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Garcia Acosta Wins Stage 19 of Vuelta
Jose Garcia Acosta (iBanesto.com) has bagged his team's fourth stage win of this year's Vuelta. Garcia Acosta soloed away from eight breakaway companions to take the hilly, 177.8-km ride from Bejar to Avila in 4:24:27. Aitor Gonzalez (Kelme) finished second at 2:02, and Miguel Martin Perdiguero (Acqua e Sapone) took third 0:04 later. Roberto Heras (U.S. Postal Service) remains the overall leader.
As has been the case throughout the 2002 Vuelta, the racing began early. At seven km, Aitor Osa and Garcia Acosta (both from iBanesto.com), Carlos Garcia (Kelme), Jose Luis Rebollo (Relax), Pietro Caucchioli (Alessio), Marcos Serrano (ONCE), Rui Lavarinhas (Milaneza), Daniel Atienza (Cofidis), and Perdiguero attacked on the Category 3 Alto de la Hoya. The peloton did not pursue the nine riders, who ran up an eight-minute lead by 115 km.
On the Category 1 Puerto de Serranillos, Garcia Acosta attacked and dropped his companions. Behind, Joseba Beloki (ONCE) attacked, and a flurry of counterattacks ensued. The resulting shakeout reduced the peloton to 25 riders.
Garcia Acosta opened a two-minute lead on his erstwhile companions. On the Category 2 Puerto de Navalmoral, Perdiguero lit out after the iBanesto.com rider and reduced his advantage to less than 1:00 with about 20 km left. Garcia Acosta extended his lead on the descent and held on to win.
With five km remaining, the break caught Perdiguero. In the last km, the peloton reeled in the break. Aitor Gonzalez (Kelme) countered and took 0:04 from Heras.
In the overall, Heras leads Gonzalez by 1:08 and Oscar Sevilla (Kelme) by 1:45. Stage 20 will be a flat, slightly downhill, 141.2-km run from Avila to the Warner Brothers Park at San Martin de la Vega. This stage with give the sprinters one final opportunity to shine. Who will prevail? Zabel? Petacchi? Furlan? Check in at www.roadcycling.com and find out!
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