BiciRace.com :: 2006 Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco

2006 Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco, Stage 6

Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco, Spain

Stage 6, Zalla TT, 24K

8 April

Gomez Marchante Stage and Final GC

Gomez Marchante Rides To Win, photo: País Vasco

Twenty five year old José Angel Gomez Marchante (Saunier Duval-Prodir) has won the final individual time trial, and in so doing has also won the overall in the 46th Vuelta al País Vasco. The young Spaniard scorched the hilly course to best his two compatriots, Alejandro Valverde and Antonio Colom, both of Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears.

This year's Vuelta al País Vasco was going down as a real nail biter. There were a mere 10" separating the first 10 riders on the GC and several of those 10 riders are very good crono men. The course profile included the Alto de Avellaneda, which had slopes of 9.5% and the Alto de Bezi with pitches of 4.8%.

Sánchez Slipped Away, photo: País Vasco

Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros-Würth), who was tied for the lead going in to the TT, had this to say about his chances: "The TT is a bit longer than last year, but it is perfect for me, especially considering my current shape. But we have to keep in mind other riders as Rebellin, Boogerd and Samuel [Sánchez]." He was right about keeping others riders in mind, but it wasn't those riders mentioned that were the real protagonists of the day.

Of the early starters, it was Carlos Sastre (Team CSC) who posted the best time of 33'12". Sastre's lead was soon snatched away by little known Discovery Channel rider, Janez Brajkovic.

Podium Girls and Sánchez, photo: País Vasco

Valverde was on the start ramp just as Brajkovic was finishing. He was 10" adrift of the overall leader, Samuel Sánchez on the GC prior to the start of the TT. Valverde is not known as a crono man, but rumor has it that he has been honing his TT skills.

Cadel Evans, who was 2" back of Sánchez on the GC took to the start ramp nine minutes after Valverde. It was not to be his day, however. Perhaps the Basque hills were taking their toll as he was sitting in 34th place at the halfway point of the TT.

The big news so far was that at the halfway point Valverde had posted the best time by 10". At the same point, 23 year-old Alberto Contador was a surprising 15" slower than Valverde.

Spain's José Angel Gomez Marchante, meanwhile was riding in perfect harmony with his Scott Plasma TT machine and sneaked in with the best time of the day so far by 6". Sánchez had a forgettable day finishing in 15th place. Contador didn't have it today either, coming in 8th place for the day.

Gomez Marchante Parties, photo: País Vasco

Gomez's victory is the first ProTour win of the year for his Saunier Duval-Prodir squadra, so you can bet the bubbly will be flowing in the SDP hotel tonight.

Thank you for following BiciRace.com's coverage of the Vuelta al País Vasco. Keep you browser locked on us for tomorrow's fireworks at Paris-Roubaix.
- Paco

