(Valencia, Spain) September 7, 2002 – Spanish team time trial experts Team
ONCE won today’s opening stage of the Vuelta a España, a 24.6km team time
trial starting and finishing in Valencia. The first of their team to cross
the line was Joseba Beloki – second at the Tour de France – so he becomes
the first to wear the Amarillo jersey in this year’s race. US Postal were
the nearest challengers to onCE, finishing 14 seconds behind onCE. Kelme
finished third a further second behind onCE.


Stage 1: 24.3km TTT
1. onCE-Eroski 26.21 (56.01
km/h)
2. US Postal 0.14
3. Kelme-Costa Blanca 0.15
4. Telekom 0.18
5. Fassa Bortolo 0.23
6. Cofidis 0.26
7. iBanesto.com 0.27
8. Team Coast 0.39
9. Mapei-Quick Step 0.42
10. Acqua e Sapone 0.43
11. Phonak Hearing Systems 0.47
12. Lampre-Daikin 0.54
13. Milaneza-MSS
14. Domo-Farm Frites 0.59
15. Euskaltel-Euskadi 1.03
16. Saeco Longoni Sport 1.13
17. Tacconi Sport
18. Big Mat-Auber 93 1.16
19. Jazztel-Costa del Almeria 1.21
20. Alessio 1.24
21. Ag2r-Prevoyance 1.26
22 Relax Fuenlabrada 1.31
23 Index Alexia 2.38

Note: Belok’s best performance this year came in the Tour de France where he
was runner-up in the overall classification but his only individual victory
this year was in the final stage of the Euskal Bizikleta back in June.
Belok’s teammate Mikel Zarrabeitia was first in the overall
classification of that race with Beloki finishing in eighth position.