Stage 1 - September 8: Salamanca - Salamanca, 12.3 km

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It's Millar Time - finally

By Jeff Jones

David Millar
Photo: © AFP

David Millar has done what he wanted to do in this year's Tour de France, albeit two months later in Salamanca at the start of the Vuelta a España. The Cofidis specialist rode a superbly measured time trial to win the Vuelta's first stage, edging out early leader Santiago Botero (Kelme) by 1 second, with Levi Leipheimer (US Postal) finishing third at 6 seconds. Millar demonstrated that all was not lost this season after a terrible Tour, as he clenched his right fist after crossing the line and checking his time.

Under sunny skies and amidst a quiet Saturday afternoon siesta in Salamanca, 189 riders took the start for the 12.3 kilometre test. The parcours was perfect for speed: not too many tight corners, good roads, starting with a slight downhill and finishing with a little climb. There was a corner at the 7 kilometre point that caused a few problems, as Erik Zabel and Juan Carlos Dominguez found, without serious injury.

One rider who did crash heavily was ONCE's Marcos Serrano, who fell in the first few kilometres and injured his elbow, possibly breaking his collarbone. He finished with a time of 22'03, and may not start tomorrow.

The rider who really set things alight was Kelme's Santiago Botero, the strong Colombian posting 7'57 for the first 7 kilometres and finishing with a time of 14'57. This was substantially better than either David Plaza (Festina, 15'20) or José E. Gutiérrez (Kelme, 15'21), who were the leaders until Botero came through.

The next rider to challenge was American Levi Leipheimer (US Postal), a strong time trialist who also happens to be in good form at the moment. He was one second slower than Botero after 7 kilometres, and ended up with 15'03. He will be a valuable part of the team defending Roberto Heras in the stages to come.

Good time trialists such as Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano and Joseba Beloki (ONCE) both posted respectable times, but nothing close to Botero's sub-15 minute effort. Many Spaniards were hoping that Abraham Olano would be the one to do it, but although he looked fast, he was 9 seconds slower than Botero at 7 km, and suffered on the uphill stretch home to finish in 15'28.

Millar time
Photo: © AFP

It was the rider before Olano who was the danger man to Botero's time. David Millar started solidly, with 8'01 for the first 7 km, but rode extremely well in the second half of the race, catching Fernando Escartin to cross in 14'56, the new best time and one that gave him the golden jersey.

The final rider to come in was Roberto Heras (US Postal), who was cheered all the way to finish in 15'42, good enough for 33rd and a solid start to the Vuelta.

The day belonged to Millar, who will hopefully spend a few days clad in gold.

