14th Challenge Illes Balears - 1.1 (x5)

Spain, February 6-10, 2005

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Stage 4 - February 9: Soller-Port de Soller (Trofeo Soller), 150.6 km

Valverde unstoppable

Alejandro Valverde (Illes Balears)
Photo ©: AFP

Just as Oscar Freire won the first two stages, Alejandro Valverde (Illes Balears) has taken out stages 3 and 4 of the Challenge Illes Balears. Although he didn't win solo today, Valverde had the speed to outsprint a group of eight riders that came into Port de Soller together. Ricardo Serrano (Kaiku) and Aitor P�rez (Spiuk) finished second and third, while Valverde kept the overall lead and should successfully defend it in tomorrow's final stage.

Valverde and his teammate Toni Colom attacked on the Coll De Puig Major with 17 km to go, and were joined on the descent by Adolfo Garcia Quesada and David Mu�oz (Comunidad Valenciana), Aitor P�rez (Spiuk), Ricardo Serrano (Kaiku), Iker Cama�o (Euskadi) Jos� A. G�mez (Saunier Duval). The eight remained together until the finish, where Valverde had no problems in taking the win.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Franklin Tello/Franklin Tello Photography

Alejandro Valverde of team Illes Balears is showing great early season form, and is a very charismatic crowd favourits.
Tony Colom (Illes Balears) - the winner of last year�s edition, in good spirits for the start of the stage
Alejandro Valverde signs a few autographs for his Mallorcan fans
Javier Ben�tez (Relax-Fuenlabrada) broke away from the peloton right after the first climb of the day.
Team Illes Balears controls the breakaway as they pass one of Mallorca�s famous windmills
Pablo Lastras (Illes Balears) focused on keeping Alejandro Valverde safe in the head of the peloton
The early breakaway - Stephan Schreck (T-Mobile), Adri�n Palomares (Kaiku), Rub�n P�rez (Orbea) and Antt�n Luengo (Eukaltel-Euskadi) stayed away for the first quarter of the race
Illes Balears keeps control of the breakaway while the weather keeps changing between patches of sun, and heavy rain clouds.
The peloton goes through the streets of Pollensa
The breakaway starts the long climb to the top of Coll de Sa Batalla
Stephan Schreck (T-Mobile) and Antt�n Luengo (Eukaltel-Euskadi) can�t hold on to the pace of Adri�n Palomares (Kaiku) and Rub�n P�rez (Orbea)
A few sheep pasturing, as the breakaway realizes that the peloton will catch them soon
Rub�n P�rez (Orbea) gives it one more go, and breaks free from the breakaway
Antt�n Luengo (Eukaltel-Euskadi) and Adri�n Palomares (Kaiku) try to chase, but the long day in the mountain starts to get to them
Rub�n P�rez (Orbea) keeps increasing his small lead over the breakaway
Team Illes Balears keeps up the pressureand works hard to control the race
Erik Zabel (T-Mobile) keeps a watchful eye near the front of the race. It will be a fast descent into Port de S�ller, and if he can make it up the mountain fast enough, he might have a good chance at the finish
Xabier Zandio and Aitor Osa of Illes Balears share a joke before the second climb of the day
Mallorca�s own Toni Tauler grabs a feed bag along with the hungry peloton
The breakaway together again before being swallowed by the peloton
Comunidad Valenciana share the work with Illes Balears. Here is Javier Pascual Llorente taking a long pull up front.
Angel Casero and Jos� Luis Mart�nez (Comunidad Valenciana) along with Alejandro Valverde (Illes Balears)
The front of the peloton - Comunidad Valenciana, and Illes Balears
The peloton climbs through the streets of Selva, Mallorca
Illes Balears leading the peloton through the mountains, with Paolo Bettini (Quickstep) sitting at the back
Paolo Bettini (Quickstep) can�t hold on anymore and gets dropped by the Illes Balears led peloton
Illes Balears start to put the hammer down, as they approach the top of the second last climb of the day
Alejandro Valverde having an excellent day, and very pleased with the work of his new team
The peloton climbs the final mountain of the day leaving behind one of the largest lakes in Mallorca, at an altitude of over 700 metres
Aitor P�rez Arrieta (Spiuk) tries to get away on the last climb, but he would eventually be absorbed by the peloton again
Team Illes Balears is finally in front again, setting the stage for Alejandro Valverde, to make it a double after yesterday�s win
Alejandro Valverde takes the stage and adds another victory for 2005
Valverde was very happy with the way Illes Balears controlled the race today
Alejandro Valverde (Illes Balears) takes the Trofeo de S�ller, and stamps his signature in this year�s edition of the Mallorca Challenge
Valverde shares the love on the podium, after a hard earned day of victory, crossing four 2nd category climbs
Port de Soller - another town that has witnessed a great day of racing.

