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Giro finale
Photo ©: Bettini

 UCI codes explained

27th Vuelta a Murcia - 2.1

Spain, March 7-11, 2007

Main Page    Results   Overall standings    Previous Stage  

Stage 5 - March 11: Ceuti - Murcia, 151 km

Second GC win of the season for Valverde

By Shane Stokes

Jose Luis Jaimerena and Alejandro Valverde talk
Photo ©: Foto Abarca Sports
(Click for larger image)
Following his victory in yesterday's time trial, 'Green Bullet' Alejandro Valverde successfully defended his yellow jersey to race to an overall win in his home race, the Vuelta a Murcia.

The 26-year-old has been in excellent form this season, notching up another GC win just eight days ago in the Tour of Valencia. Yesterday, he continued his progression towards future Grand Tour success when he won the first time trial of his professional career.

Today's final stage finished in a bunch gallop into Murcia, with Italian rider Danilo Napolitano (Lapre-Fondital) taking the verdict ahead of Graeme Brown (Rabobank) and Valverde's Caisse d'Epargne team-mate Jose Joaquin Rojas.

Angel Vicioso (Relax Gam) finished fourth on the stage but remained 35 seconds behind Valverde in the overall, with Manuel Lloret (Fuerteventura-Canariasas) staying third in GC, 52 seconds in arrears.

The victory was the eighth of the season for the Caisse d'Epargne squad, and directeur sportif José Luis Jaimerena was delighted with the result.

"We started full of hope in this race, thinking that it was possible for us to realize something good. In the end, the balance is really a positive one, with two stage wins - José Joaquín Rojas in the first one and Alejandro Valverde in the time trial - plus the individual general classification and the teams' classification.

"Valverde's win in the time trial is very important because that represents a further step in his career, an expected one. He was showing since last year that he was improving and developing a lot in that speciality. His victory is a proof that the work he did gave results and that is very important for the future, to give him more confidence.

Although the French-registered team recently learned that the co-sponsorship of Illes Balears would not be renewed, the overall mood and achievements thus far have been high. Jaimerena is looking forward to more good performances. "The beginning of the season has been really an exceptional one for the team d'Epargne and now we will have to confirm that. Another important part of the season will start right now, with the ProTour events, and logically the level will be higher yet.

"To win is never easy, but I think that if we are lucky and able to take advantage of the situations, and that the riders are in good shape, I think that we will be able to win also some of the next races."

Valverde will now take a 20-day break from competition, pinning on a number again for the Criterium International at the end of the month.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Foto Abarca Sports

