2004 Vuelta a España

In today's article we are going to delve into the fascinating world of 2004 Vuelta a España, exploring its various aspects, applications and meanings. 2004 Vuelta a España is a topic that has aroused the interest of countless people over time, its relevance has been maintained over the years and it has been the subject of debate and analysis in different areas. On this occasion, we will delve into its history, its current implications and its impact on society. We will also examine the different perspectives that exist on 2004 Vuelta a España and how these have evolved over time. We will begin by exploring its origin, going through its different interpretations until reaching its relevance today. Join us on this tour of 2004 Vuelta a España and discover the importance that this topic has in our daily lives.

2004 Vuelta a España
Race details
Dates4–26 September
Stages21
Distance2,925 km (1,818 mi)
Winning time77h 42' 46"
Results
Winner  Roberto Heras (ESP) (Liberty Seguros)
  Second  Santiago Pérez (ESP) (Phonak)
  Third  Francisco Mancebo (ESP) (Illes Balears–Banesto)
Points  Erik Zabel (GER) (T-Mobile Team)
Mountains  Félix Cárdenas (COL) (Orbitel)
Combination  Roberto Heras (ESP) (Liberty Seguros)
  Team Comunidad Valenciana–Kelme
← 2003
2005 →

The 59th edition of the Vuelta a España (Tour of Spain), a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the three grand tours, was held from 4 September to 26 September 2004. It consisted of 21 stages covering a total of 2,925 km (1,818 mi), and was won by Roberto Heras of the Liberty Seguros cycling team.

Halfway through the 2004 Vuelta, it appeared it would become an easy win for Heras, but in the last week his fellow countryman Santiago Pérez won two heavy mountain stages, thus becoming an important rival. Eventually Heras won with only 30 seconds advantage on Pérez. Pérez and Phonak hearing systems teammate Tyler Hamilton would later test positive for blood doping from blood samples taken during the race.[1] Francisco Mancebo, also from Spain took third. The first non-Spaniard was Stefano Garzelli from Italy in 11th. The points classification was won by Erik Zabel from Germany, the mountains classification was won by Félix Cárdenas from Colombia and the combination classification was won by Roberto Heras. Kelme was the winner of the team ranking. Alessandro Petacchi, an Italian sprinter won four stages, but he did not finish the Vuelta.

Teams and riders

Main article: List of teams and cyclists in the 2004 Vuelta a España

Route

List of stages[2][3]
Stage Date Course Distance Type Winner
1 4 September León – León 28 km (17 mi) Team time trial U.S. Postal Service
2 5 September León – Burgos 207 km (129 mi)  Alessandro Petacchi (ITA)
3 6 September Burgos – Soria 156 km (97 mi)  Alejandro Valverde (ESP)
4 7 September Soria – Zaragoza 167 km (104 mi)  Alessandro Petacchi (ITA)
5 8 September Zaragoza – Morella 186.5 km (116 mi)  Denis Menchov (RUS)
6 9 September Benicarló – Castellón de la Plana 157 km (98 mi)  Óscar Freire (ESP)
7 10 September Castellón de la Plana – Valencia 170 km (106 mi)  Alessandro Petacchi (ITA)
8 11 September Almussafes – Almussafes 40.1 km (25 mi) Individual time trial Tyler Hamilton
 Víctor Hugo Peña (COL)
9 12 September Xàtiva – Alto de Aitana 162 km (101 mi)  Leonardo Piepoli (ITA)
10 13 September Alcoy – Xorret de Catí 174.2 km (108 mi)  Eladio Jiménez (ESP)
11 14 September San Vicente del Raspeig – Caravaca de la Cruz 165 km (103 mi) David Zabriskie
15 September Rest day
12 16 September Almería – Calar Alto Observatory 145 km (90 mi)  Roberto Heras (ESP)
13 17 September El Ejido – Málaga 172 km (107 mi)  Alessandro Petacchi (ITA)
14 18 September Málaga – Granada 167 km (104 mi)  Santiago Pérez (ESP)
15 19 September Granada – Sierra Nevada 29.6 km (18 mi) Individual time trial  Santiago Pérez (ESP)
20 September Rest day
16 21 September Olivenza – Cáceres 190.1 km (118 mi)  José Julia (ESP)
17 22 September Plasencia – La Covatilla 170 km (106 mi)  Félix Cárdenas (COL)
18 23 September Béjar – Ávila 196 km (122 mi)  Javier Pascual Rodríguez (ESP)
19 24 September Ávila – Collado Villalba 142 km (88 mi)  Constantino Zaballa (ESP)
20 25 September Alcobendas – Puerto de Navacerrada 178 km (111 mi)  José Enrique Gutiérrez (ESP)
21 26 September Madrid – Madrid 28 km (17 mi) Individual time trial  Santiago Pérez (ESP)
Total 2,925 km (1,818 mi)

