Michael Matthews claimed Rabobank's much-craved first win of the season, sprinting to victory at Clasica de Almeria in Spain. It's the second consecutive year that Matthews, former under 23 world champion, has got the first runs on the board for the Dutch team having claimed Stage 3 of the Tour Down Under in 2011.
Matthews prevailed in the 10-man sprint to the line, ahead of Borut Bozic (Astana Pro Team) and Roger Kluge (Project 1T4i).
After his season-opener, the Tour Down Under, Matthews raced at the Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol where he posted three top-10 results and appeared to be on the verge of a breakthrough. Sunday's win was it.
"It is fantastic for the second consecutive year to help the team to its first win of the season," Michael Matthews told Rabosport.nl. "I felt strong and the team did a great job. The lead out was close to perfect. Luis Leon [Sanchez] gave us very good start and Graeme went from 400 meters.
"When you get delivered like that it makes it a lot easier, of course, you still have to try and win. But we did," he continued.
"This is a big boost for morale. Not only the fact that we won; but the way did it."
The day's break consisting of Christophe Le Mevel (Garmin-Barracuda), Yannick Talabardon (Saur Sojasun), Jurgen Van de Walle (Lotto) and Jose Vicente Toribio (Andalucía) had been allowed a gap of up to five minutes before eventually being reeled in after 159 kilometres of racing.
The Almeria parcours was perfectly suited to the Australian, with three climbs en-route to a slight uphill finishing straight. A selection of 55 riders made it over the final climb of the day, at around 60 kilometres left to race.
Rabobank director sportif Jan Boven was impressed with his team's effort, saying that the race had gone "exactly as planned" with Matthews one of two cards the team could play, the other being 2010 winner Theo Bos.
Robert Gesink had waited for Bos, but the former winner had not made the front group and so Rabobank was left with five riders to guide Matthews to victory.
"The team really needed this win, but we have also worked hard," Matthews again praised the work of his teammates. "Everything went to plan today as it was supposed to; we had everything under control, and finally got the victory!"
Full Results
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Matthews (Aus) Rabobank Cycling Team | 4:24:17 |
| 2 | Borut Bozic (Slo) Astana Pro Team | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
| 3 | Roger Kluge (Ger) Project 1T4I | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
| 4 | Stéphane Poulhies (Fra) Saur - Sojasun | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
| 5 | Francisco Jose Ventoso (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
| 6 | Pim Ligthart (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
| 7 | Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar Team | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
| 8 | Michel Kreder (Ned) Garmin - Barracuda | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
| 9 | Daniel Schorn (Aut) Team Netapp | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
| 10 | Aitor Galdos (Spa) Caja Rural | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
| 11 | Gert Dockx (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team | 0:00:03 |
| 12 | Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
| 13 | Pieter Serry (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
| 14 | David Lelay (Fra) Saur - Sojasun | Row 13 - Cell 2 |
| 15 | Jorge Azanza (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
| 16 | Pablo Lastras (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
| 17 | Matthias Brandle (Aut) Team Netapp | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
| 18 | Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
| 19 | Fabricio Ferrari (Uru) Caja Rural | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
| 20 | Julien Simon (Fra) Saur - Sojasun | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
| 21 | Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Project 1T4I | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
| 22 | Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Project 1T4I | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
| 23 | Francis De Greef (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
| 24 | Javier Moreno (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
| 25 | Ivan Velasco (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
| 26 | Tomasz Marczynski (Pol) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | Row 25 - Cell 2 |
| 27 | Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank Cycling Team | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
| 28 | Jose F. Aramendia (Spa) Caja Rural | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
| 29 | Jose V. Toribio (Spa) Andalucia | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
| 30 | Koldo Fernandez (Spa) Garmin - Barracuda | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
| 31 | Gorka Verdugo (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
