28th Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian Live
On the Alto de Jaizkibel... 46 survivors approach the summit
Difficult, unpredictable and full of surprises; the San Sebastian classic is
the first big race following Le Tour. This year, of course, the Olympic Road
Race is just seven days away, however the field for the Basque Classic is very
strong.
Two former winners - Paolo Bettini and Xavier Florencio - have taken the
start, 2007 winner Leonardo Bertagnolli is not riding, despite being named on
Liquigas' provisional roster. Other notable names riding including recent Tour
winner Carlos Sastre and White Jersey winner Andy Schleck (both Team CSC).
Alberto Contador is here with Astana, Alejandro Valverde leads a strong Caisse
d'Epargne team, while Gerolsteiner bring Davide Rebellin.
Quick Step's Jurgen Van De Walle leads with Paolo Bettini lead the elite
group. Photo ©
2008 Fotoreporter Sirotti
Bettini, already mentioned, leads a strong Quick Step team, who will want to
make up for a relatively poor Tour. Cofidis' had a good July, and bring the
aggressive Sylvain Chavanel to the race. The route may be too difficult for the
Frenchman, nonetheless who is to say he won't attack !?
While some teams (CSC, Silence Lotto, Le Francaise des Jeux, Colobmia) have
not brought the maximum eight riders, Scott - American beef, making their
post-Ricco return, have brought the full quota permitted. Having lost their
title sponsor last month, they will be keen to make amends on home ground.
Climbs:
19 km - Alto De Orio-Zudugarai Cat. 3
31 km - Alto de Garate Cat. 2
64 km - Alto de Azkarate Cat. 2
84 km - Alto de Udana Cat. 2
200 km - Alto de Jaizkibel Cat. 1 (39 km to go)
223 km - Alto de Arkale Cat. 2 (16 km to go)
135 km - Feed Zone
The weather in San Sebastian at the start was sunny, with temperatures around
25 degrees. This sunshine looks set to continue as we approach the finish of the
race. The early stages were quiet, except for one early retirement. Cofidis' Rik
Verbrugghe crashed around 25km into the race and was immediately taken to
Hospital.
We join the race on the famous climb of the Jaizkabel; CSC rider Alexandre
Kolobnev has attacked and currently leads a fast moving peloton by 8 seconds.
80 kilometers into the race an attack on the category 2 Alto de Udana split
the peloton with 46 riders leaving the leaving the peloton behind. The group
quickly built a gap on a less than interested peloton as most of the favorites
and team leaders were in the group. Valverde, Cunego, Karpets and some others
who missed the break realized this would be break of the day and bridged up to
the group over the next 30 kilometers. Typical for the race it has become a one
of attrition as the chase has was reduced to about 50 riders as the riders
behind abandoned the race.... a group of 46 riders have reached the climb of
the Jaizkabel.
1551 CEST - 40km to go, Quick Step are
leading the Peloton; Bettini is in second wheel, looking very good. Remember the
current World and Olympic champion won here in 2003. Kolobnev has now been
caught by what remains of the bunch down to about 50 riders.
We're awaiting names, but it seems a lot of riders have abandoned already.
The lead group cannot be more than 30 riders right now, as the Basque crowd are
out in force on this climb. Of course, there is no pressure of Euskatel to do
well here. There is more of an expectation!
1555 CEST - Garrate and Arrietta are
dropping off the pace on this brutal climb. It's a bit like the Poggio in Milan
- San Remo; the course preceding the climb is tricky, however to be successful
you need to be in the front group at the top of the climb. The Jaizkabel is not
the be all and end all of the race, however it is game over if you're dropped on
the slopes.
1558 CEST - 1km to go on the climb, 40km
to the finish. Thus far, the average speed of the race has been 42km/h; so we
should have around an hour of racing left. At the top of the climb, Bettini,
Rebellin, Niballi, Valverde and Chavanel are still in our leading group. 36 km
to go the riders are on the descent. The latest news on early crash victim Rik
Verbrugghe is that his Collarbone may be broken. He is 34 years old, so talk is
of his retirement from the sport. This, of course, is mere conjecture right now.
The survivors on the Jaizkabel... a perfect sunny day along the coast.
Photo ©
2008 Fotoreporter Sirotti
1603 CEST - 35 km to go, This technical
descent is fairly fast - around 30km/h - which is a shame as the local scenery
is stunning. With the sun out as well today, the route is just beautiful,
especially when you see the coastline in the distance. A couple of Cofidis
riders are struggling to keep on the back of the Peloton on this twisty descent.
1609 CEST - 30km to go. Quick Step still
lead the small peloton at the front of the race. Bettini must be feeling good
here - it will be up to someone else, or another team even, to prevent the
'Cricket' from winning here today. At least two Euskatel riders are in this
group; I imagine Samuel Sanchez will play his card on the final climb of the
day. We're 13km away from that right now; the Alto de Arkale comes with 16km to
go.
1613 CEST - 25 km to go, Thomas Voeckler
is still upfront, and just voiced his feelings on a close riding Motorcycle.
Luckily his language wasn't colourful, though a few chants of 'Allez! Allez!
Allez' are understood easily. Quick Step continues to set a fast pace to
discourage escapes.
Bettini, Rebellin, Valverde and Kolobnev lead on the final climb.
Photo ©
2008 Fotoreporter Sirotti
21 km to go, Omitted in the introduction,
Davide Rebellin is another rider present who has won here. His victory came in
1997, when he was at La Francaise des Jeux. Menchov looks comfortable in the
group as Van de Walle leads three Quick Steps on the front. Menchov sucks an Energy Gel; after a strong Tour de France does he have the legs to attack, or
even follow any moves? In this lead group we have Valverde, Menchov, Bettini, Rodgriguez, Chavanel, Voeckler, Moncoutie, Sanchez.
