The contour of today's stage between Santander and Burgos presents challenge and falls into a category not easily definable.

Early in the 151 km race, the riders faced two major climbs followed by miles of high plateaus (with plenty of those exhausting false flats), with the last 20 km or so evolving into a sprinter's finish.
On the day's first climb (the 7km long Puerto del Escudo, averaging 8.8 degrees), 4 riders distanced themselves from the peloton-Isidro Nozal (Once), Felix Cardenas (Labarca-2 Café Baque), Leonardo Peopoli (Ibanesto) and Fabian Jeker (Milanoza).

As the peloton began to spread out, as many as 10 pursuants fought to join the leaders' group, which shifted its membership constantly.

By the time the 3rd category Puerta del Carrales was negociated, a clear leaders' group of 8 was established: Nozal, Cardenas, Jeker, David & Unai Etxebarria (Euskaltel), Jurgen Van Goolen (Quick Step), Oscar Laguna (Relax-Fuenlabrada), and Jose Gutierrez (Kelme), and held a 2 minute lead on the peloton.

Meanwhile the peloton had separated into 2 distinct groups, with Petacchi and most of his Fassa Bortolo teamates in the 2nd group, as much as 200 meters behind. With a sprint finish in sight, the 2nd peloton needed to catch up with the 1st, who in turn needed to reign in the breakaway group of 8.

Weather conditions were unexpectedly favourable, with little wind and virtually no rain. Thus, Petacchi's group was able to make up time on a fast descent and catch the main peloton.

The 8 riders at the head of the race now held only a 1'28" lead, probably not enough to hold off the peloton with 54 km remaining. Over the false flats the lead of group of 8 shrunk to 1 minute, while once again Petacchi and 22 others fell back into a 2nd peloton. With all the energy Petacchi expended catching up with the Peloton the first time, it was looking doubtful that he would have enough left to mount a second consecutive victory.

Amongst those in the 2nd peloton was David Millar, who it seems is saving himself for the up & coming time trial at Zaragoza in 2 days' time, rather than trying for a high overall classification in this tour.

With 29 km left the breakaway group had widened their lead to 1'22". The 8 continued to work together in relay and extended their lead to over 2 minutes.

Although earlier the 8 seemed destined to be caught by the peloton, with 20 km to go they increased their lead to 2'15"-and it seemed as if their gamble had paid off.

It was at this moment that Unai Etxebarria attacked, and no one in the group responded.

Maintaining a speed of over 50 km/h, the Venezuelan passed through the last points barrier (at 14 km), several hundred meters in front of the group.

Fabian Jeker, who with Gutierrez and Nozal tried to counterattack, fell badly as he was clipped by a motorcycle passing too close. He looked to be seriously hurt, but after some care from his support team he was able to mount his bike and rejoin the race as the peloton passed him by.

Unai Etxebarria held off all attackers, though, looking back periodically to make sure he really was about to triumph so decisesively.

Etxebarria, with the Basque team Euskaldel since turning pro in 1996, crossed the finish line by a comfortable margin. The next 4 sprinted hard for 2nd place, with David Etxebarria edging out Cardenas, Gutierrez and Van Goolen in that order.

Classifications

The stage

1 UNAI ETXEBARRIA
1 ETXEBARRIA DAVID
3 CARDENAS FELIX
4 GUTIERREZ FRANCISCO
5 VAN GOOLEN

General classification

1 NOZAL
2 RODRIGUEZ
3 GONZALEZ DE GALDEANO
4 ETXEBARRIA David
5 BELTRAN

Mountains

1 CARDENAS 34 pts
2 PEREZ 25 pts
3 NOZAL 20 pts
4 JEKER 16 pts
5 SASTRE 12 pts

Points

1 RODRIGUEZ
2 ETXEBARRIA Unai
3 ETXEBARRIA David
4 GONZALEZ de GALDEANO
5 ZABEL

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INFOS:

Thanks to his magnificent effort in today's escape, Isidro NOZAL takes the leader's gold jersey from teamate Joaquin RODRIGUEZ.

Two more riders abandoned this morning, because of injuries sustained in crashes yesterday:
Oscar MASON Vini Caldirola
Cadel EVANS team Telekom

Petacchi:
"I believe my objective has not yet been attained.
I have a great team to bring me to the sprints and I won't be satisfied with only one stage win."

Victories "en ligne" this season:
Petacchi 20
Kirsipuu 11
Simoni 8
Mayo7
Zabel 7