Results:
1 José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 32'44"
2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 0.06
3 Antonio Colom (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 0.08
4 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) Lampre-Fondital 0.16
5 Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) T-Mobile 0.18
6 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel
7 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 0.28
8 Alberto Contador (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth 0.29
9 Juan José Cobo (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 0.36
10 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Milram 0.37
11 Jason McCartney (USA) Discovery Channel
12 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française Des Jeux 0.39
13 Miguel Angel Perdiguero (Spa) Phonak 0.45
14 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis 0.47
15 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0.51
16 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Liquigas 0.52
17 Sergio Ghisalberti (Ita) Milram 0.56
18 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Ag2R Prévoyance 0.57
19 Sergio Paulinho (Por) Liberty Seguros-Würth 0.58
20 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 1.04
21 Didier Rous (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 1.05
22 José Azevedo (Por) Discovery Channel 1.08
23 Patxi Vila (Spa) Lampre-Fondital 1.10
24 Chris Horner (USA) Davitamon-Lotto
25 Juan Manuel Gárate (Spa) Quick-Step 1.12
26 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC 1.16
27 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 1.18
28 Nicki Sørensen (Den) Team CSC 1.20
29 Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team CSC
30 Arkaitz Durán (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 1.22
31 Peter Luttenberger (Aut) Team CSC 1.23
32 Aitor Pérez Arrieta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 1.25
33 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas 1.26
34 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Cofidis
35 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) T-Mobile 1.27
36 Iker Camaño (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 1.28
37 Yoann Le Boulanger (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
38 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile
39 Laurent Lefèvre (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 1.31
40 Xavier Tondo (Spa) Relax-GAM 1.33
41 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 1.41
42 Dario Cioni (Ita) Liquigas
43 Vladimir Miholjevic (Cro) Liquigas 1.46
44 Egoi Martínez (Spa) Discovery Channel
45 Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Cofidis 1.47
46 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank 1.48
47 Daniel Navarro (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth
48 Francesco Bellotti (Ita) Crédit Agricole 1.49
49 Markus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner
50 Florian Stalder (Swi) Phonak
51 Frédéric Finot (Fra) Française Des Jeux 1.51
52 Ignacio Gutierrez (Spa) Phonak 1.52
53 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Milram
54 Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Quick-Step 1.54
55 Pierrick Fédrigo (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
56 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 1.59
57 Andrea Noè (Ita) Liquigas 2.00
58 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Cofidis 2.02
59 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Française Des Jeux
60 Gorazd Stangelj (Slo) Lampre-Fondital
61 Daniel Becke (Ger) Milram
62 Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 2.04
63 Aitor Hernández (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2.06
64 Mikel Pradera (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 2.07
65 Unai Osa (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth
66 Ivan Parra (Col) Cofidis 2.08
67 Jorge García (Spa) Relax-GAM 2.10
68 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner 2.12
69 Manuele Mori (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir 2.13
70 Ricardo Serrano (Spa) Kaiku 2.14
71 Iñigo Chaurreau (Spa) Ag2R Prévoyance 2.16
72 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) T-Mobile 2.18
73 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Rabobank 2.19
74 Alexandre Moos (Swi) Phonak 2.20
75 Maxim Iglinsky (Kaz) Milram 2.21
76 Bram Tankink (Ned) Quick-Step 2.22
77 José Luis Arrieta (Spa) Ag2R Prévoyance
78 Remmert Wielinga (Ned) Quick-Step 2.23
79 Mario De Sárraga (Spa) Relax-GAM
80 Philip Deignan (Irl) Ag2R Prévoyance 2.25
81 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole 2.26
82 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 2.27
83 Stéphane Goubert (Fra) Ag2R Prévoyance
84 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2.29
85 Javier Ruiz de Larrinaga (Spa) Kaiku
86 José Luis Rubiera (Spa) Discovery Channel 2.31
87 Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Phonak 2.32
88 Manuel Beltrán (Spa) Discovery Channel
89 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank 2.35
90 Eric Leblacher (Fra) Française Des Jeux
91 Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Française Des Jeux 2.36
92 Björn Schröder (Ger) Milram
93 Theo Eltink (Ned) Rabobank 2.37
94 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 2.38
95 Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir 2.42
96 Josep Jufré (Spa) Davitamon-Lotto
97 Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Milram 2.43
98 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank 2.45
99 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis 2.46
100 Jorge Azanza (Spa) Kaiku 2.47
101 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Crédit Agricole 2.49
102 Benoît Poilvet (Fra) Crédit Agricole 2.50
103 Christophe Brandt (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
104 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) T-Mobile 2.54
105 Joseba Beloki (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth 3.08
106 Charles Wegelius (GBr) Liquigas
107 David Etxebarria (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth 3.10
108 Raul García de Mateo (Spa) Relax-GAM 3.11
109 Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 3.15
110 Rémi Pauriol (Fra) Crédit Agricole 3.16
111 Pablo Lastras (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 3.17
112 Mads Kaggestad (Nor) Crédit Agricole
113 Constantino Zaballa (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 3.21
114 Hubert Dupont (Fra) Ag2R Prévoyance
115 Wim Van Huffel (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 3.22
116 Adrián Palomares (Spa) Kaiku
117 Rubén Lobato (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 3.23
118 Olivier Bonnaire (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 3.28
119 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 3.31
120 Gustavo César Veloso (Spa) Kaiku 3.32
121 Matthias Russ (Ger) Gerolsteiner 3.35
122 Daniel Musiol (Ger) Milram 3.36
123 Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 3.37
124 Rémy Di Gregorio (Fra) Française Des Jeux 3.39
125 Isidro Nozal (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth 3.43
126 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Crédit Agricole 3.48
127 Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Liquigas 3.49
128 Luis Fernández (Spa) Phonak 3.52
129 Jason McCartney (USA) Phonak
130 Sylvain Calzati (Fra) Ag2R Prévoyance 3.53
131 José Almagro (Spa) Relax-GAM 4.05
132 Giuseppe Guerini (Ita) T-Mobile 4.08
133 Steve Morabito (Swi) Phonak 4.11
134 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quick-Step 4.12
135 Luis Pérez (Spa) Cofidis 4.18
136 Matthias Kessler (Ger) T-Mobile 4.23
137 Patrick Calcagni (Swi) Liquigas 4.25
138 Andrea Moletta (Ita) Gerolsteiner 4.29
139 Iñaki Flores (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 4.39
140 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 4.43
141 José Miguel Elías (Spa) Relax-GAM 4.48
142 Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 4.55
143 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Crédit Agricole 4.56
144 Jesús Hernández (Spa) Relax-GAM 5.16
145 Freddy Bichot (Fra) Française Des Jeux 5.24
146 Igor Antón (Spa) Eusktalel-Euskadi 5.46
147 Jon Bru (Spa) Kaiku 6.10
148 Israel Nuñez (Spa) Kaiku 6.13
149 Unai Etxebarria (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi 6.56
150 Ian McLeod (RSA) Française Des Jeux 7.05

