Commentaire:

Today's 10th stage of the Vuelta 2003 was the longest at 194km, but relatively flat and a great relief following 3 gruelling days in the Pyrénées. It was a course well suited to sprinters; but who among the major sprinters would still have the legs for another intense effort?

The race proceeded normally, with an escape of 5 unfolding after the first 41km. Sevilla, Moreni, Jeker, G. Gonzalez & Mercado dared the escape, stretching their lead to over 3 minutes. As their margin slowly decreased, they were finally overtaken with 45km to go.

Another escape was initiated by Kroon, who was joined by Calvo & Zberg with 35km remaining. The 3 held their position well, but only by a margin of 20", down to 15" at the 20km mark, where Calvi was swallowed up by the peloton.

The Once team had been heading the peloton effectively for 100km. With 9km left it was time for the sprinters' teams to make a move and get into position. Neither Fassa Bortolo nor Team Telecom was in evidence.

Instead an attack was launched by Arstaloa, soon to be followed by Perez (who's made his presence felt with audascious attacks in nearly every stage!); a pursuit group had developed with 7km to go.

At 5km the pursuit group caught the leaders, forming a new lead group of 8, consisting of Perez, Zberg, Martinez, Luttenberger, Zaballa, Bergliatti, Astarloa & Pradera.

The new group held the lead through the 3km mark, but their margin was slim, 10 seconds at most. With only 500 meters left the peloton caught the leaders, and a massive sprint ensued.

Seemingly from out of nowhere Petacchi materialized, and with 200 meters to go was out in front. Zabel, who at this point was just behind him, moved out to the right and simply passed Petacchi by, powering to the line to win by over a bike lenght.

It's the first time Zabel has been able to beat Petacchi on the line all season, and his first win in a major race since winning a stage in the 2002 Tour De France. At first seeming hardly able to believe it was true, Zabel was jubuliant afterwards. Petacchi, after all, is beatable (if only after 3 days in the high mountains). Zabel, in any case, proved himself to have ridden the more tactical race in the Pyrénées, surviving with his legs intact.

 

 

1- Eric ZABEL












Classement de l'Etape

1- Eric ZABEL
2 - Alessandro PETACCHI
3 - Fabrizzio GUIDI
4 - RODRIGUEZ
5 - BOONEN
6 - VALVERDE
7 - EDO
8 - TORRENTE
9 - USOV
10 - PEREIRO

Classement général inchangé

Classement des grimpeurs inchangé

Classement des points

1 - PETACCHI 76 pts
2 - Valverde 67
3 - Zabel 67
4 - Nozal 59
5 - Rodriguez joaquin 57

Classement du Combiné

1 - VALVERDE
2 - Nozal
3 - Perez
4 - Cardenas