Vuelta a España 1998 - 16 Lagunas Neila Jimenez

Vuelta a España 1998 - 16, Soria - Laguna Negra de Neila, 143.7 kms

Puerto Piqueras 1710m
Puerto de Santa Ines 1753m
Laguna Negra de Neila 1900m

1. José Maria Jiminez Sastre (Spa) Banesto 3.28.12 (41.412)
2. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) ONCE-Deutsche Bank 0.33
3. Fernando Escartin (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 0.33
4. Alex Zülle (Swi) Festina-Lotus 0.39
5. Richard Virenque (Fra) Festina-Lotus 0.39
6. Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto 0.46
7. Abraham Olano Manzano (Spa) Banesto 0.46
8. José Joaquim Castelblanco (Col) Avianca-Telecom 0.58
9. Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 0.58
10. Daniel Clavero Sebastian (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros 1.02
11. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal 1.22
12. Andrei Zintchenko (Rus) Vitalicio Seguros 1.41
13. Marco Serpellini (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas 1.41
14. Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 1.41
15. Pascal Hervé (Spa) Festina-Lotus 1.41
16. Gianluca Valoti (Ita) Polti 1.48
17. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 1.49
18. David Etxebarria Alkorta (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank 1.49
19. Felix M. Garcia Casas (Spa) Festina-Lotus 1.55
20. Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros 1.55
21. Vitali Kokorin (Rus) Saeco 2.00
22. Niki Aebersold (Swi) Post Swiss Team 2.09
23. Oskar Camenzind (Swi) Mapei-Bricobi 2.09
24. David Plaza Romero (Spa) Cofidis 2.09
25. Juan Carlos Dominguez (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros 2.09
26. Angel Castresana (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2.15
27. Mikel Zarrabeitia Uranga (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank 2.15
28. Fabrice Gougot (Fra) Casino 2.23
29. Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank 2.31
30. Juan Carlos Vicario Barbera (Spa) Estepona-Brepac 2.37

GC after Stage 16

1. Abraham Olano Manzano (Spa) Banesto 68.05.04
2. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) ONCE-Deutsche Bank 0.22
3. José Maria Jiminez Sastre (Spa) Banesto 0.31
4. Fernando Escartin (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 0.38
5. Alex Zülle (Swi) Festina-Lotus 2.12
6. Daniel Clavero Sebastian (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros 2.17
7. Roberto Heras Hernandez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 2.36
8. Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Banesto 2.52
9. Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 3.04
10. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal 3.20

Stage Report

Olano kept his lead - now only 22 seconds - but Jalabert's final assault in the last km was perfectly timed to take the biggest slice of time possible of him. Both Jalabert and Escartin (in tow) surged in the last moments of the stage, which was won again by Banesto's Jose Maria Jimenez (4th stage win for 1998 Vuelta). Jimenez won by 33 seconds alone, followed by Jalabert and Escartin with Olano back in 7th at 46 seconds.

Earlier in the day, Banesto spent a lot of effort chasing down moves inspired mostly by Escartin's Kelme-Costa Blanca team. Roberto Heras is also threatening in that team. With only 3 kms to go, Jimenez, who has emerged from the shadow of Marco Pantani (absent from the Vuelta), attacked. The race blew wide open. Early breakaway rider Juan Carlos Dominguez went with Jimenez, who is now in 3rd place on GC and an ideal substitute for final honours for Banesto should Olano stumble in the next 2 hard days of racing in the mountains.

If Olano cannot last until the time trial, Jimenez may be the rider to take the GC for Banesto which gives Olano the chance of regaining it in the ITT on Saturday.

Olano told the press afterwards: "I could not respond to those last attacks but I was close enough to Jalabert and Jimenez. Jalabert tried hard but just could not get enough time on me. There are still two difficult stages to come and it is important to stay in the yellow jersey for Saturday's time trial, especially

Jalabert realising he was up against the Banesto machine said: "Banesto were very strong. It is going to be hard to do anything now. There are few opportunities left."

Jimenez said: "I knew I could win. My team director told me to wait until as late as possible before attacking. Now I believe that Olano has enough in hand to stay in the leader's jersey all the way to Madrid."