| 32 | Matteo Carrara (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
| 33 | Fabrice Jeandesboz (Fra) Saur - Sojasun | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
| 34 | Sergio Carrasco (Spa) Andalucia | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
| 35 | Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Project 1T4I | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
| 36 | Peter Stetina (USA) Garmin - Barracuda | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
| 37 | Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Astana Pro Team | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
| 38 | Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro Team | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
| 39 | Reto Hollenstein (Swi) Team Netapp | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
| 40 | Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
| 41 | Rafael Valls (Spa) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
| 42 | Simone Ponzi (Ita) Astana Pro Team | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
| 43 | Bartosz Huzarski (Pol) Team Netapp | 0:00:16 |
| 44 | Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team | 0:00:20 |
| 45 | Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team | Row 44 - Cell 2 |
| 46 | Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin - Barracuda | 0:00:25 |
| 47 | Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Astana Pro Team | 0:00:28 |
| 48 | Andreas Dietziker (Swi) Team Netapp | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
| 49 | Jean Marc Marino (Fra) Saur - Sojasun | 0:00:32 |
| 50 | Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team | 0:00:57 |
| 51 | Rob Ruijgh (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | 0:01:23 |
| 52 | Stefan Denifl (Aut) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
| 53 | Thomas Dekker (Ned) Garmin - Barracuda | 0:01:26 |
| 54 | Jerome Coppel (Fra) Saur - Sojasun | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
| 55 | Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Saur - Sojasun | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
| 56 | Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Garmin - Barracuda | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
| 57 | Christian Vandevelde (USA) Garmin - Barracuda | 0:01:47 |
| 58 | Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana Pro Team | Row 57 - Cell 2 |
| 59 | Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana Pro Team | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
| 60 | Pieter Jacobs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator | 0:09:24 |
| 61 | Sander Armee (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
| 62 | Mikel Nieve (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi | Row 61 - Cell 2 |
| 63 | Manuel Cardoso (Por) Caja Rural | Row 62 - Cell 2 |
| 64 | Antonio Piedra (Spa) Caja Rural | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
| 65 | Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
| 66 | Dennis Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
| 67 | Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team | Row 66 - Cell 2 |
| 68 | Theo Bos (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team | 0:10:08 |
| 69 | Cesare Benedetti (Ita) Team Netapp | Row 68 - Cell 2 |
| 70 | Francisco Anton (Spa) Burgos BH - Castilla y Leon | Row 69 - Cell 2 |
| 71 | Tim Declercq (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator | Row 70 - Cell 2 |
| 72 | Igor Romero (Spa) Caja Rural | Row 71 - Cell 2 |
| 73 | Miguel Minguez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi | Row 72 - Cell 2 |
| 74 | Brian Bulgac (Ned) Lotto Belisol Team | Row 73 - Cell 2 |
| 75 | Gaetan Bille (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team | Row 74 - Cell 2 |
| 76 | David De La Fuente (Spa) Caja Rural | Row 75 - Cell 2 |
| 77 | Francisco J. Irriarte (Spa) Movistar Team | 0:10:13 |
| 78 | Thierry Hupond (Fra) Project 1T4I | Row 77 - Cell 2 |
| 79 | Julian Sanchez (Spa) Caja Rural | Row 78 - Cell 2 |
| 80 | Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Project 1T4I | Row 79 - Cell 2 |
| 81 | Egor Silin (Rus) Astana Pro Team | 0:10:18 |
| 82 | Vasil Kryenka (Blr) Movistar Team | 0:10:21 |
| 83 | Jose L. Cano (Spa) Andalucia | 0:14:05 |
| 84 | Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Barracuda | 0:19:00 |
| 85 | Kevin De Jonghe (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator | 0:19:02 |
| 86 | Jan Barta (Cze) Team Netapp | Row 85 - Cell 2 |
| 87 | Jarl Salomein (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator | 0:19:06 |
| 88 | Kenny De Ketele (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator | 0:19:11 |
| 89 | Roman Osuna (Spa) Andalucia | 0:19:37 |
| 90 | Ruben Jimenez (Spa) Burgos BH - Castilla y Leon | Row 89 - Cell 2 |
| 91 | Carlos Verona (Spa) Burgos BH - Castilla y Leon | Row 90 - Cell 2 |
| 92 | Javier Chacon (Spa) Andalucia | Row 91 - Cell 2 |
| 93 | Luis Mas (Spa) Burgos BH - Castilla y Leon | Row 92 - Cell 2 |
| 94 | Juan Jose Lobato (Spa) Andalucia | Row 93 - Cell 2 |
| 95 | Damien Branaa (Fra) Burgos BH - Castilla y Leon | Row 94 - Cell 2 |