Results

1 David Millar (GBr) Cofidis                                  14.56 (49.41 km/h)
2 Santiago Botero (Col) Kelme-Barclaycard                      0.01
3 Levi Leipheimer (USA) US Postal Service                      0.06
4 Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski              0.17
5 Joseba Beloki (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                          0.23
6 David Plaza (Spa) Festina                                    0.24
7 José Gutierrez (Spa) Kelme-Barclaycard                       0.25
8 Mikel Zarrabeitia (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                      0.26
9 Jörg Jaksche (Ger) O.N.C.E.-Eroski
10 Pedro Horrillo (Spa) Mapei-Quick Step                       0.28
11 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                           0.30
12 Abraham Olano (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                         0.31
13 Carlos Sastre (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                         0.32
14 Nathan O'Neill (Aus) Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo               0.33
15 Antonio Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Barclaycard 
16 Angel Vicioso (Spa) Kelme-Barclaycard                       0.34
17 Angel Casero (Spa) Festina
18 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Kelme-Barclaycard                       0.35
19 José Luis Rubiera (Spa) US Postal Service                   0.37
20 Santos Gonzalez (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski
21 Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) Cofidis                                  0.39
22 Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                           0.40
23 Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski
24 Victor Hugo Peña (Col) US Postal Service                    0.41
25 Jose Luis Rebollo (Spa) Festina                             0.42
26 David Cañada (Spa) Mapei-Quick Step                         0.43
27 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step
28 Andrea Noe (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                           0.44
29 Francisco Cabello (Spa) Kelme-Barclaycard                   0.45
30 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                           0.46
31 Ruslan Ivanov (Mda) Alessio
32 Alex Zuelle (Swi) Team Coast
33 Roberto Heras (Spa) US Postal Service
34 Beat Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                                   0.47
35 Alberto Elli (Ita) Team Deutsche Telekom
36 Alberto Martinez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                    0.51
37 Eddy Ratti (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step
38 Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                            0.52
39 Roberto Laiseka (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
40 Juan Carlos Dominguez (Spa) iBanesto.com                    0.53
41 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom
42 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                         0.54
43 Dmitri Fofonov (Kaz) Cofidis
44 Frank Hoj (Den) Team Coast                                  0.55
45 Tomas Konecny (Cze) Domo-Farm Frites
46 Guido Trentin (Ita) Cofidis                                 0.56
47 Chann McRae (USA) US Postal Service
48 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                     0.58
49 Martín Garrido (Arg) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada              1.00
50 Juan Carlos Vicario (Spa) Festina
51 Sven Teutenberg (Ger) Festina
52 J.Antonio Pecharroman (Spa) Jazztel-Costa del Almeria
53 Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) iBanesto.com                      1.01
54 Sergiy Matveyev (Ukr) Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo              1.02
55 Fernando Escartin (Spa) Team Coast
56 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Stream TV               1.03
57 Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada
58 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Lampre-Daikin
59 Massimo Codol (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                           1.04
60 Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank                                    1.05
61 Félix Garcia Casas (Spa) Festina                            1.06
62 Oscar Freire (Spa) Mapei-Quick Step
63 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Saeco Macchine Per Caffe'            1.07
64 Marcus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank
65 Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                      1.08
66 Oscar Laguna (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada
67 José Angel Vidal (Spa) Kelme-Barclaycard 
68 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Cantina Tollo Acqua & Sapone
69 José Garcia Acosta (Spa) iBanesto.com
70 Manuel Beltran (Spa) Mapei-Quick Step
71 Benoit Joachim (Lux) US Postal Service
72 Jon Odriozola (Spa) iBanesto.com                            1.09
73 Melchor Mauri (Spa) Milaneza-MSS
74 Luca Paolini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step
75 Pedro Diaz Lobato (Spa) Jazztel-Costa del Almeria
76 Aitor Garmendia (Spa) Team Coast                            1.10
77 Julian Dean (NZl) US Postal Service                         1.11
78 Luis Perez (Spa) Festina
79 Rafael Cardenas (Col) Kelme-Barclaycard 
80 M.A. Martin Perdiguero (Spa) Cantina Tollo Acqua & Sapone   1.13
81 Stephan Schreck (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom
82 Leif Hoste (Bel) Domo-Farm Frites
83 Richard Virenque (Fra) Domo-Farm Frites                     1.14
84 Unai Osa (Spa) iBanesto.com
85 Jan Schaffrath (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                  1.15
86 Roberto Conti (Ita) Cantina Tollo Acqua & Sapone            1.16
87 Klaus Möller (Den) Milaneza-MSS
88 Santiago Blanco (Spa) iBanesto.com                          1.17
89 Jorge Capitan (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada
90 Jose María Jimenez (Spa) iBanesto.com
91 Jaime Hernandez (Spa) Festina
92 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Rabobank                                1.18
93 Daniel Clavero (Spa) Mercatone Uno-Stream TV                1.19
94 David Fernandez (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada
95 Michael Andersson (Swe) Mercatone Uno-Stream TV
96 Matthe Pronk (Ned) Rabobank
97 Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo            1.21
98 David Etxebarria (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
99 Vladimir Duma (Ukr) Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo
100 Dariusz Baranowski (Pol) iBanesto.com
101 Elio Aggiano (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step
102 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco Macchine Per Caffe'         1.22
103 Eleuterio Anguita (Spa) Jazztel-Costa del Almeria
104 Bingen Fernandez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
105 Lars Michaelsen (Den) Team Coast                           1.23
106 Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre-Daikin
107 Aitor Osa (Spa) iBanesto.com                               1.24
108 Pavel Padrnos (Cze) Saeco Macchine Per Caffe'
109 Fabian Jeker (Swi) Milaneza-MSS                            1.26
110 Marc Lotz (Ned) Rabobank
111 Niki Aebersold (Swi) Team Coast
112 Ricardo Valdes (Spa) Jazztel-Costa del Almeria             1.27
113 Filippo Simeoni (Ita) Cantina Tollo Acqua & Sapone         1.28
114 Gian Mario Ortenzi (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Stream TV           1.29
115 José J. Gomez Gozalo (Spa) Kelme-Barclaycard 
116 Fabiano Fontanelli (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Stream TV           1.30
117 Massimo Giunti (Ita) Cantina Tollo Acqua & Sapone
118 Victoriano Fernandez (Spa) Milaneza-MSS                    1.31
119 Jose Manuel Vazquez (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada
120 Ermanno Brignoli (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Stream TV             1.32
121 Daniele De Paoli (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Stream TV
122 Kyrylo Pospyeyev (Ukr) Cantina Tollo Acqua & Sapone
123 Antonio Cruz (USA) US Postal Service                       1.33
124 Raphael Schweda (Ger) Team Coast
125 Aitor Kintana (Spa) Jazztel-Costa del Almeria              1.34
126 Geert Verheyen (Bel) Rabobank
127 Daniel Atienza (Spa) Cofidis                               1.35
128 Peter Farazjin (Bel) Cofidis
129 Kai Hundertmarck (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom
130 Antonio Varriale (Ita) Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo
131 Andreas Klier (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom                  1.36
132 Angel Edo (Spa) Milaneza-MSS
133 Jorg Ludewig (Ger) Saeco Macchine Per Caffe'
134 Rui Lavarinhas (Por) Milaneza-MSS
135 Julio Alberto Perez Cuapio (Mex) Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo  1.37
136 Steven Kleynen (Bel) Domo-Farm Frites
137 Glenn Magnusson (Swe) Domo-Farm Frites
138 Andrea Tonti (Ita) Cantina Tollo Acqua & Sapone            1.38
139 Simone Bertoletti (Ita) Lampre-Daikin
140 Claude Lamour (Fra) Cofidis                                1.39
141 Luciano Pagliarini (Bra) Lampre-Daikin
142 Nacor Burgos (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada               1.40
143 Dario Pieri (Ita) Saeco Macchine Per Caffe'                1.40
144 Joao Silva (Por) Milaneza-MSS
145 Mauro Gianetti (Swi) Team Coast                            1.41
146 Ivan Gotti (Ita) Alessio                                   1.43
147 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom
148 Marco Pantani (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Stream TV
149 Serguei Smetanine (Rus) Jazztel-Costa del Almeria
150 Dave Bruylandts (Bel) Domo-Farm Frites                     1.44
151 Biagio Conte (Ita) Saeco Macchine Per Caffe'
152 Guido Trenti (USA) Cantina Tollo Acqua & Sapone            1.44
153 Steve De Wolf (Bel) Domo-Farm Frites                       1.45
154 Rafael Casero (Spa) Festina
155 Carlos Carneiro (Por) Milaneza-MSS                         1.46
156 Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Domo-Farm Frites                  1.46
157 Endrio Leoni (Ita) Alessio                                 1.47
158 Igor Astarloa (Spa) Mercatone Uno-Stream TV
159 Torsten Nitsche (Ger) Saeco Macchine Per Caffe'
160 Yauheni Seniushkin (Blr) Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo          1.48
161 Alexander Shefer (Kaz) Alessio
162 Germán Nieto (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada               1.49
163 Massimiliano Gentili (Ita) Cantina Tollo Acqua & Sapone
164 Roberto Sgambelluri (Ita) Team Deutsche Telekom            1.50
165 Alberto Lopez De Munain (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi            1.51
166 Alberto Vinale (Ita) Alessio
167 Cesar Garcia Calvo (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada
168 Carlos Golbano (Spa) Jazztel-Costa del Almeria             1.53
169 Addy Engels (Ned) Rabobank
170 Alessio Galletti (Ita) Saeco Macchine Per Caffe'           1.54
171 Janek Tombak (Est) Cofidis                                 1.56
172 Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                        1.57
173 Thorwald Veneberg (Ned) Rabobank                           1.58
174 Igor Pugaci (Mda) Saeco Macchine Per Caffe'
175 Stefano Casagranda (Ita) Alessio                           2.01
176 Igor Flores (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
177 Carlos Torrent (Spa) Jazztel-Costa del Almeria             2.04
178 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Alessio
179 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Domo-Farm Frites                       2.05
180 Matthew White (Aus) US Postal Service                      2.10
181 Juan Guillamon (Spa) Jazztel-Costa del Almeria
182 Enrico Degano (Ita) Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo
183 Gorka Gerrikagoitia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                2.11
184 Rolf Huser (Swi) Team Coast                                2.14
185 Renato Silva (Por) Milaneza-MSS
186 Davide Casarotto (Ita) Alessio                             2.16
187 Martin Hvastija (Slo) Alessio                              2.33
188 Filippo Pefetto (Ita) Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo             4.28
189 Marcos Serrano (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                       7.07

