Vuelta a España 1997 - 19 Los Angeles De San Rafael Jimenez

Описание: Vuelta a España 1997 - 19, Valladolid - Los Angeles de San Rafael, 193.3 kms

Puerto de Navacerrada (1880 m) 1
Puerto de los Leones (1550 m) 1
Alto de Angeles de San Rafael (1320 m) 3

1. JIMENEZ,José María ESP BANESTO 4.31.38 12 sec bonus 42,697 km/h
2. CLAVERO, Daniel ESP ESTEPONA - TOSC 0.01 8 sec bonus
3. HERAS, Roberto ESP KELME 0.01 4 sec bonus
4. RICHARD, Pascal SUI CASINO 0.18
5. JALABERT, Laurent FRA ONCE 0.31
6. IVANOV, Serguei RUS TVM 0.31
7. BROCHARD, Laurent FRA LOTUS 0.31
8. FARESIN, Gianni ITA MAPEI - GB 0.31
9. BORDENAVE,Philippe FRA CASINO 0.31
10. GARCIA CASAS,Félix ESP LOTUS 0.31
11. NOE, Andrea ITA ASICS 0.39
12. SERRANO, Marcos A. ESP KELME 0.39
13. OSA, Aitor ESP BANESTO 0.39
14. TEYSSIER, Franc. FRA GAN 0.39
15. URIA, José Manuel ESP ESTEPONA - TOSCAF 0.39
16. AJURIA, Ibon ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 0.39
17. CONTRERAS, Carlos COL FLAVIA - TELECOM 0.39
18. AGUIRRE, Julio C. COL FLAVIA - TELECOM 0.39
19. AIARZAGUENA, Iñaki ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 0.39
20. THIBOUT, Bruno FRA COFIDIS 0.48
21. ESCARTIN, Fernando ESP KELME - COSTA BLANCA 0.50
22. ZÜLLE, Alex SUI ONCE 0.50
23. DUFAUX, Laurent SUI LOTUS 0.50
24. ZAINA, Enrico ITA ASICS - CGA 0.50
25. GONTCHAR, Serguei UKR AKI - SAFI 0.50
26. CHIAPPUCCI,Claudio ITA ASICS - CGA 0.50
27. LANFRANCHI, Paolo ITA MAPEI - GB 0.50
28. JEKER, Fabian SUI LOTUS 0.50
29. PIEPOLI, Leonardo ITA REFIN - MOBILVETTA 0.50
30. LEDANOIS, Yvon FRA GAN 0.50

GC after Stage 19

1. ZÜLLE, Alex SUI ONCE 81.37.27
2. ESCARTIN, Fernando ESP KELME - COSTA BLANCA 2.46
3. DUFAUX, Laurent SUI LOTUS 3.39
4. ZAINA, Enrico ITA ASICS - CGA 5.07
5. HERAS, Roberto ESP KELME - COSTA BLANCA 5.24
6. CLAVERO, Daniel ESP ESTEPONA - TOSCAF 6.32
7. SERRANO, Marcos A. ESP KELME - COSTA BLANCA 6.59
8. JALABERT, Laurent FRA ONCE 9.29
9. FARESIN, Gianni ITA MAPEI - GB 10.51
10. LEDANOIS, Yvon FRA GAN 11.22

Stage 19 Report

Spaniard José María Jiménez (Banesto) won the 19th Stage between Valladolid and Los Angeles de San Rafael, over 193.3km. Jiménez rode a great end of the stage, he created the first 'cut' at Navacerrada and was the first one to reach the top of the climb of Los Leones to then beat Dani Clavero & Roberto Heras at los Angeles de San Rafael. Jiménez was very smart on the final straight and attacked when it seemed that he was getting dropped.
Tony Rominger (Cofidis) was the other player in the stage, because of his bravery. The 36 year old Swiss and winner of 3 editions of la Vuelta, wanted to show his strength and not stay in the background. So he left the peloton on km 53 and reached a maximum advantage of 12 minutes. It almost looked like he could pull it off, but the distance would be too long. Rominger started to show weakness after Navacerrada. He started looking back and then quit when he saw how his advantage was been reduced. In the end he reached the finish 8:30 minutes behind the winner. "I attacked and found myself alone, so I continued," said Rominger. "It was good for my morale and even better that I should be caught by two Swiss (Richard and Fabian Jeker).

His gutsy win, secured after a strong burst up the final hill at the country club estate finish, north of Madrid, was the host nation's fifth this Tour, equalling 1993 and going some way towards erasing memories of a blank 1996.

"I really suffered for this win," said Jimenez. "I gave everything I had with that final attack. Now I am content." Alex Zuelle, race leader since the ninth day, has now worn the yellow jersey for a total of 34 days over three Tours -- more than any other rider in the race's 62-year history.

On Thursday Zuelle finished 50 seconds behind Jimenez but maintained his overall lead of two minutes 46 seconds on Spain's Fernando Escartin. "The next stage is a little different from this one but it will be another dangerous day," he said. "Escartin is still a strong rival." His fellow Swiss, Tony Rominger, figured in a bold solo over 117 kms that ended after two mountain climbs and with 23 kms remaining.