Matthews triumphs in Almeria

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

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Michael Matthews (Aus) Rabobank Cycling Team4:24:17
2Borut Bozic (Slo) Astana Pro TeamRow 1 - Cell 2
3Roger Kluge (Ger) Project 1T4IRow 2 - Cell 2
4Stéphane Poulhies (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 3 - Cell 2
5Francisco Jose Ventoso (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 4 - Cell 2
6Pim Ligthart (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 5 - Cell 2
7Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar TeamRow 6 - Cell 2
8Michel Kreder (Ned) Garmin - BarracudaRow 7 - Cell 2
9Daniel Schorn (Aut) Team NetappRow 8 - Cell 2
10Aitor Galdos (Spa) Caja RuralRow 9 - Cell 2
11Gert Dockx (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team0:00:03
12Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 11 - Cell 2
13Pieter Serry (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-MercatorRow 12 - Cell 2
14David Lelay (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 13 - Cell 2
15Jorge Azanza (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 14 - Cell 2
16Pablo Lastras (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 15 - Cell 2
17Matthias Brandle (Aut) Team NetappRow 16 - Cell 2
18Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 17 - Cell 2
19Fabricio Ferrari (Uru) Caja RuralRow 18 - Cell 2
20Julien Simon (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 19 - Cell 2
21Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Project 1T4IRow 20 - Cell 2
22Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Project 1T4IRow 21 - Cell 2
23Francis De Greef (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 22 - Cell 2
24Javier Moreno (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 23 - Cell 2
25Ivan Velasco (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 24 - Cell 2
26Tomasz Marczynski (Pol) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 25 - Cell 2
27Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 26 - Cell 2
28Jose F. Aramendia (Spa) Caja RuralRow 27 - Cell 2
29Jose V. Toribio (Spa) AndaluciaRow 28 - Cell 2
30Koldo Fernandez (Spa) Garmin - BarracudaRow 29 - Cell 2
31Gorka Verdugo (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 30 - Cell 2
32Matteo Carrara (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 31 - Cell 2
33Fabrice Jeandesboz (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 32 - Cell 2
34Sergio Carrasco (Spa) AndaluciaRow 33 - Cell 2
35Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Project 1T4IRow 34 - Cell 2
36Peter Stetina (USA) Garmin - BarracudaRow 35 - Cell 2
37Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Astana Pro TeamRow 36 - Cell 2
38Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro TeamRow 37 - Cell 2
39Reto Hollenstein (Swi) Team NetappRow 38 - Cell 2
40Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 39 - Cell 2
41Rafael Valls (Spa) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 40 - Cell 2
42Simone Ponzi (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 41 - Cell 2
43Bartosz Huzarski (Pol) Team Netapp0:00:16
44Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team0:00:20
45Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 44 - Cell 2
46Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin - Barracuda0:00:25
47Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Astana Pro Team0:00:28
48Andreas Dietziker (Swi) Team NetappRow 47 - Cell 2
49Jean Marc Marino (Fra) Saur - Sojasun0:00:32
50Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team0:00:57
51Rob Ruijgh (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team0:01:23
52Stefan Denifl (Aut) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 51 - Cell 2
53Thomas Dekker (Ned) Garmin - Barracuda0:01:26
54Jerome Coppel (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 53 - Cell 2
55Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 54 - Cell 2
56Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Garmin - BarracudaRow 55 - Cell 2
57Christian Vandevelde (USA) Garmin - Barracuda0:01:47
58Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana Pro TeamRow 57 - Cell 2
59Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 58 - Cell 2
60Pieter Jacobs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator0:09:24
61Sander Armee (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-MercatorRow 60 - Cell 2
62Mikel Nieve (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 61 - Cell 2
63Manuel Cardoso (Por) Caja RuralRow 62 - Cell 2
64Antonio Piedra (Spa) Caja RuralRow 63 - Cell 2
65Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 64 - Cell 2
66Dennis Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 65 - Cell 2
67Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 66 - Cell 2
68Theo Bos (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team0:10:08
69Cesare Benedetti (Ita) Team NetappRow 68 - Cell 2
70Francisco Anton (Spa) Burgos BH - Castilla y LeonRow 69 - Cell 2
71Tim Declercq (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-MercatorRow 70 - Cell 2
72Igor Romero (Spa) Caja RuralRow 71 - Cell 2
73Miguel Minguez (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 72 - Cell 2
74Brian Bulgac (Ned) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 73 - Cell 2
75Gaetan Bille (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 74 - Cell 2
76David De La Fuente (Spa) Caja RuralRow 75 - Cell 2
77Francisco J. Irriarte (Spa) Movistar Team0:10:13
78Thierry Hupond (Fra) Project 1T4IRow 77 - Cell 2
79Julian Sanchez (Spa) Caja RuralRow 78 - Cell 2
80Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Project 1T4IRow 79 - Cell 2
81Egor Silin (Rus) Astana Pro Team0:10:18
82Vasil Kryenka (Blr) Movistar Team0:10:21