Results

1 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital      3.29.06
2 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank                         
3 Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne           
4 Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) Acqua Sapone-C.Mokambo       
5 Angel Vicioso (Spa) Relax-Gam                       
6 Rodrigo Garcia (Spa) Fuerteventura-Canarias
7 Joaquin Sobrino (Spa) Relax-Gam                     
8 Baden Cooke (Aus) Unibet.com                        
9 José Adrian Bonilla (Crc) Fuerteventura-Canarias
10 Manuel Vazquez (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur             
11 Mario De Sarraga (Spa) Relax-Gam                   
12 Alexey Kolessov (Kaz) Astana                       
13 Jose Luis Carrasco (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur         
14 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC                          
15 Michal Golas (Pol) Unibet.com                      
16 Diego Milan (Spa) Grupo Nicolas Mateos             
17 David Abal (Spa) Karpin-Galicia                    
18 Enrique Salgueiro (Spa) Karpin-Galicia             
19 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                       
20 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Acqua Sapone-C.Mokambo      
21 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Relax-Gam                      
22 Michael Schär (Swi) Astana                         
23 Nicki Sörensen (Den) Team CSC                      
24 José Rujano (Ven) Unibet.com                       
25 Manuel Lloret (Spa) Fuerteventura-Canarias
26 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne            
27 Miguel Ochoa (Spa) Grupo Nicolas Mateos            
28 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua Sapone-C.Mokambo      
29 Stefano Cavallari (Ita) Acqua Sapone-C.Mokambo     
30  Pablo De Pedro (Spa) Grupo Nicolas Mateos         
31 Mauricio A. Ardila (Col) Rabobank                  
32 Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur       
33 Dario Andriotto (Ita) Acqua Sapone-C.Mokambo       
34 Vicente Ballester (Spa) Fuerteventura-Canarias
35 Massimo Codol (Ita) Acqua Sapone-C.Mokambo         
36 Andrea Masciarelli (Ita) Acqua Sapone-C.Mokambo    
37 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir         
38 Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team CSC                    
39 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Astana                      
40 Luis Fernandez (Spa) Karpin-Galicia                
41 Steve Morabito (Swi) Astana                        
42 Luis Pasamontes (Spa) Unibet.com                   
43 Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                
44 David Muñoz (Spa) Fuerteventura-Canarias
45 Jorge Azanza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi               
46 Constantino Zaballa (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne         
47 Lander Aperribay (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi           
48  David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir     
49 Koldo Gil (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir               
50 Ruben Lobato (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir            
51 Gonzalo Rabunal (Spa) Karpin-Galicia               
52 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne          
53 Sébastien Portal (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne            
54 Claudio José Casas (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur         
55 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Lampre-Fondital              
56 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital               
57 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Lampre-Fondital             
58 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana                     
59 Unai Uribarri (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi              
60 Jose Alberto Benitez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir    
61 Giuseppe Muraglia (Ita) Acqua Sapone-C.Mokambo     
62 Jorge Perez (Spa) Relax-Gam                        
63 Santiago Perez (Spa) Relax-Gam                     
64 Manuel Ortega (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur              
65 Jorge Ferrio (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur               
66 José Antonio Baños (Spa) Grupo Nicolas Mateos      
67 Morris Possoni (Ita) Lampre-Fondital               
68 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Unibet.com                    
69 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Astana                        
70 David Bernabeu (Spa) Fuerteventura-Canarias
71 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank                       
72 Lars Bak (Den) Team CSC                            
73 Evgeniy Sladkov (Kaz) Astana                       
74 Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) Unibet.com               
75 Daniel Navarro (Spa) Astana                        
76 Arkaitz Duran (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir           
77 Mathieu Perget (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne              
78 Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                 
79 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi            
80 Antonio Olmo (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur               
81 Oscar Garcia (Spa) Relax-Gam                       
82 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Rabobank                 
83 Inigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi            
84 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre-Fondital              
85 Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital            
86 José Angel Gomez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir        
87 Marcos A. Serrano (Spa) Karpin-Galicia             
88 Jose Ruiz (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur                  
89 Isidro Nozal (Spa) Karpin-Galicia                  
90 Carlos Castaño (Spa) Karpin-Galicia                
91 Julian Sanchez (Spa) Relax-Gam                     
92 Beñat Intxausti (Spa) Grupo Nicolas Mateos         
93 Vicente Peiro (Spa) Grupo Nicolas Mateos           
94 Gorka Amuriza (Spa) Grupo Nicolas Mateos           
95 Joan Horrach (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                
96 Inigo Cuesta (Spa) Team CSC                        
97 Iker Flores (Spa) Fuerteventura-Canarias
98 Dmitry Kozontchuk (Rus) Rabobank                   
99 Victor Hugo Peña (Col) Unibet.com                  
100 Matti Breschel (Den) Team CSC                     
101 Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team CSC                    
102 Jeremy Hunt (Gbr) Unibet.com                      
 
Points

1 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital           25 pts
2 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank                       20
3 Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne         16
4 Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) Acqua Sapone-C.Mokambo     14
5 Angel Vicioso (Spa) Relax-Gam                     12
6 Rodrigo Garcia (Spa) Fuerteventura-Canarias       10
7 Joaquin Sobrino (Spa) Relax-Gam                    9
8 Baden Cooke (Aus) Unibet.com                       8
9 José Adrian Bonilla (Crc) Fuerteventura-Canarias   7
10 Manuel Vazquez (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur            6
11 Mario De Sarraga (Spa) Relax-Gam                  5
12 Alexey Kolessov (Kaz) Astana                      4
13 Jose Luis Carrasco (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur        3
14 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC                         2
15 Michal Golas (Pol) Unibet.com                     1
 
Sprints

Villanueva Del Rio, at 10.8km

1 Luis Pasamontes (Spa) Unibet.com                   3 pts
2 Manuel Vazquez (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur             2
3 Beñat Intxausti (Spa) Grupo Nicolas Mateos         1

Cieza at 28.4km

1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne          3 pts
2 Manuel Vazquez (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur             2
3 Morris Possoni (Ita) Lampre-Fondital               1
 
Teams

1 Relax-Gam                                   10.27.18
2 Fuerteventura-Canariasas                              
3 Unibet.Com                                          
4 Rabobank                                            
5 Acqua Sapone-C.Mokambo                              
6 Andalucia-Cajasur                                   
7 Astana                                              
8 Grupo Nicolas Mateos                                
9 Caisse d'Epargne                                    
10 Team CSC                                           
11 Karpin-Galicia                                     
12 Lampre-Fondital                                    
13 Saunier Duval-Prodir                               
14 Euskaltel-Euskadi  

