First victory with Caja Rural for Luis Leon Sanchez

Tour de Romandie general classification leader Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank)

Tour de Romandie general classification leader Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank) (Image credit: AFP)

Spaniard Luis Leon Sanchez scored his first victory of the season on his first try on the opening stage of La Tropicale Amissa in Cameroon.

Now with Caja Rural, Sanchez escaped early in the stage with a large group of riders, and as the 149km clicked off, the group grew smaller and smaller. By the sprint finale, only five remained, including Egoitz Garcia (Cofidis), Natnael Berhane (Europcar), Linus Gerdemann (MTN-Qhubeka) and Grégory Habeaux of Wanty-Group Gobert.

Sanchez, who was bought out of his contract with Belkin, which wanted to distance itself from lingering links between Sanchez and Operacion Puerto, was pleased to show his strength so soon in the season.

"This victory reassured me," Sanchez said. "That means I have already found a good feeling despite the strong heat that changes us from the cold in Europe."

Although Sanchez won the stage, the leader's jersey passed to Garcia, thanks to his superior tally in the intermediate sprints. He now leads the race over Sanchez by one second, with Berhane next, seven seconds in arrears.

"I am very happy with this first day," Berhane said. "I am happy with my work. I think, there are beautiful things to do till the last stage. I am here to do a very good performance. It's my ambition."

