Valverde wins Clásica San Sebastián
Caisse d'Epargne's Alejandro Valverde won Saturday's Clásica San Sebastián by outsprinting a group of about ten riders including Davide Rebellin, Paolo Bettini, Franco Pellizotti, Denis Menchov and Samuel Sánchez. The group formed after Bettini's Quick Step team put the hammer down in the final kilometers, leading into the Cat. 3 Alto de Arkale climb 16km from the finish. Bettini attacked twice on the climb and whittled the peloton down to about a dozen riders.
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Photo: AFP
Caisse d’Epargne’s Alejandro Valverde won Saturday’s Clásica San Sebastián by outsprinting a group of about ten riders including Davide Rebellin, Paolo Bettini, Franco Pellizotti, Denis Menchov and Samuel Sánchez.
The group formed after Bettini’s Quick Step team put the hammer down in the final kilometers, leading into the Cat. 3 Alto de Arkale climb 16km from the finish. Bettini attacked twice on the climb and whittled the peloton down to about a dozen riders.
Silence-Lotto’s Yaroslav Popovych and Rebellin also took flyers in the final kilometers, but were drawn back by Valverde’s teammates.
In the final kilometer no one could match Valverde’s finishing power. he jumped first and held off CSC’s Alexandre Kolobnev for the win.
Preliminary results:
1 Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne)
2 Alexandr Kolobnev (Team CSC)
3 Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner)
4 Paolo Bettini (Quick Step)
5 Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas)
6 Denis Menchov (Rabobank)
7 Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
8 Stéphane Goubert (AG2R La Mondiale)
9 Haimar Zubeldia (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
10 David Moncoutié (Cofidis)
11 Yaroslav Popovych (Silence-Lotto)
Results
TITLE
1. Alejandro Valverde,, (ESP), Caisse d’Epargne
2. Alexander Kolobnev,, (RUS), CSC
3. Davide Rebellin,, (ITA), Gerolsteiner
4. Paolo Bettini,, (ITA), Quick Step
5. Franco Pellizotti,, (ESP), Liquigas
6. Denis Menchov,, (RUS), Rabobank
7. Samuel SÁnchez,, (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi
8. Stephane Goubert,, (FRA), Ag2r La Mondiale
9. Haimar Zubeldia,, (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi
10. David Moncoutie,, (FRA), Cofidis
11. Yaroslav Popovych,, (UKR), Silence-Lotto
12. Joaquin Rodriguez,, (ESP), Caisse d’Epargne
13. Thomas Voeckler,, (FRA), Bouygues Telecom
14. Sylvain Chavanel,, (FRA), Cofidis
15. David Arroyo,, (ESP), Caisse d’Epargne
16. Fuente, David De La, (ESP),
17. Marzio Bruseghin,, (ITA), Lampre
18. Andy Schleck,, (LUX), CSC
19. Vladimir Karpets,, (RUS), Caisse d’Epargne
20. Roman Kreuziger,, (CZE), Liquigas
21. Andrea Tonti,, (ITA), Quick Step
22. Michael Barry,, (CAN), Team High Road
23. Eduard Vorganov,, (RUS), Karpin Galicia
24. Gorka Verdugo,, (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi
25. Kanstantsin Siutsou,, (BLR), Team High Road
26. Alberto Contador,, (ESP), Astana
27. Vincenzo Nibali,, (ITA), Liquigas
28. Luis Arrieta, José, (ESP), Ag2r La Mondiale
29. Andrea Noe,, (ITA), Liquigas
30. Manuel Garate, Juan, (ESP), Quick Step
31. Walle, Jurgen Van De, (BEL), Quick Step
32. Yannick Talabardon,, (FRA), Credit Agricole
33. Martin Velits,, (SVK), Milram
34. David GarcÍa,, (ESP), Karpin Galicia
35. Rubén PÉrez,, (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi
36. Damiano Cunego,, (ITA), Lampre
37. Morris Possoni,, (ITA), Team High Road
38. Vladimir Miholjevic,, (CRO), Liquigas
39. Vladimir Miholjevic,, (SLO), Liquigas
40. Paolo Tiralongo,, (ITA), Lampre
41. Matteo Carrara,, (ITA), Quick Step
42. Pablo Lastras,, (ESP), Caisse d’Epargne
43. Benjamin Noval,, (ESP), Astana
44. Alberto Losada,, (ESP), Caisse d’Epargne
45. Alan PÉrez,, (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi
46. Sergio Ghisalberti,, (ITA), Milram