Published March 30, 2001 11:46AM
By VeloNews Interactive
Rabobank’s Michael Boogerd held on to win the overall title at Setmana Catalana Friday, finishing the fifth stage safely in the main group. Italian Marco Zanotti (Liquigas) won the 152.4km stage between Berga and Cornella de Llobregrat in 3:17:34.
American Lance Armstrong was the most consistent of the big-name Tour de France contenders in the five-day stage race in Spain, finishing eighth overall, 1:13 off the winning pace. Italian Marco Pantani (Mercatone Uno) showed some aggression early in the week, going wheel to wheel with Armstrong in the mountains, but he withdrew on Thursday’s stage 4 because he “was having a bad day,” according to Mercatone Uno director Giuseppe Martinelli.
“There’s no big drama,” Martinelli insisted. “It was a tough stage and Marco payed the price for earlier efforts, but he is in good condition. We did know though that it would be difficult for him to compete with riders who are already at full fitness.”
SETMANA CATALANA, March 26-30. Spain.
1. Marco Zanotti (I), Liquigas 3:17:34; 2. Angel Edo (Sp), Maia; 3. Erik Zabel (G), Telekon; 4. Nicola Gavazzi (I), Saeco; 5. Denis Zanette (I), Liquigas; 6. Igor Astorloa (Sp), Mercatone Uno; 7. Martin Garrido (Arg), Jazztel; 8. Eddy Mazzoleni (I), Tacconi-Vini Caldirola; 9. Michael Boogerd (Nl), Rabobank; 10. Ivan Sastre (Sp), Festina, all s.t.
Final overall standings:
1. Boogerd, 19:55:29; 2. Danilo Di Luca (I), Cantina Tollo, s.t.; 3. Manuel Beltran (Sp), Mapei-Quick Step, at 0:07; 4. Alex Zulle (Swi), Coast, at 0:30; 5. Marcelino Garcia (Sp), CSC-World Online, at 1:06; 6. Marcos Serrano (Sp), ONCE, at 1:07; 7. Bingen Fernandez (Sp), Euskatel-Euskadi, at 1:08; 8. Lance Armstrong (USA), U.S. Postal Service, at 1:13; 9. Leonardo Piepoli (I), Banesto, at 1:29; 10. Dave Bruylandts (B), at Domo-Farm Frites, at 1:50.
Others
76. Roberto Heras (Sp), U.S. Postal Service, at 31:37; 100. Jan Ullrich (G), Telekom, at 38:05.