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RG3:32:35
2Egoitz Garcia (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions CreditRow 1 - Cell 2
3Natnael Berhane (Eri) Team EuropcarRow 2 - Cell 2
4Linus Gerdemann (Ger) MTN - QhubekaRow 3 - Cell 2
5Grégory Habeaux (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 4 - Cell 2
6Fabrice Jeandesboz (Fra) Team Europcar0:00:04
7Jérôme Baugnies (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:00:53
8Florian Senechal (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditRow 7 - Cell 2
9Frédérique Robert (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:02:46
10Giovanni Bernaudeau (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 9 - Cell 2
11Reda Aadel (Mar) MarocRow 10 - Cell 2
12Dan Craven (Nam) NamibiaRow 11 - Cell 2
13Salah Eddine Mraouni (Mar) MarocRow 12 - Cell 2
14Metkel Eyob (Eri) EritreaRow 13 - Cell 2
15Adrien Niyonshuti (Rwa) MTN - QhubekaRow 14 - Cell 2
16Rasmané Ouedraogo (Bur) Burkina Faso0:09:21
17Adil Barbari (Alg) Velo Club Sovac0:09:28
18Kindishih Debesay (Eri) Eritrea0:09:38
19Luis Mas (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RG0:13:17
20Marco Minnaard (Ned) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 19 - Cell 2
21Roy Jans (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:18:30
22Tarik Chaoufi (Mar) MarocRow 21 - Cell 2
23Meron Teshome (Eri) EritreaRow 22 - Cell 2
24Meron Amanuel (Eri) EritreaRow 23 - Cell 2
25Bonaventure Uwizeyimana (Rwa) RwandaRow 24 - Cell 2
26Frekalsi Debesay (Eri) MTN - QhubekaRow 25 - Cell 2
27Damien Tekou (Cmr) CamerounRow 26 - Cell 2
28Abderrahmane Mehdi Hamza (Alg) Velo Club SovacRow 27 - Cell 2
29Romain Guillemois (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 28 - Cell 2
30Amadou Lengani (CIv) Cote D'IvoireRow 29 - Cell 2
31Francisco Aramendia (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGRow 30 - Cell 2
32Bassirou Konte (CIv) Cote D'IvoireRow 31 - Cell 2
33Mouhcine Lahsaini (Mar) MarocRow 32 - Cell 2
34Souleymane Nikiema (Bur) Burkina FasoRow 33 - Cell 2
35Adrien Petit (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditRow 34 - Cell 2
36Anass Ait El Abdia (Mar) MarocRow 35 - Cell 2
37Tesfom Okubamariam (Eri) EritreaRow 36 - Cell 2
38Hervé Raoul Mba (Cmr) CamerounRow 37 - Cell 2
39Issaka Kabre (Bur) Burkina FasoRow 38 - Cell 2
40Gaël Nzoughe (Gab) GabonRow 39 - Cell 2
41Poroloh Yacouba Soro (CIv) Cote D'IvoireRow 40 - Cell 2
42Frédéric Obiang (Gab) GabonRow 41 - Cell 2
43Karim Hadjbouzit (Alg) Velo Club SovacRow 42 - Cell 2
44Omar Fraile (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGRow 43 - Cell 2
45Christophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditRow 44 - Cell 2
46Raul Costa Seibeb (Nam) NamibiaRow 45 - Cell 2
47Clovis Kamzong (Cmr) CamerounRow 46 - Cell 2
48Johannes Hamunyela (Nam) NamibiaRow 47 - Cell 2
49Hamza Merdj (Alg) Velo Club SovacRow 48 - Cell 2
50Gasore Hategeka (Rwa) RwandaRow 49 - Cell 2
51Romain Zingle (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditRow 50 - Cell 2
52Joseph Biziyaremye (Rwa) RwandaRow 51 - Cell 2
53Janvier Hadi (Rwa) RwandaRow 52 - Cell 2
54Ramon Domene (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGRow 53 - Cell 2
55Ephrem Ekobena (Gab) GabonRow 54 - Cell 2
56Franklin Nguimkeng (Cmr) CamerounRow 55 - Cell 2
57Dieunedort Simo Sando (Cmr) CamerounRow 56 - Cell 2
58Nabil Baz (Alg) Velo Club SovacRow 57 - Cell 2
59Karima Bonkoungou (Bur) Burkina FasoRow 58 - Cell 2
60Louis Verhelst (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditRow 59 - Cell 2
61Geoffroy Ngandamba (Gab) GabonRow 60 - Cell 2
62Yannick Lontsi (Cmr) CamerounRow 61 - Cell 2
63John-Lee Augustyn (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 62 - Cell 2
64Issiaka Fofana (CIv) Cote D'IvoireRow 63 - Cell 2
65Bolodigui Ouattara (CIv) Cote D'IvoireRow 64 - Cell 2
66Yohann Gene (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 65 - Cell 2
67Salifou Yarbanga (Bur) Burkina FasoRow 66 - Cell 2
68Tim De Troyer (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 67 - Cell 2
69Antonio Piedra (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGRow 68 - Cell 2
70Mongonlon Toure (CIv) Cote D'IvoireRow 69 - Cell 2
71Essaïd Abelouache (Mar) MarocRow 70 - Cell 2
72Cédric Tchouta (Gab) GabonRow 71 - Cell 2
73Harouna Ilboudo (Bur) Burkina FasoRow 72 - Cell 2
74Songezo Jim (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 73 - Cell 2
75Jean-Bosco Nsengiyumva (Rwa) RwandaRow 74 - Cell 2
76Bryan Naulleau (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 75 - Cell 2
77Faycal Hamza (Alg) Velo Club SovacRow 76 - Cell 2
78Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Eri) Eritrea0:18:42
79Chiponeni Kashululu (Nam) Namibia0:18:51
80Tjipe Murangi (Nam) Namibia0:19:37
81Léris Moukagni (Gab) Gabon0:21:56
82Loto Petrus (Nam) Namibia0:21:58
83Youcef Reguigui (Alg) MTN - QhubekaRow 82 - Cell 2
84Valens Ndayisenga (Rwa) Rwanda0:44:10
Swipe to scroll horizontally
General classification after stage 1