Images by AFP Photo

Erik Zabel (T-Mobile) checks his bike
Alejandro Valverde (Illes Balears) wins the fourth stage of the Challenge Illes Balears
Alejandro Valverde (Illes Balears) salutes from the podium

Results

1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Illes Balears            3.59.05
2 Ricardo Serrano (Spa) Kaiku                              
3 Aitor P�rez Arrieta (Spa) Spiuk                          
4 Adolfo Garc�a Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana         
5 Iker Cama�o (Spa) Eukaltel-Euskadi                       
6 David Mu�oz (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana                   
7 Jos� A. G�mez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir       
8 Toni Colom (Spa) Illes Balears                       0.05
9 Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team T-Mobile                       0.41
10 Yon Bru Pascal (Spa) Kaiku                          0.56
11 �ngel G�mez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                  
12 Toni Tauler (Spa) Illes Balears                         
13 Luis Pasamontes (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada                 
14 Jos� Luis Mart�nez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana           
15 David L�pez (Spa) Eukaltel-Euskadi                      
16 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Phonak                             
17 Joseba Agirrezabala (Spa) Andaluc�a-Paul Versan         
18 Ezequiel Mosquera (Spa) Kaiku                           
19 Marc Lotz (Ned) Quick Step                          1.35
20 Theo Eltink (Ned) Rabobank                              
21 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                         
22 Gustavo Dom�nguez (Spa) Orbea                           
23 David Ca�ada (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                 
24 Julen Zubero (Spa) Orbea                                
25 Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) Quick Step                       
26 Christian Werner (Ger) Team T-Mobile                    
27 Antonio Olmo (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana                 
28 Xavier Tondo (Spa) Catalunya-�ngel Mir                  
29 David Fern�ndez (Spa) Andaluc�a-Paul Versan         3.55
30 Rub�n Oarbeaskoa (Spa) Kaiku                            
31 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team T-Mobile                      4.19
32 Vicente Reyn�s (Spa) Illes Balears                      
33 Jos� Antonio Pecharrom�n (Spa) Quick Step           5.30
34 Rodrigo Garc�a (Spa) Kaiku                              
35 Aar�n Villegas (Spa) Orbea                              
36 Addy Engels (Ned) Quick Step                        5.35
37 Gustavo C�sar Veloso (Spa) Kaiku                        
38 Gorka Arrizabalaga (Spa) Orbea                          
39 Luis P�rez (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada                  7.20
40 ��igo Cuesta (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir             7.36
41 Rub�n Lobato (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                 
42 Rory Sutherland (Aus) Rabobank                      7.37
43 Torsten Hiekmann (Ger) Team T-Mobile                8.21
44 Jorge Azanza (Spa) Kaiku                            8.29
45 Iker Flores (Spa) Eukaltel-Euskadi                      
46 Juanma G�rate (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir            9.01
47 Alexander Kolobnev (Rus) Rabobank                       
48 Alan P�rez (Spa) Orbea                                  
49 Efrain Guti�rrez (Spa) Andaluc�a-Paul Versan            
50 Javier Ben�tez (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada                  
51 Xabier Zandio (Spa) Illes Balears                       
52 Thorwald Veneberg (Ned) Rabobank                        
53 Sergio Dom�nguez (Spa) Spiuk                       13.07
54 Iban Mayoz (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada                 14.25
55 Aitor Osa (Spa) Illes Balears                           
56 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Quick Step                         
57 Jos� Ruiz (Spa) Andaluc�a-Paul Versan                   
58 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step                          
59 Carlos Casta�o (Spa) Andaluc�a-Paul Versan              
60 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir           
61 David Herrero (Spa) Eukaltel-Euskadi                    
62 Aketza Pe�a (Spa) Eukaltel-Euskadi                      
63 Ivan Guttierrez (Spa) Illes Balears                     
64 Jaime Rovira (Spa) Andaluc�a-Paul Versan                
65 Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank                       
66 Andoni Aranaga (Spa) Kaiku                         15.08
67 Nacor Burgos (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada                    
68 Mois�s Due�as (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada                   
69 �scar Laguna (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada                    
70 Sascha Urweider (Swi) Phonak                            
71 Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) Quick Step                    
72 Javier Pascual Llorente (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana      
73 �ngel Vallejo (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada                   
74 Javier Cherro (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana                
75 Rafael Macarr�n (Spa) Spiuk                             
76 Joan Llaneras (Spa) Spanish national track team         
77 Jes�s J. Ram�rez (Spa) Spiuk                            
78 Ignacio Guti�rrez (Spa) Phonak                          
79 Juan Antonio Pastor (Spa) Andaluc�a-Paul Versan         
80 Unai Elorriaga (Spa) Spanish national track team        
81 Niki Aebersold (Swi) Phonak                             
82 Miguel Alzamora (Spa) Spanish national track team       
83 Be�at Albizuri (Spa) Orbea                              
84 Jes�s P�rez (Spa) Spiuk                                 
85 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Quick Step                        
86 Adri�n Palomares (Spa) Kaiku                            
87 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada                
88 Israel N��ez (Spa) Kaiku                                
89 Rub�n P�rez (Spa) Orbea                                 
90 Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank                             
91 V�ctor G�mez (Spa) Andaluc�a-Paul Versan                
92 Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Saunier Duval-Prodir                 
93 Ra�l G. De Mateos (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada               
94 Ronald Mutsaars (Ned) Rabobank                          
95 Steffen Wesemann (Ger) Team T-Mobile                    
96 Nicolas Fritcsh (Fra) Saunier Duval-Prodir              
97 Gorka Gonz�lez (Spa) Eukaltel-Euskadi                   
98 Alexandre Moos (Swi) Phonak                             
99 Mikel Artetxe (Spa) Eukaltel-Euskadi                    
100 Carlos Torrent (Spa) Catalunya-�ngel Mir               
101 Mikel Gaztanaga (Spa) Catalunya-�ngel Mir              
102 Jos� Garrido (Spa) Quick Step                          
103 Jorge Berenguer (Spa) Catalunya-�ngel Mir              
104 Alberto Rodr�guez (Spa) Catalunya-�ngel Mir            
105 Francisco Lara (Spa) Team T-Mobile                     
106 �ngel Casero (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana                
107 Antt�n Luengo (Spa) Eukaltel-Euskadi              15.39
108 Gorka Amuriza (Spa) Orbea                              
109 Mads Christensen (Den) Quick Step                      
110 Xabat Otxotorena (Spa) Orbea                      16.01
111 Jorge S�nchez (Spa) Spiuk                         16.12
112 Pedro Romero (Spa) Spiuk                          18.58
113 Jes�s Del Nero (Spa) Orbea                        19.47
114 Unai Osa (Spa) Illes Balears                      21.40
115 Aitor Alonso (Spa) Spanish national track team         
116 Fernando Torres (Spa) Spiuk                            
 
