VALLADOLID, Spain, 14 September 2005 — Olympic champion Paolo Bettini of Italy was forced to dig deep to win the 16th stage of the Tour of Spain held over 162.5km between Leon and here yesterday.
Bettini, who rides for Quick Step, almost ran out of space as compatriot Alessandro Petacchi, who rides for Fassa Bortolo, came surging up his outside.
Bettini said that the victory was a major relief after a difficult season.
“I am very happy,” said the 31-year-old.
“It is a liberating feeling in what has been a complicated season, and I really wanted to beat Petacchi,” added Bettini, who prior to Tuesday had just won once this term, a stage in the Tour of Italy.
In the race for the main prize of the golden jersey Spain’s Roberto Heras managed to stay out of trouble on what was a mainly flat stage. The three-time winner retained his 4min 30sec lead on Russian Denis Menchov of the Rabobank team while Spaniard Carlos Sastre, of CSC, is still third overall at 4:50.
Super sprinter Petacchi, who gave his rivals a glimpse of hope a few days ago when organizers initially announced his departure from the race — only for the Italian to take the start — looked to be on his way to claiming his fifth stage win of this year’s race as the finish line appeared after a tight, final bend.
However despite being well led out by his disciplined team members on the way in to the finish line a number of attacks conspired to upset the sprinter’s plans.
A late burst by Spaniard Samuel Sanchez of the Euskaltel team appeared briefly promising, however it only served to prompt Bettini into making a move himself.
The diminutive Italian soon overtook Sanchez but had to dig deep in the final 100 meters to hold off Petacchi who was coming up steadily on his left hand side.
At the finish line, Petacchi finished in second place ahead of Spaniard Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero, who rides for Phonak.
Petacchi may yet leave the race before the end on September 18. The 31-year-old Italian is one of the favorites for the world road race championship in Madrid in just over 10 days time.
