Bjornar Vestol of the Linda McCartney Foods Cycling Team won yesterday's stage of the Circuito Montanes in Spain. The Norwegian did it in his own inimitable style: on his own, and from the front.

"Bjornar has shown all week that he's in great shape at the moment," said his manager Chris Lillywhite. "He's still flying from the Giro d'Italia, and it's good that he's making the most of it. He must be looking forward to the National Championships at the weekend." Already a silver medallist this month in the Norwegian Time-Trial Championships, Bjornar will be looking to add a medal from this Sunday's Road Race Championships.

It was a hard day for cycling in the Basque country yesterday. Temperatures in the high 30's and serious mountains weren't designed to delight the field, neither were the crosswinds that blasted across the barren landscape that led to the finish. It wasn't a day for attacks, it was a day of attrition. With the Spanish teams desperate to get something from this race, they aimed to put the strong men under pressure early on by setting a hot pace on the climbs. However, the men like Bjornar Vestol and Belgian race leader Dave Bruylands matched them, and when the going got tough later on, both of them figured in the elite group of five left in front.

With 35kms left to the finish, and the five looking likely to stay clear of any chase, Bjornar fired off one his crushing attacks, quickly taking out half a minute's lead over the other four. With the fierce winds buffeting the riders, the four were expected to use each others' shelter to hunt Bjornar down, but when the big man gets that huge gear rolling, it's easier to stop a locomotive. He crossed the finish line one minute and twenty seconds clear of his pursuers. Bruylands was still happy, as with one stage remaining he looks certain to take the winner's laurels back to Belgium.

Ciaran Power is lying second in the points competition, with an outside chance of taking the jersey when the race finishes today.

"It's been a great experience for the lads," said Chris Lillywhite. "I'll be surprised if nobody comes back with a champions jersey from this weekend's races."

Report by John Deering

  1. Bjornar Vestol                        5.07.26
  2. B Leukemans (Vlaanderen 2002)       @    1.23 
  3. J Ferrio (Videoporteros Tegui)                

 
Overall: 

  1. D Bruylandts (Palmans-Ideal)         22.54.14
  2. A García (Pinturas Banaka)          @    0.17
  3. J Gomis (Cropusa-Burgos Monumental) @    0.21