September 26, 2002 -Banesto's JosÈ Vicente Garcia Acosta won Friday's Vuelta stage in impressive fashion, but just as spectacular was general classification runner-up Aitor Gonzalez' last gasp heroics to nibble away at the 1 minute and 12 second deficit between him and leader Roberto Heras.

With the gap now reduced to 68 seconds there is a real chance that the young Kelme rider will complete the coup in the final stage on Sunday. The penultimate stage is unlikely to bring any difference in the 68 seconds, since it is virtually flat.

In individual time trials that have featured both riders, Gonzalez has been the faster man every time, and in their last five encounters, the difference per kilometre is remarkably stable. Sunday's final stage is a
time trial over a distance of 45 km and looking at these differences suggests that Heras will find it tough to hang onto the Amarillo jersey even if he rides the time trial of his life.

Stage 19: BÈjar – Avila, 177.8 km

1. JosÈ Garcia Acosta (Spa) iBanesto.com 4.24.27 (40.34 km/h)
2. Aitor Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 2.02
3. M.A. Martin Perdiguero (Spa) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo 2.06
4. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
5. Roberto Heras (Spa) US Postal Service
6. Joseba Beloki (Spa) ONCE-Eroski
7. Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
8. Klaus M—ller (Den) Milaneza-MSS
9. Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
10. Angel Casero (Spa) Team Coast

Overall:

1. Roberto Heras (Spa) US Postal Service 71.24.42
2. Aitor Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 1.08
3. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 1.45
4. Joseba Beloki (Spa) ONCE-Eroski 2.09
5. Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 4.15
6. FÈlix Garcia Casas (Spa) Bigmat.Auber 93 4.43
7. Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 4.48
8. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport 6.12
9. Angel Casero (Spa) Team Coast 6.18
10. Manuel Beltran (Spa) Team Coast 7.08