The Milram-train worked perfectly on the eleventh stage of the Vuelta Espana. First the breakaway of
the day were caught up, then Alessandro Petacchi won his first stage at this years edition of the Vuelta Espana. After
Zabel’s win at the seventh stage it was the second success for Team Milram.
The finale couldn’t be better for Team Milram: with two kilometers to go Marco Velo, Alberto Ongarato,
Erik Zabel prepared the sprint for Ale-Jet. When Ongarato and Velo dropped back after their work was done, Erik Zabel
opened the sprint for his team-mate. Erik Zabel himself finished on rank three. The 37 year-old powered into the finish too
and was only outpaced by World Champion Paolo Bettini (Quick Step). "This win is a success for the team," Alessandro Petacchi
thanked his team-mates, who worked hard for this win. "I am very happy now. It didn't do very well in the first week
because I hadn't enough training in the summer. But I knew, it's only a matter of time. After a couple days at the Vuelta
I felt better and better. In Logrono I was in a bad position and in Saragossa I crashed two kilometers before the finishline.
Now I can put my mind at rest regarding the next days and maybe win another stage."
Eight kilometers before the finishline
the two escapees, José Lopez Gil (Andalucia) and Raul Garcia de Mateo (Relax), were caught up by the bunch, after the sprinter
teams controlled the Spanish riders on the final kilometers of their escape.
It was a transitional stage on the road to Algemesí, but that doesn't mean the stage was boring. The riders
are now getting involved in the battle for the overall King of the Mountain crown. The Saunier Duval team even took control
of the pack to prepare a sprint for those points today in a category in which the three leaders are Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier
Duval) , Denis Menchov (Rabobank) and Serafín Martínez (Karpin Galicia) with 72, 71 and 70 points, respectively. More
excitement, impossible to find and Piepoli and Martínez, at least, are pinning all their hopes on this battle. In the overall
of the combined, Denis Menchov continues as the leader, as he does in the overall race category. In the team standings Caisse
d’Epargne defended their lead. In the points category, Paolo Bettini is in first place, with Menchov and Zabel in second
and third position.
Rabobank's sports director Erik Breukink said: "It was a positive day for us, rather quiet, and we did not
really have to sweat it out. The final kilometer was dangerous, but of course Denis [Menchov] did not have to compete in the
sprint." The next two stages should also not cause any problems for Erik Breukink's team. "Especially if the sprinter teams
are still interested in a bunch sprint. That would be to our advantage."
Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval) and Carlos Sastre (CSC) have tried to settle the controversy after the
critical comments made by the Ávila-based rider regarding Piepoli following the Aracalis stage. The Saunier Duval team rider explained: "I only work for myself. I never have worked for another racer
and I’m not going to do that. I’ve never sold myself out or asked another rider for help in 15 years and in this
Vuelta I’ve managed to win stages. I accept that everyone can get an idea in their head in the heat of the moment and
also once they’ve cooled down, but I met with the person I had to meet with and I said the things I had to say to him
directly." Carlos Sastre opted for irony: "It’s a great day. A few clouds, but I’m sure the sun will shine later."
That was the response of a racer who didn't want to get caught up in a debate over what had happened in any way, shape or
form: "I'm not going to get into any controversies," the main rider for the CSC team insisted, before turning the conversation
to the weather again.
