Luis Leon Sanchez wins three-rider sprint

Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) secured the biggest one-day victory of his career and no doubt boosted his contract negotiations for 2011 with a classy victory in the Clasica San Sebastian on Saturday, as the professional peloton got back to serious racing a week after the Tour de France.

Sanchez won the 2009 Paris-Nice but has seemed undecided whether he would focus on one-day classics or stage races. However he showed he has the qualities to win a Classic with a confident display on the new, hillier course of the Clasica that included climbing the Jaizkibel and the Arkale twice in the final 100km.

Sanchez was the first to attack on the second passage of the Jaizkibel summit and he quickly got a gap. Only Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) and Carlos Sastre (Cervelo TestTeam) had the strength to get across to him and they held off the chasers to fight for victory.

Vinokourov looked the strongest but Sanchez cleverly forced him to lead out the sprint and had the speed to go past him in the final hundred metres. Sastre finished third in their slipstream as Sanchez celebrated his win.

With Caisse d'Epargne set to end their sponsorship this year and no new sponsors on the horizon, Sanchez has been linked to the Rabobank team. He refused to talk about his future immediately after winning, but his victory will surely have secured his future and made him a future contender for the Ardennes classics and shorter stage races like Paris-Nice.

"It's nice to win such an important race on such a demanding and long course, the new route made the race much tougher and more selective. " Sanchez said.

"The key moment of the race was over the Jaizkibel, that's when the move formed and the race was virtually decided. I found the strength to pull hard with Sastre and Vinokourov and we stay away. Vino showed he had very good legs and I had to hold on hard to make sure he didn't get away on that last little climb. But I managed it."

"Although I didn’t have a great race, I finished the Tour de France in good shape. This victory is a reward for good work of the team and motivates me for the rest of the season,"

Big names back to racing

After a week of criteriums and celebrations, most of the big names of cycling gathered in San Sebastian for Spain's only major one-day classic.

While thousands of people sunbathed on the beaches, Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank), Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), 2009 winner Carlos Barredo (Quick Step) and a host of other Tour de France riders set off for the new 234km route. The Jaizkibel climb once again would shape the race but this year the nasty 7.8km climb would be covered twice. I t was bound to make a difference and make it difficult for riders who had not ridden the Tour de France like Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) and Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) to get a result.

The early break was created by three riders when Xavier Florencio (Cervelo TestTeam), Pierre Cazaux (Francaise des Jeux) and Jorge Martín Montenegro (Andalucía) went away. They were quickly allowed to open a big lead, with the gap touching eight minutes on the long loop south of San Sebastian. After 120km Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) pulled out of the race. His team said he crashed but he later said he did not. Whatever the cause, Schleck's race was over.

Up front the trio's lead melted in the heat on the Jaizkibel and Juan Manuel Garate (Rabobank), Spanish national champion Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne) and Gorka Verdugo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) powered across to them.

On the Arkale the three left the early breakaways behind but they were to be quickly caught on the second time up the Jaizkibel. First to up the pace and go after them was Alexandr Kolobnev (Katusha) and Richie Porte (Saxo Bank). Both looked good but perhaps showed their inexperience on the climb and were soon overtaken when the racing began in earnest.

Local hero Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) made a more serious move and got the cheers from the crowd before Vinokourov then took charge on the front as the road left the trees.

The Astana captain caused the major selection on the Jaizkibel and of the race, with only ten riders managing to hang on and stay in contention. These includes Luis Leon Sanchez and Samuel Sanchez, Carlos Sastre (Cervelo TestTeam), Nicolas Roche (Ag2r-La Mondiale), Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha), Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions), Robert Gesink (Rabobank) and Porte.

Near the top of the Jaizkibel, Luis Leon Sanchez surged clear and the group split again, with Vino and Sastre the only ones able to hold the gap to eight seconds. They quickly caught him but the others missed a key chance. The rest formed a chase group but started their pursuit after the descent with a handicap of 40 seconds and a clear lack of hunger to get back in the race.

Up front Vino, Sastre and Luis Leon Sanchez all did smooth turns, while behind some riders were playing smart and hoping others would close the gap. On the Arkale climb Gesink did a lot of the chasing but when he got tired of working for everyone else, and jumped away, he was quickly chased down. The finish was only 15km away but the three up front seemed destined to fight for victory. The steady descent to the old centre of San Sebastian helped the three breakaways. The gap came down a little but they still had 20 seconds with five kilometres to go.