Mountains
 
Coll De Soller, Cat 2, 8,50 km
 
1 Antt�n Luengo (Spa) Eukaltel-Euskadi                   10 pts
2 Stephan Schreck (Ger) Team T-Mobile                     7
3 Adri�n Palomares (Spa) Kaiku                            5
4 Rub�n P�rez (Spa) Orbea                                 3
5 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir           2
6 Ezequiel Mosquera (Spa) Kaiku                           1
 
Coll De Sabatalla, Cat 2, 57,90 km
 
1 Stephan Schreck (Ger) Team T-Mobile                    10 pts
2 Adri�n Palomares (Spa) Kaiku                            7
3 Antt�n Luengo (Spa) Eukaltel-Euskadi                    5
4 Rub�n P�rez (Spa) Orbea                                 3
5 Ezequiel Mosquera (Spa) Kaiku                           2
6 �ngel G�mez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                  1
 
Coll De Sabatalla, Cat 2, 117,00 km
 
1 ��igo Cuesta (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir                10 pts
2 Ezequiel Mosquera (Spa) Kaiku                           7
3 Yon Bru Pascal (Spa) Kaiku                              5
4 Xabier Zandio (Spa) Illes Balears                       3
5 Toni Colom (Spa) Illes Balears                          2
6 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Illes Balears                  1
 
