King of seconds, Giovanni Lombardi does it again;
Baldato retains lead in Vuelta a España
By Andrew Hood

Too bad second-place doesn't make the statistic sheets, because that's one race Giovanni Lombardi certainly would be leading.

The Polti sprinter finished second in Saturday's field sprint for the second day in a row to move into second overall as the Vuelta a España begins its second week.

Lombardi--who narrowly lost to Italy's Nicola Minali (Gewiss) in Saturday's 220-kilometer (136-mile) flat eighth stage--has finished second twice, third twice, and fourth, fifth and eighth in each of the other stages.

"I want to win a stage. Coming this close every day is very frustrating," said Lombardi, a five-year pro who's never won a Vuelta stage. Lombardi has certainly tried. The Italian's been in the hunt in each of the Vuelta's stages so far.

His results reveal his desire to win a stage: third in the opening stage at Valencia, fifth at Cuenca, second at Albacete, third at Murcia, fourth at Almeria, eighth in Malaga, and second yesterday to overall leader Fabio Baldato (Gewiss).

Strong winds were a factor in Saturday's stage, which changed from a headwind to a tailwind and back to a headwind again as the course took the peloton from the Costa del Sol on the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Coast and the historic town of Jerez de la Frontera.

The strong headwinds split the peloton into two groups over the final 20 kilometers. The stranded group of 24 riders--which included sprinter Marcel Wust (MX Onda)--finished 4:53 behind the main pack.

"The wind was really strong in the last part and we kept falling further and further back. I had nothing to lose for the overall, so I lose a little more time," said Wust. "It's not important. I only want to win a stage."

Michael Andersson (Telekom) and Stefano Di Renza (Cantina Tollo) each tried unsuccessfully to escape the peloton over the final 10 kilometers. By the time the race headed into the narrow streets of Jerez, it was another down-to-the-wire field sprint.

Minali came out in the final 200 meters and headed off a late-charging Lombardi to take his second Vuelta stage this year.

Finishing third was Jeroen Blijlevens (TVM), followed by Baldato in fourth, and Laurent Jalabert (ONCE) in fifth.

Jalabert's been in the fray each day not only to win time bonuses but to go for another field sprint win. "I want to win another stage," said Jalabert, the defending Vuelta champion. "At the start of the Vuelta, I didn't think I could win a sprint stage, but everyday I feel more comfortable."

There is some consolation for Lombardi, a sprinter who likely won't be in the race after Tuesday's time trial. Using time bonuses, Lombardi moves into second overall, 20 seconds behind Baldato, while Jalabert fell into third place at 21 seconds back.

American Bobby Julich (Motorola) retained the climber's jersey despite a fall on the day's first of two Category 3 climbs.

Julich was heading up the Alto de Palmones at the 94-kilometer mark when Dimitiri Konyshev bumped Julich, forcing the 25-year-old American to fall. Julich wasn't injured and continued in the race. Konyshev, who started the day four points behind Julich for the climber's jersey, was penalized, canceling any points he earned in the first climb. Race officials concluded that Konyshev had behaved incorrectly and was responsible for the crash. He was penalized 20 seconds in the overall standings and fined 60,000 pesetas ($480).

At the day's second climb, the Alto de Medina Sidonia at the 140-kilometer mark, Julich won it and six first-place points to keep the jersey, which he's held since Monday.

He'll keep the jersey at least through the start of Tuesday's time trial, which features a Category 2 climb. There are no climbs in Sunday's flat stage, and Monday is the Vuelta's lone rest day.

Tomorrow's 203-km (125-mile) stage from Jerez de la Frontera to Cordoba will be the last chance to win for many of the sprinters, many of whom will likely abandon the race before Tuesday's first of two time trials.

Baldato says he may continue in the race, but others will certainly drop out as the Vuelta heads into the second week and the beginning of several climbing stages in the latter half of the race.

All eyes will be on Miguel Indurain (Banesto) as the five-time Tour de France champion heads into the time trial as the overwhelming favorite. ONCE's first-week strategy was building up as much time as possible over Indurain heading into the time trial, assuming, of course, they will lose time to the Olympic time-trial gold medalist.

Jalabert has about one minute over Indurain--who finished 18th in Saturday's stage and remains in the top 30, less than two minutes behind Baldato--a margin that the 32-year-old Spaniard is expected to erase.

"Every day that passes, we are closer to the first important point of the race, the time trial at Avila, where we are going to show the 'cracks' in this Vuelta," said Eusebio Unzue, Banesto team manager.

Unless disaster strikes tomorrow, Indurain and the time trialists move center stage Tuesday.

A final note: Motorola rider Jesus Montoya unceremoniously ended his career Saturday when the 32-year-old Spaniard announced his retirement. The 1995 national Spanish champion said he was suffering from tendinitis and could no longer race.

Stage 8 results

Andrew Hood is in Spain covering the Vuelta for Outside Online.