CACERES, Spain, 22 September 2004 — Spaniard Jose Julia broke away with two kilometers to go to win the 16th stage of the Tour of Spain from Olivenza to Caceres yesterday.
The 25-year-old’s victory was his team CV-Kelme’s third in their home race. Slovenian Tadej Valjavec was second over the 190.1-km stage, 12 seconds behind Julia, and Danilo Di Luca of Italy was third, 35 seconds adrift of the winner. Spaniard Roberto Heras finished in the main bunch to keep the race lead.
Julia took off from a group of six riders, who were the leading segment of a group originally made up of 13 breakaways from low down on the general classification. They made their move after 40 km of racing and attained a maximum lead of 17 minutes and 32 seconds during the stage.
Attacks from Spaniard Pablo Lastras and Julia with 12 km to go enabled six men to go clear but the CV-Kelme rider cut loose close to the finish for a lone victory.
Julia’s victory follows teammate Eladio Jimenez’s win on the 10th stage and Alejandro Valverde’s on the third. Last year’s winner Heras finished 20th, 11:44 back to head the overall standings for a fifth day. Valverde is five seconds behind the Liberty Seguros rider and Phonak’s Santiago Perez is third at 1:45. CV-Kelme lead the team classification.
Olympic Champion Tyler Hamilton Fails Blood Test2
In Madrid, Olympic time trial champion Tyler Hamilton has failed a blood test that determines positive performance-enhancing blood transfusions, Spanish media reported yesterday. Spanish newspapers, as well as French newspaper, L’Equipe, said that Hamilton had failed the test during the Vuelta cycling tour in Spain. The American retired from the tour on Sept. 16.
At the time his team, Phonak, said that stomach problems and an injury to his hand were the reasons. T
he result of the B test has yet to be announced. Blood transfusions are sometimes done by sportsman to boost their performance by increasing the amount of oxygen-transporting red blood cells in their system.
