September 22/02 12:21 pm - Heras Takes Vuelta Lead

Posted by Editor on 09/22/02
 

Vuelta a Espana

This stage is considered to be the killer of the Vuelta, ending with a climb that maxs out at 23.6%! Top contenders such as Roberto Heras (US Postal), and race leaders Oscar Sevilla and Aitor Gonzalez (both Kelme) used triple chainrings. Heras jumped with 6 kilometres to go, on a 22% section, and rode away for the stage victory (you couldn't say he 'sped away', since everyone was moving at a snail's pace...), and the overall lead, with Gonzalez moving into second and Sevilla to third. Joseba Beloki (ONCE) took second on the stage (moving into 4th overall, ahead of Iban Mayo of Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Francesco Casagrande (Fassa Bartolo) was third.

Stage 15 - Gijon to Angliru 177 km

1 Roberto Heras (Esp) US Postal Service 5:01:02
2 Joseba Beloki (Esp) ONCE-Eroski at 1:35
3 Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 1:41
4 Iban Mayo (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi 1:54
5 Aitor Gonzalez (Esp) Kelme-Costa Blanca 2:16
6 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport
7 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport both s.t.
8 Angel Casero (Esp) Team Coast 2:22
9 Fabian Jeker (Sui) Milaneza-MSS 2:34
10 Felix Garcia Casas (Esp) Bigmat.Auber 93 2:42
11 Oscar Sevilla (Esp) Kelme-Costa Blanca 2:50

GC

1 Roberto Heras (Esp) US Postal Service 55.14.08
2 Aitor Gonzalez (Esp) Kelme-Costa Blanca 0.35
3 Oscar Sevilla (Esp) Kelme-Costa Blanca 1.08
4 Joseba Beloki (Esp) ONCE-Eroski 1.57
5 Iban Mayo (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2.16
6 Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 3.56
7 Felix Garcia Casas (Esp) Bigmat.Auber 93 4.05
8 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport 4.55
9 Manuel Beltran (Esp) Team Coast 5.20
10 Angel Casero (Esp) Team Coast 5.31