Final General Classification

1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne       11.45.41
2 Angel Vicioso (Spa) Relax-Gam                       0.35
3 Manuel Lloret (Spa) Fuerteventura-Canarias          0.52
4 Koldo Gil (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                1.07
5 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Acqua Sapone-C.Mokambo       1.09
6 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC                           1.10
7 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua Sapone-C.Mokambo       1.17
8 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                        1.23
9 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                    
10 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne            1.37
11 David Bernabeu (Spa) Fuerteventura-Canarias        1.42
12 Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne          1.50
13 Dario Andriotto (Ita) Acqua Sapone-C.Mokambo       1.53
14 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Relax-Gam                      1.56
15 Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) Acqua Sapone-C.Mokambo          
16 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi            2.22
17 Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                2.24
18 Nicki Sörensen (Den) Team CSC                      2.32
19 Lars Bak (Den) Team CSC                            2.36
20 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank                       2.41
21 Isidro Nozal (Spa) Karpin-Galicia                  2.46
22 Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur       2.48
23  Pablo De Pedro (Spa) Grupo Nicolas Mateos         2.56
24 Constantino Zaballa (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne         2.58
25 Massimo Codol (Ita) Acqua Sapone-C.Mokambo         3.03
26 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Astana                        3.05
27 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Unibet.com                    3.07
28 Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team CSC                        
29 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Rabobank                 3.32
30 Carlos Castaño (Spa) Karpin-Galicia                3.41
31 Manuel Vazquez (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur             3.43
32 Dmitry Kozontchuk (Rus) Rabobank                   3.50
33 Baden Cooke (Aus) Unibet.com                       3.55
34 Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) Unibet.com               4.14
35 Andrea Masciarelli (Ita) Acqua Sapone-C.Mokambo    4.15
36 Michal Golas (Pol) Unibet.com                      4.17
37 Jose Alberto Benitez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir    4.20
38 Luis Pasamontes (Spa) Unibet.com                   4.50
39 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital            4.53
40 Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team CSC                     5.03
41 Joaquin Sobrino (Spa) Relax-Gam                    5.09
42 Jeremy Hunt (Gbr) Unibet.com                       5.30
43 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Lampre-Fondital             5.38
44 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Lampre-Fondital              5.45
45 Giuseppe Muraglia (Ita) Acqua Sapone-C.Mokambo     5.48
46 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank                        6.13
47 Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital            6.33
48 Julian Sanchez (Spa) Relax-Gam                     7.02
49 Inigo Cuesta (Spa) Team CSC                        7.23
50 José Rujano (Ven) Unibet.com                       7.26
51 Iker Flores (Spa) Fuerteventura-Canarias
52 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir         7.48
53 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre-Fondital              7.49
54 José Angel Gomez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir        7.53
55 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Astana                      8.01
56 Victor Hugo Peña (Col) Unibet.com                  8.17
57 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana                     8.18
58 Rodrigo Garcia (Spa) Fuerteventura-Canarias        8.32
59 Daniel Navarro (Spa) Astana                        8.33
60 Jose Ruiz (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur                  8.34
61 José Adrian Bonilla (Crc) Fuerteventura-Canarias   8.49
62 Morris Possoni (Ita) Lampre-Fondital               8.56
63 Inigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi            9.00
64 Joan Horrach (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                9.01
65 Santiago Perez (Spa) Relax-Gam                     9.15
66 Jose Luis Carrasco (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur         9.27
67 Jorge Ferrio (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur               9.34
68 Steve Morabito (Swi) Astana                        9.35
69 Beñat Intxausti (Spa) Grupo Nicolas Mateos         9.37
70 Unai Uribarri (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                  
71 Marcos A. Serrano (Spa) Karpin-Galicia             9.40
72 Claudio José Casas (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur        10.08
73 Oscar Garcia (Spa) Relax-Gam                      10.20
74 David Abal (Spa) Karpin-Galicia                        
75 Mario De Sarraga (Spa) Relax-Gam                  10.26
76 Ruben Lobato (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir           10.29
77 Antonio Olmo (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur              10.30
78 Manuel Ortega (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur             10.31
79 Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                10.43
80 Jorge Perez (Spa) Relax-Gam                       10.49
81 Mathieu Perget (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne             10.51
82 Luis Fernandez (Spa) Karpin-Galicia               10.54
83 Arkaitz Duran (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir          11.01
84 Stefano Cavallari (Ita) Acqua Sapone-C.Mokambo    11.03
85 Sébastien Portal (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne           11.04
86  David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir    11.26
87 Mauricio A. Ardila (Col) Rabobank                 11.43
88 Jorge Azanza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi              11.45
89 Matti Breschel (Den) Team CSC                     11.51
90 Miguel Ochoa (Spa) Grupo Nicolas Mateos           11.52
91 Michael Schär (Swi) Astana                        12.10
92 Vicente Ballester (Spa) Fuerteventura-Canarias    12.15
93 Alexey Kolessov (Kaz) Astana                      12.32
94 Diego Milan (Spa) Grupo Nicolas Mateos            12.45
95 Lander Aperribay (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi          13.11
96 José Antonio Baños (Spa) Grupo Nicolas Mateos     13.24
97 Gonzalo Rabunal (Spa) Karpin-Galicia              13.27
98 Evgeniy Sladkov (Kaz) Astana                      14.20
99 Gorka Amuriza (Spa) Grupo Nicolas Mateos          15.35
100 Vicente Peiro (Spa) Grupo Nicolas Mateos         15.38
101 David Muñoz (Spa) Fuerteventura-Canarias         15.41
102 Enrique Salgueiro (Spa) Karpin-Galicia           16.12                              

