From: martin hardie <hardie-AT-euskalnet.net>
Subject: AUT: 59th Vuelta a =?utf-8?q?Espa=C3=B1a=20-=20Chock-a-block=20full=20of=20contenders?=
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 17:11:49 +0200


For those who are so kind to read this stuff and comment . thanks and another 
one ...
the preview of three weeks on the road in a green 1996 renault clio

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2004/vuelta04/

59th Vuelta a España - Spain, September 4-26, 2004

Chock-a-block full of contenders and obstacles

By Martin Hardie

 2003 winner Roberto Heras
 Photo: © Unipublic



If an open field, chock-a-block full of contenders, battling it out over a 
tough challenging route is the hallmark of competition, then this Vuelta a 
España is competition spelt out in bold. At first glance, this year's route 
lacks the drawcards of the Asturian monster, Angliru, and the magic of the 
Pyrenees, but if you look closely, it is like a vice that will day-by-day 
draw tighter on those that reckon they have a chance to win. This will be a 
race that can be won or lost on almost any of its 21 days, and this 59th 
edition promises to live up to the expectations of recent Vueltas it has 
recently produced, will more than likely be this year's most exciting Grand 
Tour.

 

The course, with its three individual times trials - one of which is a 
cronoescalada of epic proportions that will make the Tour's Alpe d'Huez TT 
pale in comparison - and its endless succession of leg-breaking climbs, 
broken up by six windswept flat stage-matches, surpasses almost anything a 
Grand Tour has previously produced. So many times in recent years, the Vuelta 
has come down to a final day drama - and this one doesn't look to be any 
different. What's more, the suspense should be there throughout; there is not 
a day's rest for anyone among the 21 stages - strength, bravery and vigilance 
aplenty will be the watchwords.

 

This is no formula Grand Tour like others we have seen in recent times, with 
only a few riders truly presenting themselves as being in the hunt. A quick 
perusal of the start list doesn't allow you to immediately jump up and scream 
out boldly, "So and so will win." There is no indisputable favourite - only 
riders who have a hope of victory.

 

One of the first things that you recall when you are going through the form 
guide is that the two main protagonists of last year's melodrama are now 
lined up side by side - two time winner Roberto Heras and the man he overcame 
on the climb of Abantos during last year's penultimate stage, the young 
Isidrio Nozal - together on the Liberty Seguros squad, which has of course as 
its chief architect, Manolo Saiz.

 2004 Route
 Image: © Unipublic 



Along with them, the Comunidad Valencia - Kelme squad throw none other than 
Alejandro Valverde into the mix with his ability it seems to win on any sort 
of terrain. Last year he rode as co-leader with Oscar Sevilla, but this year 
he gets to take on the challenge in his own right together with an 
experienced Kelme squad, looking to make a mark after a troubled year off the 
road. Sevilla, however, is with Phonak, and again has to play the role of 
twin-leader - but more likely second-fiddle to Tyler Hamilton, who will be 
out to become only the second North American to climb the Vuelta podium, the 
first being Levi Leipheimer with his third place in the 2001 edition, won by 
Angel Casero. Naturally, Hamilton is high on the list of contenders, and will 
be ably backed up not only by Sevilla, but by his whole Phonak squad. Also, 
keep an eye out for Jose Enrique (Quique or Keekee if you like) Gutierrez 
should Hamilton falter for any reason.

 

Fassa also line up with the aim of putting an American on the map with their 
young climber Tom Danielson, lining up alongside Dario Frigo and Dario Cioni. 
Danielson has climbed steadily and within himself all year in Europe, and 
will no doubt arrive at his first Grand Tour with "ganas" as they say in 
Spain. Of course, the Fassas will work hard to get Petacchi to the line 
during the sparse flat stages, but this in itself could be a complicated task 
given the way these stages across the heart of Spain so often cut the peloton 
to shreds. At some point, the team will need to decide whether they are in 
for the GC or there just to add another swag of stage wins to Alessandro's 
account.

 

Among the other real big guns or celebrity drawcards is T-Mobile's Kapitan 
Kazak, Alexandre Vinokourov, who will want to make up for missing the Tour 
after an ill-timed accident. Lining up with him and still spitting chips 
after his Tour exclusion is the Aussie GC hope Cadel Evans; if Evans can hold 
his own against the clock on the two flat TTs, he will have a good chance of 
finishing very well - but the factor that will hold him back in his need to 
support Vino. With Vino and Evans is 2002 Giro winner Paolo Savoldelli, back 
after a long lay-off. And then comes the Italy's Saeco Red Brigade, clearly 
focussed with one man at the helm in the form of this year's Giro champion 
Damiano Cunego. Cunego is listed as co-leader with Danilo Di Luca, but this 
pairing doesn't really carry with it the tension of the Simoni-Cunego set-up 
we saw in May.

 

Illes Baleares line up with a strong outfit headed ably by Paco Mancebo and 
Denis Menchov, both old hands now in Spain and both capable of holding their 
own over three weeks. The list goes on: Zubeldia, Sanchez, Casagrande, 
Moller, Pecharroman, Martinez, Sunderland, O'Grady, Freire, Sastre, Beltran, 
Jaksche, Garzelli... it's not a race to lay loads of money at the bookies on 
a clear-shot winner.

 

One team that are in many ways the year's sensation is of course Saunier 
Duval, who will be sure to light the Vuelta's roads on fire. The only problem 
that seems to arise with Saunier and the crew of team director Joxean 
Matxin's magic yellow bus (who knows what goes on in there, they are always 
smiling and always winning) is that the team is so good on paper, it's hard 
to know who will they ride for. Even a triumphant return from Joseba Beloki 
should not be discounted, as every rider that Matxin seems to touch turns to 
gold and then points back to Matxin and the atmosphere he creates as being 
like nothing else they have ever experienced, and the key to their change in 
fortune.

 

So intrigued we were by Matxin's choice of stars to choose from - namely 
Beloki, Canada, Casero, J.C. Dominguez, Jeker, Perdiguero, Piepoli, Zaballa 
and Joaquim Rodriguez - we asked him who would he nominate as leader. Without 
a doubt, their leader is Beloki said Matxin, going on to say Beloki is ready 
and has the form to win: "The whole team is going to the Vuelta with this in 
mind... we will win the Vuelta with Beloki," he foretold.

 

Stuey O'Grady, Oscar Freire, Van Heeswijk and Pedro Horillo will try and mix 
it in the sprints and breakaways, but others to keep an eye for are the lads 
from Paternina Costa Almeria, who with their strong contingent of Basque 
refugees, have a knack of infiltrating breaks, winning solo in the mountains, 
and sneeking away towards the end of a long stage - watch del Rio, Herrero 
and of course the climbing machine Jonathon Gonzalez. With them, keep in mind 
the strengthened Basque-Colombian line-up of Café Baqué, who have amongst 
their ranks last year's mountains winner Felix Cardenas. Of course, Euskaltel 
will give it their best shot after a disappointing Tour with Laiseka and 
Zubeldia, possibly riding to support Samuel Sanchez. The Orange brigade also 
has a few youngsters in the team; of them take note of the strapping Josu 
Silloniz and the young climber, Joseba Albizu.

 

The 2004 Vuelta a España: chock-a-block full of contenders and obstacles - the 
wind, the clock and the mountains - this year's edition will surely not 
disappoint if what you like is open, fast and gruelling cycling competition. 
For this year, there is no script, no patron, only possibilities...


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