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The climber Roberto Heras managed in Lagos de Covadonga to conquer "jersey oro" of the Vuelta a España, after a great exhibition of his equipment Kelme-Costa Blanca in the final ascent. The salmantino runner, who arrived in third position at the goal, managed to surpass in 1 minute and 15 seconds, to until then leader, Angel Casero, and with equality to times in the overal thousandth of the time trials determined to give him "jersey oro", after one long controversy. The stage victory was for the Russian Andrei Zintchenko, who, taking advantage of a numerous escape when coming out Santander, managed to prevail in the summit of Covadonga. The gijonian Chechu Rubiera could not be with the best ones in the first stage in his earth. Thousands of fans met in the inclines of the Lagos and that improved the awaited Asturian stage, that was a phenomenal spectacle. The 146.5 kilometers of the fourteenth stage that separated Santander of the Lagos de Covadonga were a great spectacle. First because it was run very hard, in the end an average of 40.296 kph was obtained, thanks to the initial flight and soon for the waited for fight among the three great Spanish cyclists who gamble the Vuelta.
A burning sun and a suffocating breeze of the South burned the faces of the cyclists and to some did not let breathe with normality. That did not prevent that from the exit there were constant attacks that prospered to the 36 kilometers with the escape composed by the foreigners Kessler, Vinokourov, Finco Guidi, Sganbelluri, Baldato, Brochard, Botero, Cardenas, Bramati, Lanfranchi, Hervé, Zintchenko, Hugo Peña and Pugacci, and the Spaniards Rafa Diaz (Once) and Germán Nieto (Relax-Fuenlabrada). The majority was conscious that the great ones of the general of the Vuelta were going away to watch each other until the ascent of Lagos and among all collaborated to take a great advantage. To the entrance of Asturias by Bustio they had 4 minutes on a squad of whom the Festina paced. The advantage maintained it by Llanes and Posada to descend to 3 minutes in the Alto de Robellada, where it was first Rafa Diaz. The flight arrived thus at the foot of the sanctuary of Covadonga and in those 12 kilometers of ascent of the Lagos quickly Zintchenko took the initiative to go away in solitaire. The Russian made an exhibition of force and capacity of suffering before the applause of thousands of fans of all the corners of Spain that met in the Asturian mountain carrying flags of their regions and placards of spirit. Zintchenko saw how the great ones of the Vuelta were filing the difference little by little to him, but the Russian arrived winner at the goal of Buferrera with an impressive authority.
Meanwhile, the battle to gain the Vuelta began in the last 15 kilometers when Kelme imposed a strong rate before beginning the port, with Cabello and Vidal, and already in the ascent with all its battery of climbers. Escartín and Óscar Sevilla where the ones who made more damage under so hard slopes and a suffocating heat. The squad was broken in numerous groups and the four Asturian ones could not be already with the first ones. Sevilla paced Heras, whom they only could initially follow Laiseka, Sastre and the surprising and sensational Santos González. While, the leader, Angel Casero, accompanied by Igor Galdeano and Alberto Lopez de Munain, preferred to mark his rate before to suffocate and to succumb totally. In the hard inclines of the Huesera, of the 15 percent, Sevilla still made the last efforts for Heras and this one took the relief in the ascent from the 17 percent to go away in solitaire forwards.
Casero raised very then bound tightly and happened to have a delay of 42 seconds to yield 1,10, that put to him to only 5 seconds to lose the leadership. Igor Galdeano had many problems to follow "jersey oro", but he demonstrated a phenomenal capacity of suffering. From the car of his director, Javier Mínguez, also received spirits and calm words. Surely that Miguel Indurain, who also went in that vehicle, gave advice of how to surpass the damn mountain that as much was choked to him. Heras got to take 1,20 him to Casero, but he must have some problem of flato because he touched the hip when his other great companion, the Colombian Cardenas, paced him. Already to 3 kilometers of the goal, Heras was forwards alone and reached to other escaped, Pugaci, who even gave some relief him and until he surpassed to him in the goal of the Lagos. The salmantino flew because already he was virtual leader when throwing in 1.30 to Caretaker. But the last slope towards the goal of Buferrera had made him to decrease his rythm and that allowed Caseto to enter only with 1,15, who arrived together with Rumsas, Galdeano and a recovered Tonkov.
When tying to times in the general, Heras was beneficiary by the 330 thousandth of the time trials and finally they allowed him to be contained maillot of leader. Clear that before a confusion of the arrival judges forced that Casero continued raising podium as if was to the front of the classification. Rubiera entered 3,38, in badly a day that knew to heave, whereas the other Asturian Coke Uría, Marcelino García and Ricardo Valdés entered between the 60 best ones.
The Classification of the stage was:
1º ZINTCHENKO, Andrei RUS LAP 3:38:08
2º PUGACI, Igor MDA SAE at 57
3º HERAS, Roberto ESP KEL at 1:00
4º CARDENAS, Rafael COL KEL at 1:26
5º SASTRE, Carlos ESP ONC at 1:35
6º HERVE, Pascal FRA PLT at 1:37
7º LANFRANCHI, Paolo ITA MAP at 1:58
8º SEVILLA, Oscar ESP KEL at 1:58
9º GONZALEZ, Santos ESP ONC at 2:00
10º LAISEKA, Roberto ESP EUS at 2:02
 Kelme paces the squad Sevilla makr a hard rythm to the main group Heras attacks Casero headding the chase to Heras Cardenas waiting Heras Zintchenko is pushed by a fan Casero in difficulties Heras leaves Cardenas Zintchenko in the finisn |
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