unai Esp Ban 36
11º Etxebarria, Unai Ven Eus 31
12º Nozal, Isidro Esp One 31
13º Jeker, Fabian Sui Mil 30
14º Frigo, Dario Ita Fas 29
15º Piepoli, Leonardo Ita Ban 27
16º Etxebarria, David Esp Eus 23
17º Jimenez, Eladio Esp Ban 22
18º Heras, Roberto Esp Usp 21
19º Mancebo, Francisco Esp Ban 18
20º Lunghi, Denis Ita Als 17
21º Scarponi, Michele Ita Dve 14
Teams Classification after Stage 12
1º Once - Eroski ONE 122:47:22
2º IBanesto.com BAN a 3:01
3º Kelme - Costa Blanca KEL a 18:32
4º Euskaltel - Euskadi EUS a 22:57
5º Cofidis, le credit par telephone COF a 27:41
6º Milaneza - MSS MIL a 37:45
7º Fassa Bortolo FAS a 45:56
8º Domina Vacanze-Elitron-RDZ DVE a 52:15
9º US Postal Service Berry Floor USP a 1:01:57
10º Quick Step - Davitamon QSD a 1:55:35
11º Labarca-2 Cafe Baque L2C a 2:06:44
12º Team CSC CSC a 2:08:17
13º Paternina - Costa de Almeria ALM a 2:08:43
14º Team Bianchi TBI a 2:16:10
15º Colchon Relax - Fuenlabrada CRF a 2:17:37
16º Rabobank RAB a 2:30:21
17º Lampre LAM a 2:54:43
18º Phonak Hearing Systems PHO a 3:04:56
19º Team Telekom TEL a 3:06:15
20º Alessio ALS a 4:02:55
21º Saunier Duval - Vini Caldirola VIN a 5:00:45
22º Saeco - Longoni Sport SAE a 5:29:13
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