Jersey progress

Stage
(Winner) 		General classification
 Points Classification
 Mountains Classification
 Combination Classification
 Team Classification
Stage 1 (TTT)
(U.S. Postal Service) 		Floyd Landis Floyd Landis Floyd Landis Floyd Landis U.S. Postal Service
Stage 2
(Alessandro Petacchi) 		Max van Heeswijk Erik Zabel
Stage 3
(Alejandro Valverde) 		Benoît Joachim Stuart O'Grady
Stage 4
(Alessandro Petacchi) 		Erik Zabel
Stage 5
(Denis Menchov) 		Manuel Beltrán Stuart O'Grady Juan Manuel Gárate
Stage 6
(Óscar Freire) 		Francisco Mancebo Manuel Beltrán
Stage 7
(Alessandro Petacchi) 		Erik Zabel Denis Menchov
Stage 8
(Tyler Hamilton) 		Floyd Landis Floyd Landis
Stage 9
(Leonardo Piepoli) 		David Fernández Francisco Mancebo
Stage 10
(Eladio Jiménez) 		Stuart O'Grady José Miguel Elías Comunidad Valenciana–Kelme
Stage 11
(David Zabriskie) 		Alejandro Valverde
Stage 12
(Roberto Heras) 		Roberto Heras Roberto Heras Roberto Heras
Stage 13
(Alessandro Petacchi) 		Erik Zabel
Stage 14
(Santiago Pérez)
Stage 15 (ITT)
(Santiago Pérez)
Stage 16
(José Julía)
Stage 17
(Félix Cárdenas) 		Félix Cárdenas
Stage 18
(Javier Pascual Rodríguez)
Stage 19
(Constantino Zaballa)
Stage 20
(José Enrique Gutiérrez)
Stage 21 (ITT)
(Santiago Pérez)
Final Roberto Heras Erik Zabel Félix Cárdenas Roberto Heras Comunidad Valenciana–Kelme

General classification (final)

Rank Rider Team Time
1  Roberto Heras (ESP) Liberty Seguros 77h42'46"
2  Santiago Pérez (ESP) Phonak 30"
3  Francisco Mancebo (ESP) Illes Balears–Banesto 2'13"
4  Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Comunidad Valenciana–Kelme 3'30"
5  Carlos García Quesada (ESP) Comunidad Valenciana–Kelme 7'44"
6  Carlos Sastre (ESP) Team CSC 8'11"
7  Isidro Nozal (ESP) Liberty Seguros 8'32"
8  José Ángel Gómez Marchante (ESP) Paternina–Costa de Almería 13'08"
9  Luis Pérez (ESP) Cofidis 13'24"
10  David Blanco (ESP) Comunidad Valenciana–Kelme 15'15"
11  Stefano Garzelli (ITA) Vini Caldirola–Nobili Rubinetterie 16'33"
12  Marcos Serrano (ESP) Liberty Seguros 17'14"
13  Manuel Beltrán (ESP) U.S. Postal Service 17'43"
14  Francisco José Lara (ESP) Paternina–Costa de Almería 24'16"
15  Samuel Sánchez (ESP) Euskaltel–Euskadi 29'23"
16  Damiano Cunego (ITA) Saeco 29'51"
17  Jorge Ferrío (ESP) Paternina–Costa de Almería 30'49"
18  David Plaza (ESP) Cafe Baque 31'24"
19  Eladio Jiménez (ESP) Comunidad Valenciana–Kelme 34'35"
20  Luis Pasamontes (ESP) Relax–Bergasol 37'49"
21  Unai Osa (ESP) Illes Balears–Banesto 38'06"

References

  1. ^ "Perez vows to continue". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  2. ^ "59th Vuelta a España". Cycling News. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  3. ^ "59ème Vuelta a España 2004". Memoire du cyclisme. Archived from the original on 12 January 2005.