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Luis León Sánchez takes third time trial title

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Contador beaten into third place

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Luis León Sánchez (Rabobank) powers to his second straight Spanish time trial championship.

Luis León Sánchez (Rabobank) powers to his second straight Spanish time trial championship. (Image credit: Rafael Gómez Alonso)
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Jesús Del Nero (NetApp)

Jesús Del Nero (NetApp) (Image credit: Rafael Gómez Alonso)
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Jesús Rosendo (Andalucía-Caja Granada)

Jesús Rosendo (Andalucía-Caja Granada) (Image credit: Rafael Gómez Alonso)
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Silver medalist Jonathan Castroviejo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) on the podium.

Silver medalist Jonathan Castroviejo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) on the podium. (Image credit: Rafael Gómez Alonso)
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Alberto Contador is congratulated by legendary Spanish cyclist Federico Bahamontes.

Alberto Contador is congratulated by legendary Spanish cyclist Federico Bahamontes. (Image credit: Rafael Gómez Alonso)
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1959 Tour de France champion Federico Bahamontes on the podium with Alberto Contador.

1959 Tour de France champion Federico Bahamontes on the podium with Alberto Contador. (Image credit: Rafael Gómez Alonso)
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Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank Sungard) earned the bronze medal in Spain's time trial championship.

Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank Sungard) earned the bronze medal in Spain's time trial championship. (Image credit: Rafael Gómez Alonso)
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Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank Sungard) congratulates time trial champion Luis León Sánchez (Rabobank).

Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank Sungard) congratulates time trial champion Luis León Sánchez (Rabobank). (Image credit: Rafael Gómez Alonso)
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Top three at Spain's TT nationals (l-r): Jonathan Castroviejo, 2nd; Luis León Sánchez, 1st; Alberto Contador, 3rd

Top three at Spain's TT nationals (l-r): Jonathan Castroviejo, 2nd; Luis León Sánchez, 1st; Alberto Contador, 3rd (Image credit: Rafael Gómez Alonso)
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Spain's elite men's TT podium (l-r): Jonathan Castroviejo, Luis León Sánchez and Alberto Contador.

Spain's elite men's TT podium (l-r): Jonathan Castroviejo, Luis León Sánchez and Alberto Contador. (Image credit: Rafael Gómez Alonso)
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Gorka Izagirre (Euskaltel-Euskadi)

Gorka Izagirre (Euskaltel-Euskadi) (Image credit: Rafael Gómez Alonso)
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Alejandro Marque (Onda)

Alejandro Marque (Onda) (Image credit: Rafael Gómez Alonso)
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Fifth place finisher Jesús Herrada (Movistar Team)

Fifth place finisher Jesús Herrada (Movistar Team) (Image credit: Rafael Gómez Alonso)
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Luis León Sánchez (Rabobank) would successfully defend his TT title.

Luis León Sánchez (Rabobank) would successfully defend his TT title. (Image credit: Rafael Gómez Alonso)
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Luis León Sánchez (Rabobank) in action during Spain's time trial championship.

Luis León Sánchez (Rabobank) in action during Spain's time trial championship. (Image credit: Rafael Gómez Alonso)
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Jonathan Castroviejo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) during his silver medal performance

Jonathan Castroviejo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) during his silver medal performance (Image credit: Rafael Gómez Alonso)
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Jonathan Castroviejo (Euskaltel-Euskadi)

Jonathan Castroviejo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) (Image credit: Rafael Gómez Alonso)
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Silver medalist Jonathan Castroviejo (Euskaltel-Euskadi)

Silver medalist Jonathan Castroviejo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) (Image credit: Rafael Gómez Alonso)
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Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank Sungard) would earn the bronze medal.

Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank Sungard) would earn the bronze medal. (Image credit: Rafael Gómez Alonso)
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Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank Sungard)

Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank Sungard) (Image credit: Rafael Gómez Alonso)
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Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank Sungard)

Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank Sungard) (Image credit: Rafael Gómez Alonso)
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Jose Iván Gutiérrez (Movistar Team) would finish one place shy of the podium in 4th place.

Jose Iván Gutiérrez (Movistar Team) would finish one place shy of the podium in 4th place. (Image credit: Rafael Gómez Alonso)
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2011 Spanish time trial champion Luis León Sánchez (Rabobank)

2011 Spanish time trial champion Luis León Sánchez (Rabobank) (Image credit: Rafael Gómez Alonso)

Luis León Sánchez (Rabobank) took his second successive Spanish time trial title – and his third in total – with a fine performance on the road to Vall d'Uixó, while pre-race favourite Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-SunGard) could only manage third.

In what was his first competitive outing since winning the Giro d’Italia in May, Contador struggled to match León Sanchez, and finished 1:12 down at the finish. Jonathan Castroviejo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) sprung something of a surprise to squeeze ahead of Contador and onto the second step of the podium.

The day belonged to León Sanchez, however, as he set a scorching pace right from the off. The Rabobank man was 19 seconds clear of Castroviejo and 24 ahead of Contador at the first intermediate check, just shy of the halfway mark.

Over the second half of the course, León Sanchez stretched out his lead still further to seal a dominant victory.

Results

#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Luis León Sánchez (Rabobank)0:56:43
2Jonathan Castroviejo (Euskaltel-Euskadi)0:01:01
3Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-SunGard)0:01:12
4Jose Iván Gutiérrez (Movistar Team)0:01:47
5Jesús Herrada (Movistar Team)0:02:10
6Alejandro Marque (Onda)0:02:32
7Gorka Izagirre (Euskaltel-Euskadi)0:02:35
8Jesús Del Nero (NetApp)0:03:07
9Jesús Rosendo (Andalucía-Caja Granada)0:03:17
10Lluis Mas (Burgos 2016)0:03:19
11Víctor Cabedo (Orbea)0:03:36
12Arturo Mora (Caja Rural)0:03:42
13David Blanco (Geox-TMC)
14Ricardo García (Orbea)0:04:00
15David Bernabeu (Andalucía-Caja Granada)0:04:56
16Ion Pardo (Onda)0:05:08
17Delio Fernández (Onda)0:05:17
18Antonio Cabello (Andalucía-Caja Granada)0:06:22
19Rubén Martínez (Caja Rural)0:06:51
20Carlos Verona (Burgos 2016)0:07:16

 

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