Alessio’s Hvastija gets Ruta win
Slovenian Martin Hvastija (Alessio) took the fourth stage of the Ruta del Sol in Spain on Wednesday — a 175km run from Cabra to Benalmadena. Hvastja finished in a time of 4:39.27. Leonardo Piepoli (iBanesto.com) was 27 seconds back in second, while Dave Bruylandts (Domo-Farm Frites) was third, 48 seconds off the pace. There were no changes in the overall standings, as Rabobank’s Erik Dekker finished 10th, maintaining his lead. Rabobank teammate Marc Wauters remained second, six seconds back of Dekker, while Kazakhstan’s Aleksandr Sheffr (Alessio) is still third, trailing by nine seconds.
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Dekker still leads overall with one stage to go
By VeloNews Interactive
Motoring: Hvastija heads for the win.
Photo: Graham Watson
Slovenian Martin Hvastija (Alessio) took the fourth stage of the Ruta del Sol in Spain on Wednesday — a 175km run from Cabra to Benalmadena. Hvastja finished in a time of 4:39.27.
Leonardo Piepoli (iBanesto.com) was 27 seconds back in second, while Dave Bruylandts (Domo-Farm Frites) was third, 48 seconds off the pace.
There were no changes in the overall standings, as Rabobank’s Erik Dekker finished 10th, maintaining his lead. Rabobank teammate Marc Wauters remained second, six seconds back of Dekker, while Kazakhstan’s Aleksandr Sheffr (Alessio) is still third, trailing by nine seconds. Floyd Landis (Mercury-Viatel) is the top American at 11th overall, 2:40 back.
Hvastija began the day more than 10 minutes behind in the overall standings, so few were concerned when he built a lead that topped out at six minutes. Still the victory has to be considered the biggest of his five-year career.
Up they go: The Spanish countryside provided pleasant scenery.
Photo: Graham Watson
The five-day race finishes up on Thursday with a 171km stage from Humilladero to Granada, which includes three category 3 climbs and one category 2 ascent.
Copyright AFP 2001
Photo Gallery
Results
Ruta del Sol, Spain
February 18-22, 2001
Stage 4: Cabra to Benalmadena
1. Martin Hvastija (Slo) Alessio, 175km in 4:39:27
2. Leonardo Piepoli (I) iBanesto.com, @:27
3. Dave Bruylandts (B) Domo-Farm Frites, @:48
4. Luis Perez (Sp) Festina, @1:02
5. Marcos A Serrano (Sp) ONCE, @1:30
6. Imanol Ayestaran (Sp) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada, @2:35
7. Andrei Tchmil (B) Lotto-Adecco, @2:54
8. Peter Van Petegem (B) Mercury-Viatel, same time
9. Aleksandr Sheffr (Kaz) Alessio, same time
10. Erik Dekker (Nl) Rabobank, @2:56
Others
26. Floyd Landis (USA) Mercury-Viatel, same time
63. Fred Rodriguez (USA) Domo-Farm Frites, @3:44
65. Antonio Cruz (USA) US Postal Service, same time
86. Tyler Hamilton (USA) US Postal Service, @10:17
87. David Zabriskie (USA) US Postal Service, same time
108. Mike Sayers (USA) Mercury-Viatel, same time
116. Dylan Casey (USA) US Postal Service, same time
129. Levy Leipheimer (USA) US Postal Service, @17:59
General Classification
1. Erik Dekker (Nl) Rabobank, 18:01:44
2. Marc Wauters (B) Rabobank, @:06
3. Aleksandr Sheffr (Kaz) Alessio, @:09
4. Andrei Tchmil (B) Lotto-Adecco, @:12
5. Jan Schaffrath (G) Telekom, @:21
6. Guennadi Mikhailov (Rus) Lotto-Adecco, @1:12
7. Wilfried Peeters (B) Domo-Farm Frites, @2:18
8. Johan Museeuw (B) Domo-Farm Frites, @2:23
9. Fabian De Waele (B) Lotto-Adecco, @2:25
9. Raphael Schweda (G) Team Coast, @2:25
Others
11. Floyd Landis (USA) Mercury-Viatel, @2:40
82. Mike Sayers (USA) Mercury-Viatel, @24:50
98. David Zabriskie (USA) US Postal Service, @30:47
105. Antonio Cruz (USA) US Postal Service, @33:04
113. Levy Leipheimer (USA) US Postal Service, @40:53
117. Fred Rodriguez (USA) Domo-Farm Frites, @45:06
119. Tyler Hamilton (USA) US Postal Service, @49:15
127. Dylan Casey (USA) US Postal Service, @50:32