1621 CEST - 20km to go, Jurgen Van
De Walle is the Quick Step rider doing the pulling right now. Nibali and Cungeo
are in this lead group too. The final climb, the Alto de Arkale is 4km away.
David de la Fuente (Scott - American Beef) is moving up the Peloton. That team
name just sounds absurd if you ask me. Talk of Bouygues Telecom merging with
French Frog's Legs is not true, I must point out. We are on the approach to the
final cat. 2 climb of the day.
1625 CEST - The Arkale is 2.7km long,
with an average of 6.1%. Attack from Konstantin Siutsou (Colombia). He took over
as the race went under a poorly-lit bridge, and has used the element of surprise
to pull out a small advantage. The peloton isn't far behind however, and is
about to catch him up.
Bettini attacks! Rebellin follows in his wheel - De La Fuente is closing the
gap too. Bettini goes again. No-one is following so far. Contador is dropped off
the back as a result of these two attacks from the Italian World Champion.
Bettini is just playing here; he's weakening and decreasing the size of the pack
without burning out too soon.
Bettini attacks, joined by Moncoutie. Photo ©
2008 Fotoreporter Sirotti
1628 CEST - Valverde goes now... Bettini
is right on his wheel. The Basque crowds are cheering the Caisse D'Epargne rider
on rather enthusiastically. They have a gap. Sanchez and Menchov are in the
second group just behind Bettini and co.
1629 CEST - 15km to the finish Sanchez
has now gone on the attack. He's passed everyone else with ease and is now on
his own out front. What an explosive attack by the Euskatel rider. Valverde,
Bettini and Rebellin have bridged the gap.
1630 CEST - 12km to go. An Elite group is
forming at the head of the race. It's Moncoutie attacking again. The group are
working really well together. They all look rather strong; Moncoutie is the
underdog in this one. Everyone else has experience in winning big races, or at
least several Grand Tour stages. Their gaps is 13 seconds right now.
1633 CEST - 10km to go. These wide,
straight highways on the approach to the finish will not aid this breakaway
group. Liquigas are doing the pulling behind. Plenty of big names, Menchov, de
la Fuente, Contador, Chavanel, Voeckler are in this group.
1635 CEST - 8km to go. The gap is a mere
10 seconds. Our leaders know they cannot play games with each other right now.
The second group must be only twenty five riders or so, the explosive Bettini
and Sanchez attacks have blown many riders out the back.
1637 CEST - 7km left. We're off the main
highway and into the slightly narrower roads that take us to the finish Attack
from Moncoutie now. He knows he cannot take Bettini to the finish. Rebellin goes
to close the gap on the Frenchman.
1640 CEST - 5km to the finish. The race
is all together, and the remains of the peloton have caught the Bettini group.
We now have four Caisse d'Epargne riders leading this lead group. Karpets is
doing the pulling for Valverde.
1641 CEST - 4km to the finish This small
peloton leading the race is around fifteen people big. Pelizotti is looking
poised to make a move.
Menchov attacks with 3km to go. He gets nowhere, and Popovych now attacks
counters. Rebellin follows Popo. The Italian looks very strong today, possibly
more so than compatriot Bettini.
They get caught, here comes the Counter.....
1643 CEST - 2km to go Looks like an
Euskatel rider is forcing the pace, is that Sanchez?
Alejandro Valverde leads the elite group to the finish. Photo ©
2008 Fotoreporter Sirotti
1644 CEST - Final Kilometre! A Cofidis
rider has broken free up front. It looks like Moncoutie again. He's got a gap
right now but the pack are closing in on him. Sanchez attacks from the group.
250m left... Bettini launches his sprint.
So does Valverde... Valverde looks good....
Alejandro VALVERDE gets the victory!!
Alejandro takes the victory... over Kolobnev, Rebellin (behind Alejandro) and
Bettini. Pellizotti on the left. Photo ©
2008 Fotoreporter Sirotti
Bettini didn't have the power to stick on the wheel of the Spanish Champion.
Thomas Voeckler crosses the line, twenty seconds or so behind Valverde.
1. 21 Valverde, Alejandro Espana Caisse d'Epargne 5:29:11
2. 35 Kolobnev, Alexander Russia Team CSC Saxo Bank
3. 71 Rebellin, Davide Italy Gerolsteiner
4. 141 Bettini, Paolo Italy Quick Step
5. 6 Pellizotti, Franco Italy Liquigas
6. 62 Menchov, Denis Russia Rabobank
7. 91 Sánchez, Samuel Espana Euskaltel/Euskadi
8. 128 Goubert, Stephane France Ag2r la Mondiale at :0l
9. 92 Zubeldia, Haimar Espana Euskaltel/Euskadi at :02
10. 152 Moncoutie, David France Cofidis
Valverde was never severely threatened in the sprint; Kolobnev was trying
desperately to gain parity but was always a comfortable gap behind the winner
today. Valverde got the jump on Kolobnev and Rebellin finishing comfortably two
bike lengths ahead and could raise his arms above his head as he went across the
line.
Alejandro adjusts his new hat. Photo ©
2008 Fotoreporter Sirotti
Valverde got the Basque hat and the white jersey as new UCI ProTour leader.
David de La Fuentes won the climbers classification, with Liquigas' Stangelj
taking the points classification today.
Full reaction and results from this lively race will follow later; in the
meantime do not forget the Men's Olympic Road Race next Saturday. The Daily
Peloton will be providing a live ticker for you all to enjoy, be it late at
night or first thing in the morning depending on your location and time zone.
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