| 96 | Victor Cabedo (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi | Row 95 - Cell 2 |
| 97 | Eloy Ruiz (Spa) Andalucia | Row 96 - Cell 2 |
| 98 | David Belda (Spa) Burgos BH - Castilla y Leon | Row 97 - Cell 2 |
| DNF | Enrique Sanz (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 98 - Cell 2 |
| DNF | Martijn Keizer (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | Row 99 - Cell 2 |
| DNF | Barry Markus (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | Row 100 - Cell 2 |
| DNF | Pablo Urtasun (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi | Row 101 - Cell 2 |
| DNF | Stef Clement (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team | Row 102 - Cell 2 |
| DNF | Marcel Kittel (Ger) Project 1T4I | Row 103 - Cell 2 |
| DNF | Cheng Ji (Chn) Project 1T4I | Row 104 - Cell 2 |
| DNF | Oscar Santamaria (Spa) Burgos BH - Castilla y Leon | Row 105 - Cell 2 |
| DNF | Efren Carazo (Spa) Burgos BH - Castilla y Leon | Row 106 - Cell 2 |
| DNF | Tim Mertens (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator | Row 107 - Cell 2 |
| DNF | Jose Aguilar (Spa) Andalucia | Row 108 - Cell 2 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kenny De Ketele (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator | 3 | pts |
| 2 | Jose V. Toribio (Spa) Andalucia | 2 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team | 1 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team | 6 | pts |
| 2 | Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Saur - Sojasun | 4 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Garmin - Barracuda | 2 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| 4 | Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana Pro Team | 1 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana Pro Team | 3 | pts |
| 2 | Fabrice Jeandesboz (Fra) Saur - Sojasun | 2 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Peter Stetina (USA) Garmin - Barracuda | 1 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jose V. Toribio (Spa) Andalucia | 3 | pts |
| 2 | Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team | 2 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Saur - Sojasun | 1 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team | 3 | pts |
| 2 | Jose V. Toribio (Spa) Andalucia | 2 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Garmin - Barracuda | 1 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Saur - Sojasun | 3 | pts |
| 2 | Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team | 2 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Garmin - Barracuda | 1 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team | 3 | pts |
| 2 | Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro Team | 2 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana Pro Team | 1 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team | 7 | pts |
| 2 | Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana Pro Team | 4 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Saur - Sojasun | 4 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| 4 | Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Garmin - Barracuda | 2 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
| 5 | Fabrice Jeandesboz (Fra) Saur - Sojasun | 2 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
| 6 | Jose V. Toribio (Spa) Andalucia | 2 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
| 7 | Peter Stetina (USA) Garmin - Barracuda | 1 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team | 10 | pts |
| 2 | Jose V. Toribio (Spa) Andalucia | 5 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
| 3 | Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Saur - Sojasun | 4 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
| 4 | Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro Team | 2 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
| 5 | Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Garmin - Barracuda | 2 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
| 6 | Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana Pro Team | 1 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Javier Moreno (Spa) Movistar Team | 4:24:20 |
| 2 | Sergio Carrasco (Spa) Andalucia | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
| 3 | Antonio Piedra (Spa) Caja Rural | 0:09:21 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Movistar Team | 13:12:54 |
| 2 | Saur - Sojasun | 0:00:03 |
| 3 | Project 1t4i | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
| 4 | Caja Rural | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
| 5 | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
| 6 | Team NetApp | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
| 7 | Garmin-Cervelo | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
| 8 | Astana Pro Team | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
| 9 | Lotto Belisol Team | 0:00:06 |
| 10 | Euskaltel - Euskadi | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
| 11 | Rabobank Cycling Team | 0:00:20 |
| 12 | Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator | 0:18:48 |
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