Points Classification

1 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital           57 pts
2 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank                       55
3 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne         53
4 Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne         49
5 Baden Cooke (Aus) Unibet.com                      42
6 Angel Vicioso (Spa) Relax-Gam                     40
7 Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) Acqua Sapone-C.Mokambo     33
8 José Angel Gomez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir       26
9 Joaquin Sobrino (Spa) Relax-Gam                   23
10 Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team CSC                   22
11 Rodrigo Garcia (Spa) Fuerteventura-Canarias      19
12 Manuel Vazquez (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur           18
13 Manuel Lloret (Spa) Fuerteventura-Canarias       14
14 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC                        12
15 Inigo Cuesta (Spa) Team CSC                      12
16 José Rujano (Ven) Unibet.com                     10
17 Koldo Gil (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir              9
18 Lars Bak (Den) Team CSC                           9
19 Mario De Sarraga (Spa) Relax-Gam                  9
20 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Acqua Sapone-C.Mokambo     8
21 Michal Golas (Pol) Unibet.com                     8
22 José Adrian Bonilla (Crc) Fuerteventura-Canarias  7
23 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                      6
24 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne           6
25 Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) Unibet.com              6

Mountains Classification

1 Manuel Vazquez (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur          9 pts
2  Pablo De Pedro (Spa) Grupo Nicolas Mateos      4
3 José Angel Gomez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir     3
4 Julian Sanchez (Spa) Relax-Gam                  2
5 Daniel Navarro (Spa) Astana                     2
6 Gonzalo Rabunal (Spa) Karpin-Galicia            2
7 Rodrigo Garcia (Spa) Fuerteventura-Canarias     1
8 Inigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi         1

Combination Classification

1 Manuel Vazquez (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur         44 pts
2  Pablo De Pedro (Spa) Grupo Nicolas Mateos     64
3 José Angel Gomez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir    65
4 Rodrigo Garcia (Spa) Fuerteventura-Canarias    76
5 Julian Sanchez (Spa) Relax-Gam                 85
6 Inigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi       105
7 Gonzalo Rabunal (Spa) Karpin-Galicia          140
8 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne       4
9 Angel Vicioso (Spa) Relax-Gam                   8
10 Manuel Lloret (Spa) Fuerteventura-Canarias    16
11 Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne     16

Murcian Classification

1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne        
2 Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne        
3 Claudio José Casas (Spa) Andalucia-Cajasur       
4 José Antonio Baños (Spa) Grupo Nicolas Mateos    

Team Classification

1 Caisse d'Epargne      35.20.30
2 Unibet.Com                0.36
3 Acqua Sapone-C.Mokambo    0.52
4 Relax-Gam                 1.16
5 Team CSC                  1.19
6 Lampre-Fondital           1.50
7 Rabobank                  3.04
8 Fuerteventura-Canariasas  4.09
9 Saunier Duval-Prodir      5.59
10 Andalucia-Cajasur       11.03
11 Astana                  11.52
12 Karpin-Galicia          12.40
13 Euskaltel-Euskadi       15.29
14 Grupo Nicolas Mateos    20.58