Coll De Puig Major, Cat 2, 133,50 km
 
1 Toni Colom (Spa) Illes Balears                         10 pts
2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Illes Balears                  7
3 Adolfo Garc�a Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana        5
4 Aitor P�rez Arrieta (Spa) Spiuk                         3
5 Ricardo Serrano (Spa) Kaiku                             2
6 David Mu�oz (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana                  1
 
Metas Volantes
 
Binissalem, 34,70 km
 
1 Adri�n Palomares (Spa) Kaiku                            3 pts
2 Rub�n P�rez (Spa) Orbea                                 2
3 Antt�n Luengo (Spa) Eukaltel-Euskadi                    1
 
Pollen�a, 78,30 km
 
1 Rub�n P�rez (Spa) Orbea                                 3 pts
2 Adri�n Palomares (Spa) Kaiku                            2
3 Stephan Schreck (Ger) Team T-Mobile                     1
 
Special sprints
 
Lloseta, 40,30 km
 
1 Rub�n P�rez (Spa) Orbea                                 3 pts
2 Antt�n Luengo (Spa) Eukaltel-Euskadi                    2
3 Stephan Schreck (Ger) Team T-Mobile                     1
 
Inca, 101,30 km
 
1 Antonio Olmo (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana                 3 pts
2 Javier Cherro (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana                2
3 Ivan Guttierrez (Spa) Illes Balears                     1
 
General classification after stage 4
 
1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Illes Balears           13.34.04
2 David Mu�oz (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana               1.18
3 Ricardo Serrano (Spa) Kaiku                          1.21
4 Aitor P�rez Arrieta (Spa) Spiuk                          
5 Adolfo Garc�a Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana     1.38
6 Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team T-Mobile                       2.00
7 Ezequiel Mosquera (Spa) Kaiku                        2.17
8 Toni Tauler (Spa) Illes Balears                      2.42
9 �ngel G�mez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir               2.43
10 Luis Pasamontes (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada             3.03
11 Christian Werner (Ger) Team T-Mobile                3.33
12 Marc Lotz (Ned) Quick Step                          3.41
13 Antonio Olmo (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana             4.29
14 Jos� Luis Mart�nez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana       4.50
15 Vicente Reyn�s (Spa) Illes Balears                  6.17
16 Rodrigo Garc�a (Spa) Kaiku                          7.28
17 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team T-Mobile                      8.34
18 Toni Colom (Spa) Illes Balears                      9.57
19 Carlos Casta�o (Spa) Andaluc�a-Paul Versan         15.46
20 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Quick Step                    16.12
21 Javier Cherro (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana           16.55
22 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Relax Fuenlabrada           18.15
23 David De La Fuente (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir      21.43
24 Jaime Rovira (Spa) Andaluc�a-Paul Versan                
25 Juan Antonio Pastor (Spa) Andaluc�a-Paul Versan    34.46
 
Mountains classification
 
1 Ezequiel Mosquera (Spa) Kaiku                          33 pts
2 Toni Tauler (Spa) Illes Balears                        24
3 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Illes Balears                 18
4 Adolfo Garc�a Quesada (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana       13
5 Toni Colom (Spa) Illes Balears                         12
6 Carlos Casta�o (Spa) Andaluc�a-Paul Versan              6
7 Antonio Olmo (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana                 5
8 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team T-Mobile                          5
9 David Mu�oz (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana                  4
10 Aitor P�rez Arrieta (Spa) Spiuk                        4
11 Rodrigo Garc�a (Spa) Kaiku                             3
 
Metas Volantes classification
 
1 Antonio Olmo (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana                 4 pts
2 Toni Colom (Spa) Illes Balears                          3
3 Rodrigo Garc�a (Spa) Kaiku                              2
 
Sprints classification
 
1 Antonio Olmo (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana                 6 pts
2 Toni Tauler (Spa) Illes Balears                         3
3 Javier Cherro (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana                2
4 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Illes Balears                  2
5 Rodrigo Garc�a (Spa) Kaiku                              1
 
Teams classification
 
1 Illes Balears                                    40.46.57
2 Comunidad Valenciana                                 0.45
3 Kaiku                                                1.47
4 T-Mobile Team                                        6.27
5 Saunier Duval-Prodir                                 9.24
6 Rabobank                                             9.27
7 Relax-Fuenlabrada                                   27.18
8 Andalucia-Paul Versan                               37.24