BiciRace.com :: News :: September 2005

News :: September 2005

6 September 2005

Abandons Galore In Andorra

Stage 10 of the Vuelta a España took its toll on the riders. The riders had to battle four mountain passes, proving a little too much for some of the riders' legs. There were many abandons on the day, some caused by crashes. Race doctors reported three falls for the day, two resulting in broken collarbones.

Crédit Agricole rider, Eric Leblacher, did not make it far into stage 10. The unlucky Frenchman fell on the first climb of the day. Leblacher was checked by the race doctors, and they confirmed a broken left collarbone.

Yesterday Aitor Osa was in what could have been the winning move. The Illes Balears rider took a bad fall on the final descent of the day. His crash looked spectacular, and many tifosi were relieved to know that he only came away with a broken collarbone. Osa appeared to have the climbing legs to hold off the peloton on the final climb.

José Antonio Pecharroman ended his Vuelta yesterday when he took a tumble on the third climb. The Quick-Step rider was tipped for many good results this year, and it is a shame that he had to end his Vuelta early. Pecharroman was lucky to come out only with bruises and scrapes.

Complete list of abandons:
DNS Unai Yus (Spa) Bouygues Telecom
DNF Isidro Nozal (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth
DNF Aitor Osa (Spa) Illes Balears
DNF Pierrick Fédrigo (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
DNF Angel Casero (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana
DNF Eric Leblacher (Fra) Crédit Agricole
DNF Leif Hoste (Bel) Discovery Channel
DNF Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Discovery Channel
DNF Ruslan Ivanov (Mda) Domina Vacanze
DNF Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Fassa Bortolo
DNF Marcel Strauss (Swi) Gerolsteiner
DNF José Antonio Pecharroman (Spa) Quick-Step

Throughout the Vuelta, you can refer to the BiciRace.com startlist for a complete list of riders that abandon. Their names will be crossed out, like 107 Mayo Iban.

Rabo-Man Counts Down Mountain Stages

Heras and Menchov Face Off, photo: © Unipublic

Denis Menchov (Rabobank) impressed the crew at BiciRace.com with his climbing in stage 10 of the Vuelta a España. The GC leader hung in there with the best of climbers, more specifically, Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros-Würth). The two are locked in a GC battle, and Menchov has the upper hand. Heras needs to drop his Russian opponent early in the stage in order to gain enough time cushion for the final TT.

Denis Menchov explained that his Rabobank team had helped him a lot during the day, and added that he repaid that work with a fine result on the last climb. The Russian commented that he was very pleased because he could follow the speed of Heras and the other climbers. "There is one day less of dangerous mountains and that's really important," Menchov added.

Heras Had No Clue In TT

Roberto Heras, leader of Liberty Seguros-Würth, commented on stage 9 TT, where he lost the leader's jersey, and was penalized time. Heras, who was penalized 10", confirmed that he did not know that he couldn't cut through the cones. "If I had known it, I wouldn't have done it," said the Liberty captain. "I haven't done it deliberately. I hope the Vuelta won't be decided with this time. I seems very sad and I don't want to have problems," he continued."

Heras added that Menchov won the stage fairly. The Spaniard was happy with his own good result on a course that he thought would be harder. "I think I came out of the time trial of Lloret de Mar stronger. I think the first part was frivolous, while Menchov took advantage on the climbers in the second part." Heras went on to explain, "while in the second part, with a frontal wind, he continued with the same rhythm."

Heras knows that there are still some strong mountain stages left. He has the confidence of a 3X Vuelta winner, "There are still a lot of stages to go in the mountains, very hard stages like those in Andorra and in Cerler, and the stage of Lagos de Covadonga [stage 14]."

60th Vuelta a España:
Startlist
Stages and Maps, Key Stages, Overall Map
Photos, Dust Devil's Daily Wrap

5 September News ...