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Egoitz Garcia (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credit3:32:24
2Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RG0:00:01
3Natnael Berhane (Eri) Team Europcar0:00:07
4Linus Gerdemann (Ger) MTN - Qhubeka0:00:11
5Grégory Habeaux (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 4 - Cell 2
6Fabrice Jeandesboz (Fra) Team Europcar0:00:15
7Florian Senechal (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credit0:00:57
8Jérôme Baugnies (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:00:58
9Frédérique Robert (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:02:57
10Giovanni Bernaudeau (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 9 - Cell 2
11Reda Aadel (Mar) MarocRow 10 - Cell 2
12Dan Craven (Nam) NamibiaRow 11 - Cell 2
13Salah Eddine Mraouni (Mar) MarocRow 12 - Cell 2
14Metkel Eyob (Eri) EritreaRow 13 - Cell 2
15Adrien Niyonshuti (Rwa) MTN - QhubekaRow 14 - Cell 2
16Rasmané Ouedraogo (Bur) Burkina Faso0:09:32
17Adil Barbari (Alg) Velo Club Sovac0:09:39
18Kindishih Debesay (Eri) Eritrea0:09:49
19Luis Mas (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RG0:13:28
20Marco Minnaard (Ned) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 19 - Cell 2
21Roy Jans (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:18:41
22Tarik Chaoufi (Mar) MarocRow 21 - Cell 2
23Meron Teshome (Eri) EritreaRow 22 - Cell 2
24Meron Amanuel (Eri) EritreaRow 23 - Cell 2
25Bonaventure Uwizeyimana (Rwa) RwandaRow 24 - Cell 2
26Frekalsi Debesay (Eri) MTN - QhubekaRow 25 - Cell 2
27Damien Tekou (Cmr) CamerounRow 26 - Cell 2
28Abderrahmane Mehdi Hamza (Alg) Velo Club SovacRow 27 - Cell 2
29Romain Guillemois (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 28 - Cell 2
30Amadou Lengani (CIv) Cote D'IvoireRow 29 - Cell 2
31Francisco Aramendia (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGRow 30 - Cell 2
32Bassirou Konte (CIv) Cote D'IvoireRow 31 - Cell 2
33Mouhcine Lahsaini (Mar) MarocRow 32 - Cell 2
34Souleymane Nikiema (Bur) Burkina FasoRow 33 - Cell 2
35Adrien Petit (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditRow 34 - Cell 2
36Anass Ait El Abdia (Mar) MarocRow 35 - Cell 2
37Tesfom Okubamariam (Eri) EritreaRow 36 - Cell 2
38Hervé Raoul Mba (Cmr) CamerounRow 37 - Cell 2
39Issaka Kabre (Bur) Burkina FasoRow 38 - Cell 2
40Gaël Nzoughe (Gab) GabonRow 39 - Cell 2
41Poroloh Yacouba Soro (CIv) Cote D'IvoireRow 40 - Cell 2
42Frédéric Obiang (Gab) GabonRow 41 - Cell 2
43Karim Hadjbouzit (Alg) Velo Club SovacRow 42 - Cell 2
44Omar Fraile (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGRow 43 - Cell 2
45Christophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditRow 44 - Cell 2
46Raul Costa Seibeb (Nam) NamibiaRow 45 - Cell 2
47Clovis Kamzong (Cmr) CamerounRow 46 - Cell 2
48Johannes Hamunyela (Nam) NamibiaRow 47 - Cell 2
49Hamza Merdj (Alg) Velo Club SovacRow 48 - Cell 2
50Gasore Hategeka (Rwa) RwandaRow 49 - Cell 2
51Romain Zingle (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditRow 50 - Cell 2
52Joseph Biziyaremye (Rwa) RwandaRow 51 - Cell 2
53Janvier Hadi (Rwa) RwandaRow 52 - Cell 2
54Ramon Domene (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGRow 53 - Cell 2
55Ephrem Ekobena (Gab) GabonRow 54 - Cell 2
56Franklin Nguimkeng (Cmr) CamerounRow 55 - Cell 2
57Dieunedort Simo Sando (Cmr) CamerounRow 56 - Cell 2
58Nabil Baz (Alg) Velo Club SovacRow 57 - Cell 2
59Karima Bonkoungou (Bur) Burkina FasoRow 58 - Cell 2
60Louis Verhelst (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditRow 59 - Cell 2
61Geoffroy Ngandamba (Gab) GabonRow 60 - Cell 2
62Yannick Lontsi (Cmr) CamerounRow 61 - Cell 2
63John-Lee Augustyn (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 62 - Cell 2
64Issiaka Fofana (CIv) Cote D'IvoireRow 63 - Cell 2
65Bolodigui Ouattara (CIv) Cote D'IvoireRow 64 - Cell 2
66Yohann Gene (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 65 - Cell 2
67Salifou Yarbanga (Bur) Burkina FasoRow 66 - Cell 2
68Tim De Troyer (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 67 - Cell 2
69Antonio Piedra (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGRow 68 - Cell 2
70Mongonlon Toure (CIv) Cote D'IvoireRow 69 - Cell 2
71Essaïd Abelouache (Mar) MarocRow 70 - Cell 2
72Cédric Tchouta (Gab) GabonRow 71 - Cell 2
73Harouna Ilboudo (Bur) Burkina FasoRow 72 - Cell 2
74Songezo Jim (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 73 - Cell 2
75Jean-Bosco Nsengiyumva (Rwa) RwandaRow 74 - Cell 2
76Bryan Naulleau (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 75 - Cell 2
77Faycal Hamza (Alg) Velo Club SovacRow 76 - Cell 2
78Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Eri) Eritrea0:18:53
79Chiponeni Kashululu (Nam) Namibia0:19:02
80Tjipe Murangi (Nam) Namibia0:19:48
81Léris Moukagni (Gab) Gabon0:22:07
82Loto Petrus (Nam) Namibia0:22:09
83Youcef Reguigui (Alg) MTN - QhubekaRow 82 - Cell 2
84Valens Ndayisenga (Rwa) Rwanda0:44:21

 

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