Sastre seemed happy to finish on the podium and looked tired but Vino wanted to win and tried to jump away on a short climb heading into town. He got a gap and powered on but Luis Leon Sanchez dug deep and managed to get on his back wheel over the top. The race would be decided in a sprint.

Sastre managed to get back on as Vino and Sanchez played games inside the final kilometre but he would not be a contender. Cleverly Sanchez forced Vino to stay on the front. The Kazakh tried to lead out the sprint in the final two hundred metres but then opened the door to the Spaniard by moving to the centre of the road. Sanchez powered through near the barriers to win by a bike length.

"I am really happy to achieve this podium after all the bad luck I’ve had this season,” Sastre said. “Two trips over the Jaizkibel makes this race a lot more realistic for me and I had good sensations throughout the race. The team did a great job to protect me in the first passage over the Jaizkibel. The legs responded when they needed to. I had some cramps in the final kilometers, but I am very satisfied.”

Vino was second and Sastre third, with veteran Haimar Zubeldia (RadioShack) sneaking away from the chasers to get fourth at 34 seconds. Rodriguez won the sprint for fifth at 37 seconds ahead of Hesjedal, Gesink and Roche but all the chasers knew they had missed a chance of victory. Only Sanchez got to smile while wearing the Basque Txapela hat.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne5:47:13
2Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) AstanaRow 1 - Cell 2
3Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test TeamRow 2 - Cell 2
4Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Team Radioshack0:00:34
5Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha0:00:37
6Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - TransitionsRow 5 - Cell 2
7Robert Gesink (Ned) RabobankRow 6 - Cell 2
8Nicholas Roche (Irl) AG2R La MondialeRow 7 - Cell 2
9Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 8 - Cell 2
10Richie Porte (Aus) Team Saxo BankRow 9 - Cell 2
11Greg Avermaet (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:02:14
12Carlos Barredo (Spa) Quick StepRow 11 - Cell 2
13Chris Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo BankRow 12 - Cell 2
14Javier Moreno (Spa) Andalucia - CajasurRow 13 - Cell 2
15Eros Capecchi (Ita) Footon-Servetto0:03:43
16Christian Knees (Ger) Team MilramRow 15 - Cell 2
17Ruben Plaza (Spa) Caisse d'EpargneRow 16 - Cell 2
18José Iván Gutierrez (Spa) Caisse d'EpargneRow 17 - Cell 2
19Imanol Erviti (Spa) Caisse d'EpargneRow 18 - Cell 2
20André Steensen (Den) Team Saxo BankRow 19 - Cell 2
21Inaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 20 - Cell 2
22Christophe Mevel (Fra) Française Des JeuxRow 21 - Cell 2
23David García (Spa) Xacobeo GaliciaRow 22 - Cell 2
24Gorka Verdugo (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 23 - Cell 2
25Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 24 - Cell 2
26Morris Possoni (Ita) Sky Professional Cycling TeamRow 25 - Cell 2
27Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick StepRow 26 - Cell 2
28Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Team KatushaRow 27 - Cell 2
29Daniel Moreno (Spa) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 28 - Cell 2
30Laurent Didier (Lux) Team Saxo BankRow 29 - Cell 2
31Luis Pasamontes (Spa) Caisse d'EpargneRow 30 - Cell 2
32Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Team Saxo BankRow 31 - Cell 2
33Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Liquigas-DoimoRow 32 - Cell 2
34Ezequiel Mosquera (Spa) Xacobeo GaliciaRow 33 - Cell 2
35David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d'EpargneRow 34 - Cell 2
36Gustavo César (Spa) Xacobeo GaliciaRow 35 - Cell 2
37Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 36 - Cell 2
38Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team RadioshackRow 37 - Cell 2
39Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Cervelo Test TeamRow 38 - Cell 2
40Alberto Benítez (Spa) Footon-Servetto0:07:28
41Marco Pinotti (Ita) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 40 - Cell 2
42Nicki Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo BankRow 41 - Cell 2
43Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 42 - Cell 2
44Marcos Garcia (Spa) Xacobeo GaliciaRow 43 - Cell 2
45Jurgen De Walle (Bel) Quick StepRow 44 - Cell 2
46Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Team KatushaRow 45 - Cell 2
47Ángel Gómez J. (Spa) Andalucia - CajasurRow 46 - Cell 2
48Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Sky Professional Cycling TeamRow 47 - Cell 2