Final GC:
1 José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 20:31'47"
2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 0.07
3 Antonio Colom (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
4 Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) T-Mobile 0.19
5 Alberto Contador (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth 0.20
6 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0.42
7 Miguel Angel Perdiguero (Spa) Phonak 0.44
8 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 1.11
9 Patxi Vila (Spa) Lampre-Fondital 1.21
10 José Azevedo (Por) Discovery Channel 1.24
11 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 1.34
12 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) T-Mobile 1.37
13 Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Cofidis 1.40
14 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) Lampre-Fondital 1.41
15 Xavier Tondo (Spa) Relax-GAM 2.11
16 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Milram 2.18
17 Didier Rous (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 2.30
18 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Discovery Channel 2.57
19 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis 3.01
20 Vladimir Miholjevic (Cro) Liquigas 3.11
21 Ignacio Gutierrez (Spa) Phonak 3.14
22 Daniel Navarro (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth 3.16
23 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Ag2R Prévoyance 3.19
24 Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 3.20
25 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 3.42
26 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) T-Mobile 3.46
27 Manuel Beltrán (Spa) Discovery Channel 3.54
28 Unai Osa (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth 4.40
29 Egoi Martínez (Spa) Discovery Channel 4.52
30 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole 5.13
31 Ricardo Serrano (Spa) Kaiku 5.29
32 Chris Horner (USA) Davitamon-Lotto 6.23
33 Sergio Ghisalberti (Ita) Milram 6.30
34 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 6.41
35 Juan Manuel Gárate (Spa) Quick-Step 7.10
36 Francesco Bellotti (Ita) Crédit Agricole 7.20
37 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank 7.38
38 Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Quick-Step 8.01
39 Jon Bru (Spa) Kaiku 8.25
40 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner 8.52
41 Ivan Parra (Col) Cofidis 9.10
42 Iñigo Chaurreau (Spa) Ag2R Prévoyance 9.47
43 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 10.59
44 Rubén Lobato (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 11.16
45 Bram Tankink (Ned) Quick-Step 11.30
46 Constantino Zaballa (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 12.06
47 David Etxebarria (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth 12.10
48 Manuele Mori (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir 12.14
49 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas 12.44
50 Matthias Kessler (Ger) T-Mobile 13.14
51 Eric Leblacher (Fra) Française Des Jeux 14.16
52 Andrea Noè (Ita) Liquigas 14.21
53 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française Des Jeux 14.50
54 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Cofidis 15.33
55 Luis Pérez (Spa) Cofidis 15.58
56 Stéphane Goubert (Fra) Ag2R Prévoyance 16.05
57 Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 16.12
58 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank 16.16
59 Dario Cioni (Ita) Liquigas 16.25
60 Juan José Cobo (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 16.29
61 Alexandre Moos (Swi) Phonak 16.51
62 Andrea Moletta (Ita) Gerolsteiner 17.25
63 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC 18.12
64 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Liquigas 18.15
65 Raul García de Mateo (Spa) Relax-GAM 18.27
66 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
67 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 18.33
68 Laurent Lefèvre (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 18.47
69 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Française Des Jeux 18.56
70 Wim Van Huffel (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 19.45
71 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Crédit Agricole 20.02
72 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Crédit Agricole 21.21
73 Joseba Beloki (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth 21.43
74 Jorge García (Spa) Relax-GAM 21.59
75 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 23.19
76 Gorazd Stangelj (Slo) Lampre-Fondital 23.27
77 Nicki Sørensen (Den) Team CSC 24.18
78 Pierrick Fédrigo (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 24.24
