- HOT TOPICS:
- The new VeloNews.com (BETA)
Heras triumphant in Madrid; Petacchi gets No. 5
For the second time in two months, U.S. Postal Service was celebrating victory in one of cycling's major stage races.
Just eight weeks after Lance Armstrong won his record-tying fifth Tour de France, Roberto Heras rolled through Sunday's 148.5km finale into Madrid to claim his second career Vuelta title.
"We never gave up fighting and made up time little by little and we were finally able to make up the difference," said Heras, who erased a 5 minute, 13 second difference to Isidro Nozal (ONCE) after the second time trial at Albacete.
"This Vuelta victory means more to me than the first one (in 2000). This one was harder and more difficult," Heras said.
The double makes Postal Service the first team to have two winners in two grand tours since 1983, when Bernard Hinault won the Vuelta and Laurent Fignon won the Tour.
Nozal seemed to show none of the ill effects of his unfortunate collapse in Saturday's climbing time trial.
"I'm very happy to arrive here in Madrid in second place. This Vuelta has been like a dream for me. It was too bad I didn't have the strength in my legs to win this for the team," Nozal said. "I have much to dream about in my future."
Petacchi again, Rodriguez third
Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) promised to make it to Madrid and survived the difficult climbing stages to claim his fifth victory on the posh boulevards of downtown Madrid.
The victory capped a dream season for the 29-year-old Italian, who made history by winning four or more victories in all three major tours in the same season. For the record: six stages in the Giro d'Italia, four in the Tour de France and five in the Vuelta a España.
"What I did this season is something special and it will be hard to repeat it. For sure I won't race all three grand tours next year," said Petacchi, who won in 3 hours, 51 minutes, 18 seconds.
| "This is the most satisfying victory for me in the Vuelta because I wanted to prove I could make it over the mountains and to Madrid. I felt okay at La Pandera and my team helped me win today," Petacchi said. | are posted |
In Sunday's finale, the racing didn't begin in earnest until the peloton hit the seven laps on the Paseo de Castellano in downtown Madrid. Much like the Tour's final stage, the early part of the day was filled with hijinks and horsing around.
The peloton averaged just over 30 kph in the first two hours, prompting race officials to reduce the number of final laps from eight to seven.
Several riders tried in vain to escape in the final laps, but Telekom and Fassa Bortolo kept a lid on things. Fassa set up Petacchi perfectly with Rodriguez on his wheel, but finished third as Zabel came through to take second and claim the points jersey.
"It's been a long season for, but I'm satisfied with this Vuelta. I've come back to my level and I'm getting close," Rodriguez said. "I'll race Paris-Tours next weekend, then shut it down after that."
Rodriguez is leaving the door open to race in the road world championships in Hamilton despite telling team officials earlier he didn't want to race. Rodriguez said he's feeling better and wants to help George Hincapie if he needs the help.
The final podium
Heras's exciting attacks put some punch back into the Vuelta going into the final week. ONCE controlled the race for the opening two weeks, but the big yellow machine started to crack under attacks from U.S. Postal Service and Kelme.
Heras erased a 1:55 gap to Nozal in Saturday's exciting climbing time trial at Abantos to win the Vuelta by 28 seconds.
"I sincerely didn't think I could win. I didn't think it could happen. It was a relief to cross the finish line today because the easiest stage can become the hardest one," Heras said. "I dedicate this victory to my family and friends who've supported, especially to my father who is no longer with us."
Heras's father died of cancer this summer and emotional Heras broke down in tears at Saturday's finish line after securing the victory.
Alejandro Valverde (Kelme) finished third overall after moving ahead of Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (ONCE) in Saturday's time trial.
"It was a terrible day for ONCE," said Galdeano, who finished fourth overall at 3:27. "ONCE had a bad final week. It was too bad for Nozal but I had a disastrous final time trial."
Valverde lost the points jersey to Zabel on Sunday, but with two mountain stage victories, the combined jersey and the final podium, Valverde is one of Spain's rising stars.
"This Vuelta gives me a lot of hope for the future," Valverde said, third overall at 2:25 back. "I will keep working slowly and hope to come back some day to win one of cycling's grand tours."
Colombian Felix Cárdenas (Labarca 2) won a mountain stage and took the King of the Mountains jersey while iBanesto.com snatched the team classification away from ONCE in Saturday's stage.
The Vuelta closes down with Heras back on top of Spanish cycling. The quiet but explosive climber left Kelme to join U.S. Postal Service to help Armstrong at the Tour de France.
"It's a decision I would make again the same way," Heras said. "I will go back next year to the Tour to help Lance to try to win the sixth Tour. Maybe I will have my chances in 2005."
To see how today's stage unfolded, just ClickHere to bring up our Live Update window.
