Gran Premio Ordiziako Udala 2009

Gran Premio Ordiziako Udala: Ordizia 166km

Rovira flies domestic flag high in Ordizia

By:

Monika Prell

Published:

July 27, 2009, 04:55,

Updated:

July 27, 2009, 15:29

Local squad proves too canny for ProTour teams

Time to let rip with the champagne for Jaume Rovira.

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Jaume Rovira won the 86th Prueba Villafranca–Clasica de Ordizia. The Spaniard from the Andorra-Grandvalira squad beat his compatriot Joaquím Rodríguez (Caisse d’Epargne).

Third was Euskaltel–Euskadi’s Pablo Urtasun who won the sprint from a pursuing group. The race was marked by a breakaway group that was brought back just 15km before the finish line.

"This race is always hard, there are always big names and today it was even harder because of the heat." said Rovira at the finish. "So I am very happy about my victory. Euskaltel – Euskadi has controlled the race, but I tried my luck in a curve of the last ascent and I was able to escape. The team had worked very well, we had been in every breakaway group. I want to dedicate my victory to my family, my wife and everybody who has supported me."

How it unfolded

The Clasica de Ordizia takes place as part of an annual festival in the small town, situated in the region of Goierri (Gipuzkoa). Even after a night of festival celebrations and an early start, large crowds had come to cheer their heroes - mostly Basque riders - including Dioni Galparsoro, Mikel Gaztañaga, Aitor Pérez or Gorka Izagirre. Also present were Olympic champion Samuel Sánchez, Italians Gilberto Simoni and Michele Scarponi and Spaniards Joaquím Rodríguez and David de la Fuente.

The peloton were observed by cycling legends Miguel Indurain, Fernando Escartín and Marino Lejarreta as they started their 165.7km journey.

By the time the race had reached the Alto de Abaltzisketa for the first time, the peloton was split up into several groups. A group of about fifteen riders including Fuji-Servetto’s Héctor González and Jesús del Nero, Javier Aramendia (Euskaltel – Euskadi) and Angel Madrazo (Caisse d’Epargne) were able to cross the summit of the climb 3:08 ahead of the peloton.

This group was able to stay in front for the next three laps of the course. Colombian Alejandro Serna claimed enough points in the break to win the mountain classification, while Andalucía–Cajasur’s Javier Ramírez claimed most of the points available at the race's intermediate sprints in Ordizia.

In the last ascent to the Alto de Abaltzisketa, the peloton was being led by home team, Euskaltel–Euskadi, in an effort to chase down the escapees. As soon as the early breakaway was brought back Rovira and Joaquím Rodríguez attacked and were able hold a slim advantage to reach the finish line.

The duo finished 16 seconds ahead of a group lead by Urtasun, Caisse d’Epargne’s Daniel Moreno and Michele Scarponi (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni – Androni GIO).

The day's heat, as well as the hard race meant that only 83 riders of 120 starters would see the finish line in Ordizia.

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