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Vinokourov wraps up Vuelta title as Zabel wins Madrid finale'

Published: Sep. 17, 2006
Vinokourov's golden moment.
Vinokourov's golden moment.
Photo: AFP

The 61st Vuelta a España ended with a fiesta in Madrid as huge numbers of fans turned out Sunday to watch the season’s final grand tour come down to an exciting finale. Erik Zabel (Milram) proved that some things get better with age to win for the second time this Vuelta while Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) enjoyed an easy day on the bike to win his first major grand tour. “This Vuelta has been very hard and complicated and I am very happy with the victory,” Vinokourov said after sealing the success over Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne) with Astana teammate and compatriot Andrey Kashechkin rounding out the podium. Vinokourov’s overall victory boosted the Vuelta, still reeling from last year’s Roberto Heras doping scandal. Other than becoming the first Kazakh winner, he also becomes just the second non-European winner (Luis Herrera of Colombia won in 1987).
FULLRESULTS “I came into this Vuelta with the idea of doing well, but maybe not to win outright,” Vinokourov said. “After my first bad day in the mountains, I lost morale, but my teammates and friends encouraged me to keep fighting.” Valverde – who retains his ProTour leaders jersey – said he could only congratulate Vinokourov for his late-hour win. “We had it in our hands but we let it slip away,” Valverde said. “Vinokourov was stronger every day and once he got the lead, there was no taking it back. Still, I am satisfied with how this season has gone and I hope to win the worlds.” TD’s breakthrough lead NA crew
Tom Danielson (Discovery Channel) was very satisfied with how his Vuelta went despite falling flat in the opening pair of climbing stages that sunk his chances for a shot at the podium. The 28-year-old rebounded in the third week and climbed with the best to finish sixth up Calar Alto to herald his return. The very next day, Danielson snuck into the winning breakaway and wisely chose to collaborate with Vinokourov when he roared into the valley toward Granada with 5km to go. The Kazakh got the leader’s jersey and Danielson scored the biggest win of his career. Another strong ride up La Pandera consolidated his hold on sixth, one better than 2005. Michael Barry provided a key anchor for his young Discovery Channel crew as the squad secured the team classification. The veteran Canadian finished 77th overall. Compatriot Ryder Hesjedal (Phonak) decided to pull the plug after Calar Alto when a minor leg problem cropped up and fading strength sapped his chances of finishing in the top 20. Fred Rodriguez (Davitamon-Lotto) was solid in the first week trying to help Robbie McEwen to win a stage and finished eighth in the final sprint into Madrid. “This Vuelta was more of a rebound race to get back in action. The team was OK with the results we had,” Rodriguez said. “Getting through this Vuelta also adds the spark to step up to the plate next year. I’m motivated to have a good classics next year.” Chris Horner (Davitamon-Lotto) tried to sneak into a few breakaways, but the weird infighting between the Spanish teams foiled the promising attacks in the second and third weeks. Horner rode out of the Vuelta with a nice 20th place overall for his best career grand tour result and rolls into the Salzburg world’s proudly wearing the outsider title. How Vino sealed the deal
Vino’s chances of victory looked dashed when he lost nearly two minutes to the Spanish mountain goats in the first of six mountain stages up La Covatilla in stage five. He revived his GC hopes with back-to-back stage wins in Lugo and La Cobertoria, but could only snatch a few seconds from Valverde in the hilly Cuenca time trial when he predicted he would take a minute. Valverde looked to be on cruise control after distancing Carlos Sastre and easily following Vinokourov’s attacks in the Vuelta’s highest stage to the 2,090m Calar Alto to hold a 1:42 lead to Vinokourov with just five days left. Everything turned upside down on the three-climb 17th stage to Granada that ended with the Cat. 1 climb up the steep Monachil summit followed by a barreling descent into the finish. Vinokourov gapped Valverde by 12 seconds over the summit and had Astana teammate Andrey Kashechkin waiting on the other side. Valverde risked all to drive the chase down the harrowing descent off the mountain’s steepest sections, but just when he caught back onto the Vinokourov group, the Kazakh unleashed a potent counter-attack. With Kashechkin and Jose Marchante (Saunier Duval) sitting on his wheel, the exasperated Valverde could only watch Vinokourov open up a dangerous gap. When the Kazakh bridged up to Tom Danielson (Discovery Channel), the American quickly collaborated to help drive Vino to the line in exchange for the stage win. In that one decisive blow, Vino KO’d Valverde and surged into the race leader’s gold jersey. “It was hard to beat Alejandro because he was looking very strong,” Vinokourov said. “When I made the attack in Granada, I knew that was the last day when I could see if I could win. It was a surprise to get the jersey.” Vinokourov attacked again up La Pandera, towing teammate and protégé Kashechkin to a stage win and onto the final podium at the expense of Spanish climber Sastre. The final time trial victory was the icing on the cake to give Vinokourov his first elusive grand tour crown. Vino’s Tour dreams, but first world’s
The Vuelta victory served as a payback after missing the Tour. Five members of the team were linked to the Operación Puerto investigation and kicked out of the race. Because the teams agreed not to replace riders, Astana was left with just four racers – two short of the required six minimum – and the team wasn’t allowed to start. “It was a little bit of a revenge that I could show that I could be there in an important grand tour,” Vinokourov said. “This victory finally proves that I can win a big tour.” With the Vuelta win in the bag, Vino promises to make a full assault on the 2007 Tour. Despite the murky status of his team (there’s a big legal fight looming between the Kazakhs and ex-team manager Manolo Sáiz over contracts and sponsorship deals), Vinokourov said he believes he can win the Tour despite reaching the ripe old age of 33 on Saturday. “Lance (Armstrong) won his last Tour at 33, so I think I can do it,” he said. “I still dream of winning the Tour next year. I will be working the entire season to be ready for the Tour.” Before that, Vinokourov will take aim at the world championships this week in Salzburg. He said he will race both the time trial and the road race. “The final week of the Vuelta took a little more out of me than I expected, but I will try to recover the best I can,” he said. “I believe there are 10 guys who can win the world’s. I will not worry about trying to control the race because the Italians and the Spanish are always very strong teams.”

Results - Stage 21
1. Erik Zabel (G), Milram
2. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Crédit Agricole
3. Aurélien Clerc (Swi), Phonak
4. Robert Förster (G), Gerolsteiner
5. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), CSC
6. Francisco José Ventoso (Sp), Saunier Duval
7. Fred Rodriguez (USA), Davitamon-Lotto
8. Marco Velo (I), Milram
9. Claudio Corioni (I), Lampre
10. Davide Vigano (I), Quick Step-Innergetic

Final Overall Results
1. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), Astana, 81:23:07
2. Alejandro Valverde (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., 1:12
3. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz), Astana, 3:12
4. Carlos Sastre (Sp), CSC, 3:35
5. J. Angel Gomez Marchante (Sp), Saunier Duval, 6:51
6. Thomas Danielson (USA), Discovery Channel, 8:09
7. Samuel Sánchez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 8:26
8. Vladimir Karpets (Rus), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., 10:36
9. Manuel Beltran (Sp), Discovery Channel, 10:47
10. Luis Pérez (Sp), Cofidis, 11:32
FULLRESULTS

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