LAGOS DE COVADONGA 2005 STAGE


Jimenez during Los Lagos ascent
The Vuelta a España arrived at Los Lagos de Covadonga by fifteenth time, after a four years ausence. Finally has been Eladio Jimenez the one who has united his name to a list that Marino Lejarreta started, in this 1983 stage where Hinault showed his credentiantls to the final victory. In this winners list, besides the basque one, are Delgado, Lucho Herrera, Jalabert, Tonkov and Alvaro Pino.

The stage, 172 kilometers long, started at La Penilla (Cantabria). At kilometer 39, a fifteen men break was formed: Eladio Jimenez, Bart Dockx, Marcus Burghardt, Heinrich Haussler, Angel Gomez, Guido Trenti, Unai Osa, Anthony Charteau, Joaquin Rodriguez, Bram De Groot, Iñigo Cuesta, Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano, Martin Elmiger, David Cañada y Aketza Peña. After a few kilometers Gomez Marchante losed contact, so the group were compoused by fourtenn cyclists. The gap was increasing meanwhile the race advanced and, at the summit of Collada de la Hoz, the advantage was more than seven minuto es. In Asturias, at the foot of Alto de Ortigueiro, the gap over the squad was the maximum with more than eight minutes. At his moment the great group starts to work, and the gap at Covadonga was three minutes

At the beginning of the ascent of Los lagos, Eladio Jimenez attacks, and he could only be followed by Iñigo Cuesta and Unai Osa. Behind, the Liberty cyclists marked a strong pace and Carlos Sastre attacks at trn kilometers to go. Meanwhile Jimenez had gone alone and marked a continous but demanding rythm. At La Huesera, Heras and Menchov went alone, but Roberto is not able to distanciate the russian, who does not suffer very muck to follow Heras. After La Huesera, Eladio kepts 1'49" over Sastre and 1'58" over the two first ones in overall. At this moment,Simoni contacts Heras and Menchov and, little after, attacks and contacts Sastre, whom also overpasses. Nevertheless this was not enough to reach Eladio, that wins the stage followed by Cuesta and the Italian. Heras and Menchov arrived at the same time, so changes in overall were ilited to third palce that Sastre obtained. Samuel Sanchez, in a good stage arrived twelveth at 3'02". The stage clasification was as follows: 

1 Eladio Jimenez Sanchez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana                   4.25.36
2 Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) Saunier Duval - Prodir                              1.20
3 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Lampre - Caffita                                 1.32
4 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC                                           1.37
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                                           1.44
6 Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team                   
7 Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems            2.11
8 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) T-Mobile Team                                          
9 Santos Gonzalez (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems                           2.16
10 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne                2.36



Scarponi leads the favourite ones group
Heras and Menchov
Simoni contacts Sastre
Simoni goes alone
Osa helping Mancebo
Eladio Jimenez wins
Click on the red circle to see the picture


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