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18 September 2005

19 September News ...

Rubén Plaza with No Illusions

Rubén Plaza, the 25 year-old rider for Comunidad Valenciana, won a huge victory yesterday in stage 20. The Spaniard took the win in the final TT of the Vuelta a España. It was a stunning victory by the Comunidad rider, and ahead of some stiff competition. "I don't like to make any illusions when I ride," said Plaza. In the stage 9 TT in Lloret de Mar, he was just edged into 2nd place by Menchov.

"I felt great. I wanted to feel more relaxed," said Plaza at the finish. His time barely held, Roberto Heras came surprisingly close to winning the TT. "When Roberto passed at the finish, I didn't realize which time he had rode ... But it was an amazing final, and now I want to savor it, and to celebrate it." Surely the Comunidad Valenciana squadra will be toasting tonight. Three stage wins in this year's Vuelta, not bad for a non-ProTour team.

Saiz and Heras Plan 2006 Season

Manolo Saiz, Team DS for Liberty Seguros-Würth, is already thinking of 2006 for Roberto Heras. Heras would dearly love to go to the Tour de France and finally be a serious challenger, but the team will first aim for the Giro d'Italia. "There are riders of second effort, and we deserve to get to the Tour in other ways. I would like to do the Giro, and then we would evaluate whether to do the Vuelta or the Tour," said Saiz after stage 20 of the Vuelta a España. "We would like to win another three week race, riding the Giro, and then get to the Tour with a clearer mind." Saiz indicated that if Roberto was to ride the 2006 Giro, it would not just be for training, but for a serious bid at the final maglia rosa.

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

17 September News ...