Russian wins Catalana stage 2, Edo holds lead
Jazztel rider Serguei Smetanine won the second stage of the Setmana Catalana stage race in Spain Tuesday, while Spain's Angel Edo held onto the overall lead in after a 169km race from Lloret to Empuriabrava. Smetanine was part of a five-man break that built up a maximum 17-minute lead before the first of two mountains, one a category 1 climb. That group was eventually pulled back to within two minutes of the main group, but Smetanine, a Russian, outsprinted teammate Carols Torrent of Spain, Italan Eilo Aggiano and Spaniard German Nieto, to the line for the win. "We took the hill at our own
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By VeloNews Interactive
Jazztel rider Serguei Smetanine won the second stage of the Setmana Catalana stage race in Spain Tuesday, while Spain’s Angel Edo held onto the overall lead in after a 169km race from Lloret to Empuriabrava. Smetanine was part of a five-man break that built up a maximum 17-minute lead before the first of two mountains, one a category 1 climb. That group was eventually pulled back to within two minutes of the main group, but Smetanine, a Russian, outsprinted teammate Carols Torrent of Spain, Italan Eilo Aggiano and Spaniard German Nieto, to the line for the win.
“We took the hill at our own pace and we were well aware of our large lead,” Smetanine said. “We all attacked again on the descent, taking turns at the lead and I was lucky enough to snatch the victory.”
Angel Edo, riding for Maia, has a little extra motivation to maintain the leader’s jersey until the finish on Friday. The Spaniard is a fan of the Barcelona football team, and the winner’s trophy will be presented by Xavi and Dani, two Barcelona players. Dutchman Michael Boogerd was the only big name rider to attack on Tuesday, while Lance Armstrong, Roberto Heras and Marco Pantani cruised in with the main group. Germany’s Jan Ullrich fell behind in the hills and finished seven minutes back.
Results
SETMANA CATALANA, March 26-30. Spain
1. Serguei Smetanine (Rus), Jazztel, 169 km in 4:09:08 (avg. 40.701 kph); 2. Carlos Torrent (Sp), Jazztel, at :05; 3. Elio Aggiano (I), Mapei-Quick Step; 4. German Nieto (Sp), Relax-Fuenlabrada, all s.t.; 5. Piotr Wadecki (P), Mroz, at 2:04; 6. Angel Edo (Sp), Maia; 7. Denis Zanette (I), Liquigas; 8. Eddy Mazzoleni (I), Tacconi-Vini Caldiroli; 9. Udo Bolts (G), Telekom; 10. Stefano Garzelli (I), Mapei-Quick Step, all s.t.
General Classification
1. Edo (Sp), Maia, 7:37:08; 2. Zanette; 3. Wadecki; 4. Garzelli; 5. Bolts; 6. Danilo Di Luca (I), Cantina Tollo; 7. Igor Astarloa (Sp), Mercatone Uno; 8. Joaquin Rodriguez (Sp); 9. Michael Boogerd (Nl), Rabobank; 10. Grischa Niermann (G), Rabobank, all s.t.
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Others
25. Marco Pantani (I), Mercatone Uno, s.t.; 48. Lance Armstrong (USA), U.S. Postal Service, s.t.; 69. Roberto Heras (Sp), U.S. Postal Service, at 7:55; 112. Jan Ullrich (G), Telekom, at 17:23; 148. Tyler Hamilton (USA), U.S. Postal Service, at 24:45.