Italian Zanette takes overall lead
By VeloNews Interactive
Sometimes it pays to gamble. Spaniard Aitor Silloniz, ranked 1077 in UCI standings at the start of the 2001 season, took a flyer just 50km into Wednesday’s 173.3km stage 3 at the Setmana Catalana. With a time of 4:29:25, the Euskatel rider hung on to win, beating second-place Jose Manuel Vasquez, also a Spaniard, by 6:39. Finishing third on the day was Italian Denis Zanette, 7:06 back. Zanette, of Liquigas, moved into the leader’s jersey with two stages remaining in the Spanish stage race.
Lance Armstrong, Jan Ullrich, and Marco Pantani all finished the day with the main group, 7:06 behind Silloniz. The pivotal stage of Setmana Catalana happens tomorrow, with the 161.7km route between Vic and the steep, catergory 1 Rassos de Peguera climb.
AFP 2001
Results
SETMANA CATALANA, March 26-30. Spain.
Stage 3: Castello d’Empuries – Vic
1. Aitor Silloniz (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 173.3km in 4 :29:25 (avg. 38.594 kph); 2. Jose Manuel Vazquez (Sp), Relax-Fuenlabrada, at 6:39; 3. Denis Zanette (I), Liquigas, at 7:06; 4. Eddy Mazzoleni (I), Tacconi-Vini Caldirola; 5. Aitor Gonzalez (Sp), Kelme; 6. Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero (Sp); 7. Erik Zabel (G), Telekom; 8. Robbie McEwen (Aus), Domo-Farm Fritesl; 9. Ivan Sastre (Sp), Festina; 10. Marco Zanotti (I), Liquigas.
General Classification
1. Denis Zanette (I), Liquigas, 485.3 km in 12:13:39 (avg. 39.689 kph); 2. Angel Edo (Sp), Maia; 3. Piotr Wadecki (P), Domo-Farm Frites; 4. Joaquin Rodriguez (Sp), ONCE; 5. Michael Boogerd (Nl); 6. Aitor Gonzalez (Sp), Kelme; 7. Angel Castresana (Sp), Euskatel-Euskadi; 8. Grischa Niermann (G), Rabobank; 9. Udo Bolts (G), Telekom; 10. Bingen Fernandez (Sp), Euskatel-Euskadi, all s.t.
Others
39. Lance Armstrong (USA), U.S. Postal Service, s.t.; 44. Marco Pantani (I), Mercatone Uno, s.t.; 67. Roberto Heras (Sp), U.S. Postal Service, at 8:06; 112. Jan Ullrich (G), Telekom, at 17:23.