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Home cookin' Spain's Lastras claims ninth stage of Tour of SpainPosted: Sunday September 15, 2002 12:01 PMUpdated: Sunday September 15, 2002 12:35 PM CORDOBA, Spain (Reuters) -- Spain's Pablo Lastras, riding for the ibanesto.com team, clinched his first victory of the season when he won the ninth stage of the Tour of Spain on Sunday. Lastras clocked two hours 48 minutes and 52 seconds in the 130.2 km stage, which started and finished in Cordoba. The Spaniard sealed the win after breaking away from the peloton with eight kilometres remaining on the fast descent to the finish. Compatriot Luis Perez was second ahead of third-placed Fabien Jeker of Switzerland, 13 seconds behind. Reigning world champion Oscar Freire of Spain abandoned the stage after 35 kilometres, complaining of severe pains in his right knee but race leader Oscar Sevilla of Spain kept control of the event after finishing in the main pack. The leading peloton of 34 riders, led in by Spaniard Alejandro Valverde, finished 21 seconds behind Lastras, with German Erik Zabel taking fifth and reinforcing his lead in the points competition. Lastras's team mate Francisco Mancebo was missing from the first group containing all the main favourites, including Sevilla. Mancebo, lying 15th overall before the stage, was among a group of 40 riders caught out by a combination of crosswinds and an acceleration in speed in the main peloton. He gave up after dropped four minutes back. "It was important for the team to win today, because Mancebo is a great loss for our chances overall," Lastras said.
After the stage, 1991 Vuelta winner Melcior Mauri, 36, told
a press conference he would retire at the end of the season.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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