Today's 162 km 11th stage was a transition race, with a number of gradual climbs and descents and an important 3rd category climb--the Alto del Castillo--12km from the finish, and one which promised a sprinters' finale.

The race was tightly contested from the start and ridden at a brisk pace. There were many attempted escapes, but the peloton was keeping a tight rein on all such efforts.

In the closing 70km 2 significant breakaway groups formed, comprised of 10 to 14 riders; but in both cases the maximum margin could be counted in seconds rather than minutes.

Suddenly, entering into the final ascent of the Alto del Castillo, Santos Gonzalez attacked followed by David Etxebarria. The 2 continued to distance themselves from the remains of the escape group by as much as 39". By the 7km mark they held a 30" lead on the peloton, which by now had absorbed the rest of the group. At 5km the lead of the 2 had shrunk to just 15". It looked as if they would be swallowed up imminently. But just before the "flamme rouge" at 1km, Etxebarria, followed by Gonzalez, accelerated desperately and managed to hold off the charge of the peloton. Could they last to the line? Alas, no. The momentum of the peloton was too much to resist, and with 500 meters to go it had evolved into a massive all out sprint.

In front were Zabel & Boonen, with Boonen accelerating in a bid to overwhelm Zabel. Boonen's burst fell just short, though, as Erik Zabel held his own to win in a photo finish by around 10cm.

The fissure in the peloton that had occured in the latter phases of the stage was telling; Team Telocom was present, Fassa Bortolo was not. And during the last 7km stretch, Zabel had been well placed, right near the front of the advancing peloton.

At this point it's an even 2-2 draw in the sprints, with the momentum now on Zabel's side; Zabel today also relieved Petacchi of the points leader's polka dot jersey.

Whereas the overall picture remains unchanged and effectively stagnant, with Nozal & Galdeano hoding the first 2 positions by comfortable margins, the sprinters' competion couldn't be hotter.

With tomorrow's stage essentially a downhill free roll after a difficult climb early in the day, we should see another hotly contested sprint to the line, in which Zabel & Petacchi are likely to be very present.

le classement de l'étape

1 - ZABEL
2 - BOONEN
3 - EDO
4 - VALVERDE
5 - MANCEBO
6 - GORKA GONZALEZ
7 - CASAGRANDA Stefano
8 - HINCAPIE
9 - JUFRE
10 - RASMUSSEN


Le classement Général

1 - NOZAL
2 - GONZALEZ de GALDEANO à 1' 48"
3 - BELTRAN à 3' 3"
4 - FRIGO à 3' 5"
5 - HERAS à 3' 28"

Le classement des grimpeurs

1 - CARDENAS
2 - OSA aitor
3 - HORRACH
4 - PEREZ
5 - JUFRE

Le classement des points

1 - ZABEL 97 points
2 - VALVERDE 81
3 - PETACCHI 76
4 - NOZAL 62
5 - Unai ETXEBARRIA

Le classement du Combiné

1 - VALVERDE 16
2 - NOZAL 17
3 - PEREZ 22
4 - CARDENAS 23
5 - RASMUSSEN 26

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Vue d'helicoptère de la Cité de Cuenca