49David La Fuente (Spa) AstanaRow 48 - Cell 2
50Stefan Denifl (Aut) Cervelo Test TeamRow 49 - Cell 2
51David López (Spa) Caisse d'EpargneRow 50 - Cell 2
52Anthony Roux (Fra) Française Des Jeux0:09:01
53Niki Terpstra (Ned) Team Milram0:09:44
54Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) RabobankRow 53 - Cell 2
55Valerio Agnoli (Ita) Liquigas-DoimoRow 54 - Cell 2
56Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) RabobankRow 55 - Cell 2
57Angel Vicioso (Spa) Andalucia - CajasurRow 56 - Cell 2
58David Gutierrez (Spa) Footon-ServettoRow 57 - Cell 2
59Gorazd Stangelj (Slo) AstanaRow 58 - Cell 2
60Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La MondialeRow 59 - Cell 2
61Luca Mazzanti (Ita) Team KatushaRow 60 - Cell 2
62Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 61 - Cell 2
63Markel Irizar (Spa) Team RadioshackRow 62 - Cell 2
64Tejay Garderen (USA) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 63 - Cell 2
65Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 64 - Cell 2
66Jan Bakelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 65 - Cell 2
67Mickael Delage (Fra) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:09:47
68Gonzalo Rabuñal (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia0:11:59
69José Luis Rubiera (Spa) Team RadioshackRow 68 - Cell 2
70Rubén Pérez (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 69 - Cell 2
71Alan Pérez (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 70 - Cell 2
72Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) AstanaRow 71 - Cell 2
73Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) Cervelo Test TeamRow 72 - Cell 2
74José Luis Arrieta (Spa) AG2R La MondialeRow 73 - Cell 2
75Delio Fernandez (Spa) Xacobeo GaliciaRow 74 - Cell 2
76Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-DoimoRow 75 - Cell 2
77Daniele Pietropolli (Ita) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 76 - Cell 2
78Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 77 - Cell 2
79Thibaut Pinot (Fra) Française Des JeuxRow 78 - Cell 2
80Arthur Vichot (Fra) Française Des JeuxRow 79 - Cell 2
81John-Lee Augustyn (RSA) Sky Professional Cycling TeamRow 80 - Cell 2
82Francesco Bellotti (Ita) Liquigas-DoimoRow 81 - Cell 2
83Pedro Merino (Spa) Footon-ServettoRow 82 - Cell 2
84Francesco Reda (Ita) Quick StepRow 83 - Cell 2
85Laurens Dam (Ned) RabobankRow 84 - Cell 2
86Jorge Montenegro (Arg) Andalucia - Cajasur0:17:18
87Julien Loubet (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 86 - Cell 2
88Fabio Felline (Ita) Footon-ServettoRow 87 - Cell 2
89Josep Jufré (Spa) AstanaRow 88 - Cell 2
90Gert Dockx (Bel) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 89 - Cell 2
91Serafín Martínez (Spa) Xacobeo GaliciaRow 90 - Cell 2
92Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 91 - Cell 2
93Steven Cozza (USA) Garmin - TransitionsRow 92 - Cell 2
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Alto de Orio - Zudugarai (3ª)
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Antonio Piedra (Spa) Andalucia - Cajasur3pts
2Gert Dockx (Bel) Team HTC - Columbia2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Arthur Vichot (Fra) Française Des Jeux1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Alto de Gárate (2ª)
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Pierre Cazaux (Fra) Française Des Jeux6pts
2Jorge Montenegro (Arg) Andalucia - Cajasur4Row 1 - Cell 3
3Xavier Florencio (Spa) Cervelo Test Team2Row 2 - Cell 3
4Antonio Cabello (Spa) Andalucia - Cajasur1Row 3 - Cell 3
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Alto de Jaizkibel (1ª)
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Xavier Florencio (Spa) Cervelo Test Team10pts
2Jorge Montenegro (Arg) Andalucia - Cajasur8Row 1 - Cell 3
3José Gutierrez (Spa) Caisse D'Epargne6Row 2 - Cell 3
4Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Rabobank4Row 3 - Cell 3
5Gorka Verdugo (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi2Row 4 - Cell 3
6Mickael Delage (Fra) Omega Pharma - Lotto1Row 5 - Cell 3
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Alto de Arkale (2ª)
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Rabobank6pts
2Gorka Verdugo (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi4Row 1 - Cell 3
3José Gutierrez (Spa) Caisse D'Epargne2Row 2 - Cell 3
4Stefan Denifl Cervelo Test Team 1Row 3 - Cell 2 Row 3 - Cell 3
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Alto de Jaizkibel (1ª)
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Caisse D'Epargne10pts
2Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team8Row 1 - Cell 3
3Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana6Row 2 - Cell 3
