Zulle moves into overall lead at Tour of Spain, with Indurain, Jalabert 2-3
By Andrew Hood

Winds of change blew through the Vuelta a España's leader board at today's stage. Unfortunately for Spain's Miguel Indurain, they weren't blowing in his favor.

The five-time Tour de France champion moved up in the overall standings after Tuesday's 46.5-kilometer time trial, but strong headwinds stifled his ambitions to take the lead.

Indurain moves into second overall after 10 stages, putting him one minute and four seconds behind ONCE's Alex Zulle, who takes the lead on a day when everyone expected Indurain to make his move.

An emotionally charged Tony Rominger (Mapei) posted an early fast time that stood all day, covering the hilly, curved course in one hour, 10 minutes, 20 seconds. Zulle crossed two seconds behind and Indurain finished third in the stage, 27 seconds slower than Rominger.

Strong headwinds and cool temperatures on Spain's hilly central plateau weren't to Indurain's liking, a time-trial specialist who rode only with an aero-helmet and aero-bars mounted on his regular road bike.

"It wasn't the best time trial in my career, that's for sure," said Indurain, whose best finish in the Vuelta was second in 1991, the last time he raced here. "The headwinds and the curves made it tough for me. It was a hard time trial."

Sitting in third overall is defending champion Laurent Jalabert (ONCE), just 11 seconds behind Indurain. ONCE's Melchor Mauri and Neil Stephens move into fourth and fifth, respectively.

Fabio Baldato's four-day hold on the leader's jersey ended unceremoniously when the MG sprinter finished the course nine minutes slower than Rominger.

"I'm very happy to have the lead. The Tour de France didn't go very well and after that didn't either," said Zulle, who finished second behind Indurain in the 1995 Tour de France, but was 26th overall this year.

"I've never won a major stage race, so I want to try to win," said the Swiss rider, who had a strong finish into Avila, a medieval walled city where thousands of fans lined the course.

The ONCE team succeeded in keeping Indurain out of the lead, where the Spaniard is most comfortable racing to protect a lead rather than attacking. With four ONCE riders in the top five, Indurain will have his work cut out for him in the upcoming climbing stages.

"One minute to Zulle, it's going to be hard to get it back against someone as strong as him," Indurain said. "I still don't have my best strength. I have never ridden in a major stage race before in September."

After tomorrow's moderate climbing stage, three out of the next four stages end with Category 1 or beyond-category climbs at the finish. Whoever comes out ahead should feel confident going into the final climbing stages in the Pyrenees and the second time trial September 28, the day before the race ends in Madrid, Indurain said.

"The climbing stages will be tough. The time difference is small and there are still several riders who can make up the time very easily," he said.

Zulle isn't exactly dancing in the streets, either. His strong ONCE team will ride to protect his lead, but in the steeps, individual strength matters more than team tactics.

"Miguel is Miguel, so I consider him the toughest challenge," Zulle said. "The climbing stages will be very difficult. Now I will try to recuperate a little bit and take it day-by-day."

While ONCE and Indurain maintained and fortified their positions, several other key riders lost time. As expected, Baldato said adios to the overall leader's jersey.

Laurent Dufaux (Festina-Lotus) had a poor time trial, finishing four minutes in back of Rominger and falling to seventh in the overall standings at 4:24 behind Zulle. Polti's Davide Rebellin dropped to 13th overall at 6:42 back.

American Bobby Julich (Motorola) keeps his climber's jersey and could hold it through Wednesday's stage with two Category 3 climbs before likely losing it Thursday, when the peloton heads north and finishes with a Category 1 climb.

More points are up for grabs in the tougher climbs. First place in a Category 3 climb nets six points while a first place in a beyond-category climb earns 30 points.

Julich remains in the top 15 at 12th overall, 6:10 behind Zulle. Fellow Motorolans Andrea Peron and Axel Merckx posted strong time trials, with Peron in 10th, 3:46 behind Rominger; and Merckx at 18th, 4:44 back.

Tuesday's time trial belonged to Rominger, however. The three-time Vuelta champion is looking to take stage wins after losing more than seven minutes and any chance for the overall early in the race.

"For me, emotion is very important. Emotion can change a lot in a race," said Rominger, who won the Vuelta three years straight during 1992-94.

"Now it's more interesting for everyone. If I could attack and catch up, I would," he said. "But for me, the Vuelta is over (for the overall). I will still try to win some stages and finish strong."

Time splits on the time trial for the top finishers:

At 17 km:
1. Rominger (Mapei), at 27.49 (36.669 kilometers per hour)
2. Zulle (ONCE), at 6 seconds
3. Indurain (Banesto), at 10 seconds
4. Jalabert (ONCE), at 31 seconds
5. Stephens (ONCE), at 35 seconds
6. Mauri (ONCE), at 38 seconds
7. Casero (Banesto), at 1:15
8. Peron (Motorola), at 1:22
9. Pistore (MG), at 1:23
10. Dominguez (Kelme), at 1:33

At 27 kilometers:
1. Rominger (Mapei), at 46.44 (34.665 kph)
2. Indurain (Banesto), at 10 seconds
3. Zulle (ONCE), at 14 seconds
4. Jalabert (ONCE), at 1:17
5. Mauri (ONCE), at 1:38
6. Stephens (ONCE), at 1:48
7. Casero (Banesto), at 1:57
8. Pistore (MG), at 2:00
9. Jimenez (Banesto), at 2:12
10. Andersson (Telekom), at 2:19

At 37 kilometers:
1. Rominger (Mapei), at 58:35 (37.895 kph)
2. Zulle (ONCE), at 17 seconds
3. Indurain (Banesto), at 23 seconds
4. Jalabert (ONCE), at 1:45
5. Stephens (ONCE), at 1:47
6. Mauri (ONCE), at 1:50
7. Casero (Banesto), at 2:30
8. Andersson (Telekom), at 2:41
9. Nardello (Mapei), at 3:06
10. Dominguez (Kelme), at 3:12

Overall stage results:
1. Rominger (Mapei), 1:10:20, 39.668 kph
2. Zulle (ONCE), at 2 seconds
3. Indurain (Banesto), at 27 seconds
4. Mauri (ONCE), at 1:50
5. Jalabert (ONCE), at 1:52
6. Stephens (ONCE), at 2:02
7. Andersson (Telekom), at 3:11
8. Casero (Banesto), at 3:14
9. Nardello (Mapei), at 3:26
10. Peron (Motorola), at 3:46

Stage 10 results

Andrew Hood is in Spain covering the Tour of Spain for Outside Online.