Cyclingpost.com - Benitez wins opening stage in Portugal

Benitez wins opening stage in Portugal

By Jeroen Michiels
Thu, 15 Mar 2007 17:11:54

TORRES NOVAS, Mar 15 (CP) - Spaniard Javier Benitez has won the opening stage in the Volta ao Distrito de Santarém, outsprinting South African Robert Hunter and Dutchman Tom Veelers.

The first of four stages in the Portuguese race led the riders from Fátima to Torres Novas over a distance of no less than 206 kilometres. During the day, three riders were to be found in the front: Gerolsteiner's Torsten Hiekmann, Célio Sousa of Riberalves and Madeinox rider Sérgio Sousa.

Though, the sprinter's teams caught the three leaders with about ten kilometres left to go. At the finish, Benfica sprinter Benitez turned out to have the best legs, at the expense of Barloworld's Hunter and Rabobank Continental Team rider Veelers.

Logically, Benitez is the first leader in the 2.1 Category race as well.

Stage results:

1. Javier Benitez (Esp-SLB) 5h12'01"
2. Robert Hunter (RSA-BAR) s.t.
3. Tom Veelers (Ned-RB3) s.t.
4. Pedro Soeiro (Por-BHL) s.t.
5. Oscar Gatto (Ita-GST) s.t.
6. Angel Edo (Esp-ASC) s.t.
7. Rony Martias (Fra-BTL) s.t.
8. Nuno Marta (Por-MAD) s.t.
9. Pablo Urtasun (Esp-LAL) s.t.
10. Tom Leezer (Ned-RB3) s.t.

General classification:

1. Javier Benitez (Esp-SLB) 5h11'51"
2. Robert Hunter (RSA-BAR) 0'04"
3. Tom Veelers (Ned-RB3) 0'06"
4. Pedro Soeiro (Por-BHL) 0'10"
5. Oscar Gatto (Ita-GST) s.t.
6. Angel Edo (Esp-ASC) s.t.
7. Rony Martias (Fra-BTL) s.t.
8. Nuno Marta (Por-MAD) s.t.
9. Pablo Urtasun (Esp-LAL) s.t.
10. Tom Leezer (Ned-RB3) s.t.