Points
 
1 David Millar (GBr) Cofidis                                    25 pts
2 Santiago Botero (Col) Kelme-Barclaycard                       20
3 Levi Leipheimer (USA) US Postal Service                       16
4 Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski               14
5 Joseba Beloki (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                           12
6 David Plaza (Spa) Festina                                     10
7 José Gutierrez (Spa) Kelme-Barclaycard                         9
8 Mikel Zarrabeitia (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                        8
9 Jörg Jaksche (Ger) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                             7
10 Pedro Horrillo (Spa) Mapei-Quick Step                         6
11 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                             5
12 Abraham Olano (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                           4
13 Carlos Sastre (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski                           3
14 Nathan O'Neill (Aus) Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo                 2
15 Antonio Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Barclaycard                        1
 
Mountains
 
1 David Millar (GBr) Cofidis                                     6 pts
2 Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin                              4
3 José Luis Rubiera (Spa) US Postal Service                      2
4 Santiago Botero (Col) Kelme-Barclaycard                        1
 
Teams
 
1 Kelme - Barclaycard                                     45.47.00
2 ONCE - Eroski                                               0.07
3 US Postal Service                                           0.25
4 Cofidis                                                     0.32
5 Festina                                                     0.41
6 Mapei-Quick Step                                            0.55
7 Lampre - Daikin                                             1.05
8 Euskaltel - Euskadi                                         1.30
9 Team Coast                                                  1.44
10 Team Deutsche Telekom                                      1.49
11 Ceramiche Panaria - Fiordo                                 1.57
12 Rabobank                                                   2.00
13 IBanesto.com                                               2.03
14 Colchon Relax - Fuenlabrada                                2.12
15 Domo - Farm Frites                                         2.23
16 Jazztel - Costa Almeria                                    2.32
17 Cantina Tollo Acqua & Sapone                               2.38
18 Mercatone Uno - Stream TV                                  2.42
19 Milaneza - MSS                                             2.52
20 Saeco Macchine per cafe                                    2.54
21 Alessio                                                    3.17

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