2004 Vuelta a España

2004 Vuelta a España
Race details
Dates 4–26 September
Stages 21
Distance 2,925 km (1,818 mi)
Winning time 77h 42' 46" (37.62 km/h or 23.38 mph)
Palmares
Winner  Roberto Heras (ESP) (Liberty Seguros)
Second  Santiago Pérez (ESP) (Phonak)
Third  Francisco Mancebo (ESP) (Illes Balears–Banesto)
Points  Erik Zabel (GER) (T-Mobile Team)
Mountains  Félix Cárdenas (COL) (Orbitel)
Team Comunidad Valenciana–Kelme

The 59th Vuelta a España (Tour of Spain), a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from September 4 to September 26, 2004. It consisted of 21 stages covering a total of 2,925 km, and was won by Roberto Heras of the Liberty Seguros cycling team.

Halfway through the 2004 Vuelta, it appeared it would become an easy win for Heras, but in the last week his fellow countryman Santiago Pérez won two heavy mountain stages, thus becoming an important rival. Eventually Heras won with only 30 seconds advantage on Pérez. Francisco Mancebo, also from Spain took third. The first non-Spaniard was Stefano Garzelli from Italy in 11th. The points jersey was won by Erik Zabel from Germany, the mountain jersey was won by Félix Cárdenas from Colombia and the combination jersey was won by Roberto Heras. Kelme was the winner of the team ranking. Alessandro Petacchi, an Italian sprinter won four stages, but he didn't finish the Vuelta. Pérez Fernández won three stages.

Phonak hearing systems teammates Tyler Hamilton and Santiago Pérez would later test positive for blood doping from blood samples taken during the race.[1]

Teams and riders

Jersey progress

Stage
(Winner)		 General classification
 Points Classification
 Mountains Classification
 Combination Classification
 Team Classification
Stage 1 (TTT)
(U.S. Postal Service)		 Floyd Landis Floyd Landis Floyd Landis Floyd Landis U.S. Postal Service
Stage 2
(Alessandro Petacchi)		 Max van Heeswijk Erik Zabel
Stage 3
(Alejandro Valverde)		 Benoît Joachim Stuart O'Grady
Stage 4
(Alessandro Petacchi)		 Erik Zabel
Stage 5
(Denis Menchov)		 Manuel Beltrán Stuart O'Grady Juan Manuel Gárate
Stage 6
(Óscar Freire)		 Francisco Mancebo Manuel Beltrán
Stage 7
(Alessandro Petacchi)		 Erik Zabel Denis Menchov
Stage 8
(Tyler Hamilton)		 Floyd Landis Floyd Landis
Stage 9
(Leonardo Piepoli)		 David Fernández Francisco Mancebo
Stage 10
(Eladio Jiménez)		 Stuart O'Grady José Miguel Elias Comunidad Valenciana–Kelme
Stage 11
(David Zabriskie)		 Alejandro Valverde
Stage 12
(Roberto Heras)		 Roberto Heras Roberto Heras Roberto Heras
Stage 13
(Alessandro Petacchi)		 Erik Zabel
Stage 14
(Santiago Pérez)
Stage 15 (ITT)
(Santiago Pérez)
Stage 16
(José Julía)
Stage 17
(Félix Cárdenas)		 Félix Cárdenas
Stage 18
(Javier Pascual Rodriguez)
Stage 19
(Constantino Zaballa)
Stage 20
(José Enrique Gutiérrez)
Stage 21 (ITT)
(Santiago Pérez)
Final Roberto Heras Erik Zabel Félix Cárdenas Roberto Heras Comunidad Valenciana–Kelme

General classification (final)

RankRiderTeamTime
1 Roberto Heras (ESP) Liberty Seguros 77h42'46"
2 Santiago Pérez (ESP)Phonak 30"
3 Francisco Mancebo (ESP) Illes Balears–Banesto 2'13"
4 Alejandro Valverde (ESP)Comunidad Valenciana–Kelme 3'30"
5 Carlos García Quesada (ESP)Comunidad Valenciana–Kelme 7'44"
6 Carlos Sastre (ESP) Team CSC 8'11"
7 Isidro Nozal (ESP) Liberty Seguros 8'32"
8 José Ángel Gómez Marchante (ESP)Paternina-Costa De Almeria 13'08"
9 Luis Pérez (ESP) Cofidis 13'24"
10 David Blanco (ESP) Comunidad Valenciana–Kelme 15'15"
11 Stefano Garzelli (ITA)Vini Caldirola–Nobili Rubinetterie 16'33"
12 Marcos Serrano (ESP)Liberty Seguros 17'14"
13 Manuel Beltrán (ESP) U.S. Postal Service 17'43"
14 Francisco José Lara (ESP)Paternina-Costa De Almeria 24'16"
15 Samuel Sánchez (ESP) Euskaltel–Euskadi 29'23"
16 Damiano Cunego (ITA)Saeco Macchine per Caffè 29'51"
17 Jorge Ferrio (ESP)Paternina-Costa De Almeria 30'49"
18 David Plaza (ESP)Cafe Baque 31'24"
19 Eladio Jiménez (ESP) Comunidad Valenciana–Kelme 34'35"
20 Luis Pasamontes (ESP)Relax-Bergasol 37'49"
21 Unai Osa (ESP) Illes Balears–Banesto 38'06"

References

  1. ↑ "Perez vows to continue". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2008-01-04.

External links

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