4Nicholas Roche (Irl) AG2R - La Mondiale4Row 3 - Cell 3
5Richie Porte (Aus) Team Saxo Bank2Row 4 - Cell 3
6Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha1Row 5 - Cell 3
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Alto de Arkale (2ª)
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana6pts
2Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Caisse D'Epargne4Row 1 - Cell 3
3Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team2Row 2 - Cell 3
4Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank1Row 3 - Cell 3
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Sprint - Azpeitia
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Jorge Montenegro (Arg) Andalucia - Cajasur3pts
2Xavier Florencio (Spa) Cervelo Test Team2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Pierre Cazaux (Fra) Française Des Jeux1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Sprint - Andoain
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Jorge Montenegro (Arg) Andalucia - Cajasur3pts
2Pierre Cazaux (Fra) Française Des Jeux2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Xavier Florencio (Spa) Cervelo Test Team1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Sprint - Irun
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Jorge Montenegro (Arg) Andalucia - Cajasur3pts
2Xavier Florencio (Spa) Cervelo Test Team2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Rabobank1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Sprint - Oiartzun
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Rabobank3pts
2José Iván Gutierrez (Spa) Caisse D'Epargne2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Gorka Verdugo (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Sprint - Irun
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana3pts
2Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Caisse D'Epargne2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Sprint - Oiartzun
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team3pts
2Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Caisse D'Epargne1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Mountains classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Caisse D'Epargne14pts
2Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana12Row 1 - Cell 3
3Jorge Montenegro (Arg) Andalucia - Cajasur12Row 2 - Cell 3
4Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Rabobank10Row 3 - Cell 3
5Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team10Row 4 - Cell 3
6José Gutierrez (Spa) Caisse D'Epargne8Row 5 - Cell 3
7Gorka Verdugo (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi6Row 6 - Cell 3
8Nicholas Roche (Irl) AG2R - La Mondiale4Row 7 - Cell 3
9Richie Porte (Aus) Team Saxo Bank2Row 8 - Cell 3
10Gert Dockx (Bel) Team HTC - Columbia2Row 9 - Cell 3
11Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha1Row 10 - Cell 3
12Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank1Row 11 - Cell 3
13Stefan Denifl Cervelo Test Team 1Row 12 - Cell 2 Row 12 - Cell 3
14Mickael Delage (Fra) Omega Pharma - Lotto1Row 13 - Cell 3
15Arthur Vichot (Fra) Française Des Jeux1Row 14 - Cell 3
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Sprint classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Jorge Montenegro (Arg) Andalucia - Cajasur9pts
2Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana5Row 1 - Cell 3
3Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team4Row 2 - Cell 3
4Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Rabobank4Row 3 - Cell 3
5Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Caisse D'Epargne3Row 4 - Cell 3
6José Iván Gutierrez (Spa) Caisse D'Epargne2Row 5 - Cell 3
7Gorka Verdugo (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi1Row 6 - Cell 3
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Teams
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Team Saxo Bank17:28:13
2Caisse d'Epargne0:00:52
3Euskaltel - Euskadi0:01:29
4Xacobeo Galicia0:04:35
5Cervelo Test Team0:04:37
6Team Katusha0:05:14
7Omega Pharma-Lotto0:06:51
8Quick StepRow 7 - Cell 2
9Team Radioshack0:07:27
10Astana0:10:38
11Andalucia - Cajasur0:12:52
12Rabobank0:13:31
13Footon-Servetto0:14:21
14AG2R La Mondiale0:15:46
15Sky Professional Cycling Team0:16:36
16Française Des Jeux0:18:09
17Lampre-Farnese Vini0:18:52
18Liquigas-DoimoRow 17 - Cell 2
19Team HTC - Columbia0:27:56

 

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Stephen Farrand
Head of News

Stephen is the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022, before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters, Shift Active Media, and CyclingWeekly, among other publications.

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