Vinokourov collects Chihuahua crown

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Astana's Alexandre Vinokourov made the most of his trip to Mexico and took out this year's Criterium Chihuahua ahead of a star-studded field that included Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) and Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel), who took second and third respectively.

Held on a street circuit of 4.4km, the 15-lap event was a chance for Mexican riders to make life difficult for their European counterparts and they tried their best to do so.

On lap three a quartet formed with Peter Sagan (Liquigas), Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne), Bernardo Colex (Puebla) and Andy Schleck, although it was a front group that included these four plus Vinokurov, Sanchez, Alexander Kolobnev (Katusha), Jakob Fuglsang (Saxo Bank) and Mexican riders Cesar Vaquera and Enrique Mendez that made the race at the front.

This group had about a minute on the peloton until the last lap when Sanchez, Schleck and Vinokourov escaped, leaving their companions behind and fighting it out for line honours.

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