BiciRace.com :: 2006 Vuelta a Mallorca

2006 Vuelta a Mallorca, Stage 4

Vuelta a Mallorca, Spain

Stage 4, Sóller - Port de Sóller, 150.6K

8 February

Bettini Shows Clean Pair of Wheels

The reigning Olympic Champion, Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step) outfoxed his two breakaway companions to take a very nice early season win in Port de Sóller.

The Gods must be cycling fans because today's stage again began under sunny blue skies with 13 degree Celsius temperatures. There was a lick of wind and no chance of rain to spoil the good vibes.

The steepest climb today would be a mere category 2, of which there were four sprinkled throughout the course. However, it's still early February and a category 2 climb probably feels like an hors catégorie climb to a lot of riders. The final climb of the Coll de Puig Major at 800 meters was where the gauntlet was thrown down. David Bernabeu's (Comunidad Valenciana) teammate, Julián Sánchez, was doing some hard pacemaking in an attempt to ditch the two danger men, Paolo Bettini and Antonio Colom. But it was to no avail. The four riders crested the summit and now had just a 20 kilometer descent to sort out matters before the finish. Antonio Colom attacked on the descent in a desperate attempt to make up the 7 second deficit to the leader, David Bernabeu. He did manage to drop Julián Sánchez, but the other two riders (Bettini and Bernabeu) were glued to his wheel. Colom and Bernabeu had to know they didn't stand a snowballs chance in hell against the likes of Bettini in a sprint. And sure enough the feisty Italian made short order of his two companions for a fine win.

Paolo Bettini must have fond feelings for Port de Sóller. This is the same city where he was victorious back in 2001. "I am very happy with this victory. It's the second time I've won here and it's a stage I like very much," said the Olympic Champion.

Tomorrow is the final stage and it will take the riders over about a 150 kilometer course of category 2 and 3 climbs. You can bet the Illes Balears boys will be on a mission ... Stay with BiciRace.com for complete details.
- Paco

Results: 3:47'10"
1 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick-Step
2 Antonio Colom (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
3 David Bernabeu (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana
4 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 0.25
5 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team CSC
6 Jesús Del Nero (Spa) 3 Molinos Resort
7 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas
8 José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir
9 Rodrigo García (Spa) Kaiku
10 Josep Jufré (Spa) Davitamon-Lotto
11 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Phonak
12 Jon Bru (Spa) Kaiku
13 Iñaki Flores (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
14 Constantino Zaballa (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
15 Theo Eltink (Ned) Rabobank
16 David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
17 Aitor Hernández (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
18 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank
19 Jesús Hernández (Spa) Relax-Gam
20 Lorenzo Bernucci (Ita) T-Mobile
21 Dario Cioni (Ita) Liquigas
22 Victor Manuel García (Spa) Grupo Nicolás Mateos
23 Luis Pérez (Spa) Andalucia-Paul Versan
24 José Luis Carrasco (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
25 Francisco Cabello (Spa) Andalucia-Paul Versan
26 Oscar García-Casarrubios (Spa) Relax-Gam
27 Joseba Albizu (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
28 Jorge Azanza (Spa) Kaiku
29 Sergio Escobar (Spa) Grupo Nicolás Mateos
30 Gorka Verdugo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
31 Matthias Russ (Ger) Gerolsteiner
32 Adolfo García Quesada (Spa) Andalucia-Paul Versan
33 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) T-Mobile
34 Juan Olmo (Spa) Andalucia-Paul Versan
35 Víctor Hernández (Spa) Grupo Nicolás Mateos
36 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas
37 Julián Sánchez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana
38 Gerardo Fernández (Arg) Viña Magna-Cropu
39 José Almagro (Spa) Relax-Gam
40 José Angel Gomez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir
...

GC:
1 David Bernabeu (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 13:29'44"
2 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick-Step 0.03
3 Antonio Colom (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 0.07
4 Julián Sánchez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 0.26
5 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Phonak 0.28
6 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team CSC
7 Rodrigo García (Spa) Kaiku 0.34
8 Joseba Albizu (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0.43
9 Jorge Azanza (Spa) Kaiku 1.11
10 Constantino Zaballa (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 1.16
11 Francisco Cabello (Spa) Andalucia-Paul Versan 1.17
12 Gorka Verdugo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
13 Adolfo García Quesada (Spa) Andalucia-Paul Versan
14 José Almagro (Spa) Relax-Gam
15 Victor Manuel García (Spa) Grupo Nicolás Mateos 1.21
16 Gerardo Fernández (Arg) Viña Magna-Cropu 1.23
17 Jesús Hernández (Spa) Relax-Gam 1.24
18 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas 1.27
19 Dario Cioni (Ita) Liquigas 1.29
20 Lorenzo Bernucci (Ita) T-Mobile 1.33
21 Jesús Del Nero (Spa) 3 Molinos Resort 1.49
22 Luis Pérez (Spa) Andalucia-Paul Versan 2.08
23 Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) Team CSC 2.27
24 Josep Jufré (Spa) Davitamon-Lotto 2.35
25 David Muñoz (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 3.25
26 Matthias Russ (Ger) Gerolsteiner 3.48
27 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 4.10
28 Juan Gomis (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 4.21
29 Joseba Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 4.46
30 Steve Zampieri (Swi) Phonak 4.51
...