|
|
RACE REPORTS: VALVERDE WINS 28TH CLÁSSICA SAN SEBASTIÁN
Tim Maloney-Road Bike Action European Editor
August 2, 2008
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
In a dramatic finale in the 28th Clássica San Sebastián (Klásikoa Donostia in Basque) Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) outsprinted a group of ten riders for his first win in the Basque classic and his victory put him in the lead of the ProTour standings. CSC-Saxo Bank's dangerous Russian Alexandr Kolobnev was 2nd, with evergreen Italian strongman Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) third. Clearly delighted with his biggest win ever in his home country, Valverde told Spanish TV that “It was really hard to win here today. There were a lot of riders who came here today to test their form for the Olympics. So for me and the team, this was a very important win today and my team was great today. I'm in great form and I’m don't feel too tired after the Tour de France because I’ve been home for a week taking it easy. The Spanish team leaves for Beijing tomorrow and I think our team will be capable of anything there.”
The race unfolded as usual on the ascent of the Alto de Jaizkibel after 200km of racing. CSC's Alexandr Kolobnev was away but on the descent back to San Sebastian, a large group of 30 riders was together
with most of the top names, including Valverde, Bettini, Rebellin, Sanchez, Menchov and Contador. Bettini sent Quick Step to the front to up the pace before the Cat. 3 Alto de Arkale climb, 16km from San Sebastian. Bettini attacked twice on the Arkale ascent and he and Valverde made a selection of about 12 riders, but the Italian World Champion couldn't get rid of Valverde. Rabobanker Menchov, then Silence-Lotto's Yaroslav Popovych and Gerolsteiner's Davide Rebellin tried to get away the finale, but were pulled back on the wide-open run-in to San Sebastian. Under the 1km kite, there was a lot of jockeying for position and but Valverde led out from 250m. to take the win from the front.
28th Klásikoa Donostia / Clássica San Sebastián
1. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
5h29'11" (43.562 km/hr. average speed)
2. Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Team CSC-Saxo Bank
3. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner
4. Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step
5. Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas
6. Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
7. Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
8. Stéphane Goubert (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale @ all same time
9. Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi @ :02"
10. David Moncoutié (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone @ same time
11. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Silence - Lotto @ :12"
12. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne @ :17"
13. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom @ :54"
14. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone @ 1'03"
15. David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne @ same time
16. David De La Fuente Rasilla (Spa) Scott-American Beef @ 1'33"
17. Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre
18. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC-Saxo Bank @ all same time
19. Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne @ 1'36"
20. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas @ same time
ProTour Ranking / After Ten Races
1. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 123pts
2. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre 104pts
3. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 96pts
4. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 94pts
5. Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto 85pts
6. André Greipel (Ger) Team Columbia 62pts
7. Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 60pts
8. Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana 58pts
9. Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 54pts
10. Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step 50 pts
11. Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 48pts
12. Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank 47pts
13. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 45pts
14. Jose Rojas (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 45pts
15. Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia 42pts
16. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 41pts
17. Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 41pts
18. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Caisse d'Epargne 40pts
19. Nick Nuyens (Bel) Cofidis-Le Crédit par Téléphone 40pts
20. Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 38pts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|