Perez powers to sprint over Howard

Ruben Perez took a surprise victory today by outsprinting the fast favourites in Bavaria's Viechtag on Wednesday. The Euskaltel-Euskadi rider, for whom this was the very first win of his career, was a tad faster on the line than young Australian Leigh Howard (HTC Columbia) and Pablo Urtasun Perez (also Euskaltel).

"This is a very important victory for me, not only because it is my first one as a pro," said Perez in the finish. "It's also because it was such a surprise. I'm actually preparing for the Tour de France and wanted to be in top shape only a month from now. But I felt good, even if the finale was very hard."

The Tour of Bavaria got underway in beer town Erdingen, and eight kilometres into the race, a breakaway of four was able to escape. Nils Plötner (Heizomat), Luc Hagenaars (Holland/Kuota Indeland), Serafin Martinez (Xacobeo Galicia) and Daniel Sesma (Euskaltel-Euskadi) went clear, with the road ahead covering a Cat. 1 climb in St Englmar. The front group had a a maximum lead of nine minutes before the bunch organised a chase.

On the 11 kilometres long climb averaging eight percent, Plötner and Martinez dropped their companions and the Spaniard scored the KOM points. Taking advantage of the descent towards the stage finish Viechtach, the bunch was able to catch the two riders with two kilometers to go. But Euskaltel also formed a sprint train - but not for the team's usual fast man Koldo Fernandez.

"Our sprinter Koldo Fernandez didn't feel so well today, so we decided to change our strategy," explained the 28-year-old winner. To the disappointment of German Team Milram, whose sprinter Gerald Ciolek finished fourth.

On the overall, young gun Plötner sits second behind Perez, and also scored the points and the young riders jersey. "It's unbelievable," said the 21-year-old. "For me, it would be fine if the race was over tomorrow - I've done my due!"

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