83Jose L. Cano (Spa) Andalucia0:14:05
84Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Barracuda0:19:00
85Kevin De Jonghe (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator0:19:02
86Jan Barta (Cze) Team NetappRow 85 - Cell 2
87Jarl Salomein (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator0:19:06
88Kenny De Ketele (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator0:19:11
89Roman Osuna (Spa) Andalucia0:19:37
90Ruben Jimenez (Spa) Burgos BH - Castilla y LeonRow 89 - Cell 2
91Carlos Verona (Spa) Burgos BH - Castilla y LeonRow 90 - Cell 2
92Javier Chacon (Spa) AndaluciaRow 91 - Cell 2
93Luis Mas (Spa) Burgos BH - Castilla y LeonRow 92 - Cell 2
94Juan Jose Lobato (Spa) AndaluciaRow 93 - Cell 2
95Damien Branaa (Fra) Burgos BH - Castilla y LeonRow 94 - Cell 2
96Victor Cabedo (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 95 - Cell 2
97Eloy Ruiz (Spa) AndaluciaRow 96 - Cell 2
98David Belda (Spa) Burgos BH - Castilla y LeonRow 97 - Cell 2
DNFEnrique Sanz (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 98 - Cell 2
DNFMartijn Keizer (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 99 - Cell 2
DNFBarry Markus (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 100 - Cell 2
DNFPablo Urtasun (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 101 - Cell 2
DNFStef Clement (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 102 - Cell 2
DNFMarcel Kittel (Ger) Project 1T4IRow 103 - Cell 2
DNFCheng Ji (Chn) Project 1T4IRow 104 - Cell 2
DNFOscar Santamaria (Spa) Burgos BH - Castilla y LeonRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFEfren Carazo (Spa) Burgos BH - Castilla y LeonRow 106 - Cell 2
DNFTim Mertens (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-MercatorRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFJose Aguilar (Spa) AndaluciaRow 108 - Cell 2
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Mountain 1 - Alto Del Portichuelo (Cat. 3) km. 70,90
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Kenny De Ketele (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator3pts
2Jose V. Toribio (Spa) Andalucia2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Mountain 2 - Alto De Lucainena (Cat 2) km. 123,80
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team6pts
2Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Saur - Sojasun4Row 1 - Cell 3
3Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Garmin - Barracuda2Row 2 - Cell 3
4Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana Pro Team1Row 3 - Cell 3
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Mountain 3 - Alto De La Serrata (Cat. 3) km. 148,20
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana Pro Team3pts
2Fabrice Jeandesboz (Fra) Saur - Sojasun2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Peter Stetina (USA) Garmin - Barracuda1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Sprint 1 - Benahadux, km. 38,70
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Jose V. Toribio (Spa) Andalucia3pts
2Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Saur - Sojasun1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Sprint 2 - Uleila Del Campo, km. 82,00
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team3pts
2Jose V. Toribio (Spa) Andalucia2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Garmin - Barracuda1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Sprint 3 - Lucainena De Las Torres, km. 117,60
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Saur - Sojasun3pts
2Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Garmin - Barracuda1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Sprint 4- Retamar, km. 169,00
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team3pts
2Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro Team2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana Pro Team1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Mountains classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team7pts
2Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana Pro Team4Row 1 - Cell 3
3Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Saur - Sojasun4Row 2 - Cell 3
4Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Garmin - Barracuda2Row 3 - Cell 3
5Fabrice Jeandesboz (Fra) Saur - Sojasun2Row 4 - Cell 3
6Jose V. Toribio (Spa) Andalucia2Row 5 - Cell 3
7Peter Stetina (USA) Garmin - Barracuda1Row 6 - Cell 3
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Sprint classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team10pts
2Jose V. Toribio (Spa) Andalucia5Row 1 - Cell 3
3Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Saur - Sojasun4Row 2 - Cell 3
4Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro Team2Row 3 - Cell 3
5Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Garmin - Barracuda2Row 4 - Cell 3
6Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana Pro Team1Row 5 - Cell 3
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Regional rider classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Javier Moreno (Spa) Movistar Team4:24:20
2Sergio Carrasco (Spa) AndaluciaRow 1 - Cell 2
3Antonio Piedra (Spa) Caja Rural0:09:21
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Teams classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Movistar Team13:12:54
2Saur - Sojasun0:00:03
3Project 1t4iRow 2 - Cell 2
4Caja RuralRow 3 - Cell 2
5Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 4 - Cell 2
6Team NetAppRow 5 - Cell 2
7Garmin-CerveloRow 6 - Cell 2
8Astana Pro TeamRow 7 - Cell 2
9Lotto Belisol Team0:00:06
10Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 9 - Cell 2
11Rabobank Cycling Team0:00:20
12Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator0:18:48

 

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