79 Charles Wegelius (GBr) Liquigas 24.32
80 José Miguel Elías (Spa) Relax-GAM 25.00
81 Isidro Nozal (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth 25.12
82 Peter Luttenberger (Aut) Team CSC 25.46
83 Jorge Azanza (Spa) Kaiku
84 Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Phonak 27.46
85 Josep Jufré (Spa) Davitamon-Lotto
86 Javier Ruiz de Larrinaga (Spa) Kaiku 28.40
87 Maxim Iglinsky (Kaz) Milram 29.06
88 Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir 29.16
89 Aitor Pérez Arrieta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
90 Rémy Di Gregorio (Fra) Française Des Jeux 29.30
91 Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 30.00
92 José Luis Arrieta (Spa) Ag2R Prévoyance 30.18
93 Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team CSC 31.37
94 Rémi Pauriol (Fra) Crédit Agricole 31.41
95 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Rabobank 31.51
96 Benoît Poilvet (Fra) Crédit Agricole 32.40
97 Iker Camaño (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 32.54
98 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Crédit Agricole 33.23
99 Theo Eltink (Ned) Rabobank 33.36
100 Hubert Dupont (Fra) Ag2R Prévoyance 33.52
101 Florian Stalder (Swi) Phonak 33.55
102 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Cofidis 34.21
103 Christophe Brandt (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 35.01
104 Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 35.18
105 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Milram 35.28
106 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis 35.48
107 Igor Antón (Spa) Eusktalel-Euskadi 36.42
108 Jason McCartney (USA) Phonak
109 Björn Schröder (Ger) Milram 37.03
110 Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Liquigas 37.21
111 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank 37.25
112 Olivier Bonnaire (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 37.38
113 Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Française Des Jeux 38.06
114 Jesús Hernández (Spa) Relax-GAM 38.12
115 Mikel Pradera (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 38.35
116 Aitor Hernández (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 39.15
117 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) T-Mobile 39.23
118 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 39.43
119 Jason McCartney (USA) Discovery Channel 40.05
120 Remmert Wielinga (Ned) Quick-Step 40.21
121 Arkaitz Durán (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 41.25
122 Giuseppe Guerini (Ita) T-Mobile 42.06
123 Matthias Russ (Ger) Gerolsteiner 42.39
124 Adrián Palomares (Spa) Kaiku 42.53
125 Yoann Le Boulanger (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 43.47
126 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile 46.30
127 Markus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner 47.23
128 José Luis Rubiera (Spa) Discovery Channel 48.14
129 Patrick Calcagni (Swi) Liquigas 49.16
130 Daniel Becke (Ger) Milram 49.52
131 Gustavo César Veloso (Spa) Kaiku 51.16
132 Mario De Sárraga (Spa) Relax-GAM 51.23
133 Luis Fernández (Spa) Phonak 52.45
134 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 53.11
135 Pablo Lastras (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 54.07
136 José Almagro (Spa) Relax-GAM 54.34
137 Philip Deignan (Irl) Ag2R Prévoyance 56.40
138 Israel Nuñez (Spa) Kaiku 59.17
139 Mads Kaggestad (Nor) Crédit Agricole 1.00.16
140 Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Milram 1.00.59
141 Unai Etxebarria (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi 1.05.37
142 Iñaki Flores (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 1.06.39
143 Daniel Musiol (Ger) Milram
144 Steve Morabito (Swi) Phonak 1.07.19
145 Frédéric Finot (Fra) Française Des Jeux 1.07.36
146 Freddy Bichot (Fra) Française Des Jeux 1.08.32
147 Sergio Paulinho (Por) Liberty Seguros-Würth 1.10.26
148 Sylvain Calzati (Fra) Ag2R Prévoyance 1.16.42
149 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quick-Step 1.22.30
150 Ian McLeod (RSA) Française Des Jeux 1.35.17

Mountains
1 Hubert Dupont (Fra) Ag2R Prévoyance 29
2 Juan José Cobo (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 25
3 José Luis Arrieta (Spa) Ag2R Prévoyance 22
4 Unai Etxebarria (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi 21
5 José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 20
6 Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Milram 18
7 Israel Nuñez (Spa) Kaiku 18
8 Ivan Parra (Col) Cofidis 16
9 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC 13
10 Joaquím Rodríguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 12