Clasica San Sebastian 2006

Welcome to the live coverage of the Clásica San Sebastián

It's a wet day here in Spain. 

The riders are on the Jaizkibel climb, averages 5.8%.

Several riders are trying to break clear of the main group.

A group of riders have gone over the top of the Jaizkibel with 30"

35km remaining from 225km

35km left to race four our leaders, who will face the Alto De Arkal climb before the finish.

Remember, the race today is 237km long.

Simon Spilak (Lampre-NGC) seems to be leading the race, ahead of his escape companions.

Rain conditions are making the identification hard.

Millar and Valverde may have made this move as well.  We believe there are about six riders, with Spilak leading.

Spilak nearly crashes on a wet corner.

Evgeni Petrov (Katusha) is in this leading group.

Alexandr Kolobnev (Saxo Bank) and Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) are in the move with Valverde. They are the second group on the road.

31km remaining from 225km

We are 31km from the finish.  Spilak still leads, but is having a hard time on the wet roads.

Spilak is back with the other escapees after misjudging several corners.

Russia's Petrov (Katusha) leads the race.  He has nearly 15" over the chase.

7km remaining from 225km

Chris Anker Sørensen (Saxo Bank) leads about 14 riders, behind Evgeni Petrov (Katusha).

Petrov has 40" on the chasers.

Skies are grey. Petrov heads towards the final climb, around 2.7km long.

Caisse leads the chae for Valverde.

22km remaining from 225km

Petrov is the only escapee, the others were absorbed by the main group.  He has 46"

Cunego and Pozzato are in the main group.

This is the first race for Valverde since the Dauphiné Libéré. He was prohibited from racing the Tour de France because of his racing ban in Italy. The race passed through Italy this year.

Three Caisse riders lead the main group, 46" back. 

20km remaining from 225km

There are about three riders trying to join Petrov before this climb.

Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) is at the front at the base of the climb.

Alexandre Botcharov (Katusha), a Silence rider and a Quick Step chase.  They don't get far. 

Arkale officially starts now.  Ave 6.3%

17km remaining from 225km

Petrov has only 16"

16km remaining from 225km

Barredo attacks attacks and joins Petrov.

Carlos Barredo (Quick Step) raced the Tour de France and is in good form.  He is trying to get a gap over the top of the climb.

He is with Pierrick Fédrigo (Bbox Bouygues Telecom).

15km remaining from 225km

Barredo and Pierrick Fédrigo (Bbox Bouygues Telecom) have six seconds.

Katusha helps the chase.

Barredo and Fédrigo top Arkale. Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) chases solo behind.

Only 14km left to race.  Carlos Barredo (Quick Step), Pierrick Fédrigo (Bbox Bouygues Telecom) and Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) lead.

Kim Kirchen (Columbia-HTC) is chasing from behind.

Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne) is attacking.

Barredo is solo on the descent.

12km remaining from 225km

He is on a small, un-categorised climb.

Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne) catches Carlos Barredo (Quick Step). The two Spaniard lead the race.

10km remaining from 225km

The two work well together.  Sanchez is a stage winner of last month's Tour de France.

9km remaining from 225km

Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas), Kim Kirchen (Columbia-HTC), Serguei Ivanov (Katusha), Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) are near the front of the chase, 19" back.

9km remaining from 225km

16" at 9km remaining.

Sanchez has the bright yellow shoes, red kit.  Barredo looks over to his left, he talks to his companion.

7km remaining from 225km

Behind Barredo and Sánchez...

Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) and Kim Kirchen (Columbia-HTC) are still chasing. They are with Barredo's former escape companion, Pierrick Fédrigo (Bbox Bouygues Telecom).

Barredo rides out of his saddle.  Sanchez comes to the front to help win the work.

5km remaining from 225km

Barredo and Sánchez head into San Sebastián.

The trio is only 8" behind.

4km remaining from 225km

Barredo and Sánchez lead by no more than 10" over Fédrigo, Kirchen and Kreuziger.

Barredo and Sanchez are working well together. They face the last little climb, un-categorised. The trio is closing in, -3.5km.

Italian Champ bridged up to the trio.

Filippo Pozzato (Katusha), that is. He must have known the main group was not going to catch the escapees.

3km remaining from 225km

Two riders lead four with 3km to race.

Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) is solo on the descent, -2km.  He left when Sanchez and Barredo were caught.

It looks like Barredo... Yes, Barredo re-joins the lead.  He is with Kreuziger.

1km remaining from 225km

Kreuziger and Barredo lead, -1km.

Cunego has bridged up to the chasers.

5H36 of racing.  The duo are looking back to see the chasers.

Kreuziger leads the last 250 metres...

He can't keep it.  Barredo passes him for the win in his home country.

His 10th career win.

Barredo came around on the right of Kreuziger.  The main group was only 5" behind.

Thanks for joining us on our live coverage today. Adios!