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Clásica San Sebastián, Spain

12 August, 225K

Florencio Surprises in San Sebastián

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2005 Results

Spaniard Xavier Florencio surprised many with his win of the 2006 Clásica San Sebastián. The 26 year-old Bouygues Telecom rider led the sprint through the final light bend to take Spain's biggest one-day race ahead of an impressively quick Stefano Garzelli (Liquigas). La Clásica Donostiarra came down to a sprint after escape the trio, Mayo, Menchov and Sastre, who attacked on the Jaizkibel, was caught with four kilometers to go. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears), completing his first race back after his Tour de France abandon, finished eighth to keep the white ProTour leader's jersey.

A nice day, with temperatures touching 25°C, greeted the rider's for Spain's top one-day race. Most significant in the San Sebastián race is the Alto de Jaizkibel, leaving 32K to go, but the parcours also featured a finishing "alto" that would ensure a thrilling finale. The parcours, with six climbs, left one climb after the Jaizkibel, the Alto de Gurutze, at -14K.

Attacks were going right and left in the first kilometers. Team Kaiku tried several attempts, and they were exciting to watch. The non-ProTour team surely wanted to spark the race, especially since they would not be competing in the Vuelta a España, starting at the end of this month.

The pink boys, on pink Pinerellos, succeeded in getting one of their men free. Jon Bru broke free over the Alto de Azkarate (56K) and set about building a huge advantage over the peloton. By the other side of Azkarate, Bru was pushing a 3+ minute advantage, and by the time he reached the Alto de Udana (99K), his lead was a whopping 15 minutes.

Behind, BiciRace.com was seeing Blue and Orange. Our long night in Lugano (don't ask), left us wondering what was going on behind but we were corrected when our colleagues pointed out that Milram was working for Celestino and Euskaltel-Euskadi for Mayo. Recall that just a few days ago, Iban Mayo hammered some stiff competition in the Vuelta a Burgos, so his Basque squadra wanted to make sure he was setup by the time the race hit the day's major peak: the Alto de Jaizkibel.

The Milram/EE alliance worked; approaching the base of Jaizkibel, Bru had lost all intentions of staying away, and started waving to his family via the television motor bike. He had just looked over his shoulder a minute before, to see a swarm of riders 100 meters back.

Crunch time...

Almost as soon as the Jaizkibel kick, Carlos Sastre (CSC) spoiled the work of Milram and blasted. The Spaniard gained a smart advantage that was marked by our young Italian friend, Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Prodir). The pocket-rocket bridged to Sastre effortlessly. The two worked in unison, while looking over their shoulder for needed reinforcements.

The reinforcement came in the form of Iban Mayo. Giving thanks to his squadra for their work, Mayo launched. His first dig was "called in" and did not succeed, but then he tried again; this time breaking he spirits of the gruppo. Others, sensing the strength of this escape, joined, and after 3K into the climb we had five: Sastre, Riccò, Mayo, joined by Fränk Schleck (Team CSC) and Denis Menchov (Rabobank).

Every year we are impressed by the severity of the Alto de Jaizkibel. The climb, like Mont Ventoux in France, is deprived of many trees and the wind has a tendency to whip across the road. Only the strong can punch forward in these conditions, leaving the weak searching for shelter by joining the chasing riders behind.

Menchov, Mayo and Sastre traded pulls in the ocean breeze. At the top, -32K, they had succeeded in creating a 31" gap over the chasers who were coming though in small groups. No time to look over the side to see the Atlantic Ocean and views of San Sebastián, the boys were in full-flight on the down side of Jaizkibel, losing around 10" by the bottom.

A fragile lead of only 20 or so seconds was going to be hard to keep over the next 22K but we had the trio to make it happen. Behind, the chase was forming under the emphasis of Valverde's Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears. The White Bullet, all kitted in the white gear of the ProTour leader, including an oh so sweet white Pinarello, put Iván Gutiérrez and Brochard look alike Vladimir Karpets to work.

The Alto de Gurutze (Cat. 3, 2.8 km at 5%) hit but presented no problem for last year's Vuelta winner, Menchov, and his two partners. They topped the Cat 3 "Guru" with 24"... a good gap. Sure the trio was working well but they faced a problem of numbers: still 13K remaining and more men adding to the enthusiastic chase behind. Astaná joined to the power of Caisse to seal the death of the Spanish-Russian escape.

The escapees looked over their shoulders and sense their doom. They kept swapping pulls of the escape drink but the taste had gone bitter, and then undrinkable with 4K to go.

Strange San Sebastián Sprint

We had no reason to think the relatively small ProTour Bouygues Telecom outfit was going to take this Clásica. We were thinking maybe a win by Valverde or Vinokourov. The Caisse and Astaná boys almost earned their win with the chase efforts.

Vino sent Kash barreling down the road; seemingly a good sign; Kash weakening the competition to set up for a Champs-Élysées-like win for Vino. Then there was Valverde, looking like he did last year in the World Championships, ready to pounce on the sprint (he finished 2nd in Madrid and today only 8th). Or... Hincapie. The American was not rating himself highly this morning but now, we were around -2000m, he was looking like a winner.

Liquigas led the charge before a slight S-bend that was led by an unknown Bouygues rider. It turned out to be Florencio. The Spaniard from the Catalunya region led from the bend to the line to put his stamp on big time professional cycling. The six-year pro surprised us all at BiciRace.com and even Go-Go Garzelli. Packing huge sprint speed, Il Varesino could not overtake Florencio but placed second ahead of Kash.

Results: 5:32'44", 40.57 K/h
1 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Bouygues Telecom
2 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Liquigas
3 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astaná
4 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole
5 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Cofidis
6 Mirko Celestino (Ita) Milram
7 Ricardo Serrano (Spa) Kaiku
8 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
9 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel
10 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas
11 Manuele Mori (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir
12 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Française Des Jeux
13 Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir
14 Theo Eltink (Ned) Rabobank
15 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
16 Andrea Moletta (Ita) Gerolsteiner
17 Pablo Lastras (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
18 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
19 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Rabobank
20 Patxi Vila (Spa) Lampre-Fondital
21 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team CSC
22 Juan José Cobo (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir
23 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC
24 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) Lampre-Fondital
25 David Herrero (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
26 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Ag2R Prévoyance
27 Sylvain Calzati (Fra) Ag2R Prévoyance
28 Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Rabobank
29 Matthias Russ (Ger) Gerolsteiner
30 Didier Rous (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
31 José Miguel Elías (Spa) Relax-GAM
32 Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
33 David Moncoutié (Fra) Cofidis
34 Iván Gutiérrez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
35 Daniel Moreno (Spa) Relax-GAM
36 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
37 Jorge García (Spa) Relax-GAM
38 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Milram
39 Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astaná
40 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas
41 Antonio Colom (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
42 José Luis Rubiera (Spa) Discovery Channel
43 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner
44 Iñigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
45 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC
46 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
47 Luis Pérez (Spa) Cofidis
48 Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz) Astaná
49 José Azevedo (Por) Discovery Channel
50 Carlos Castaño (Spa) Kaiku
51 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
52 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas 0.08
53 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Ag2R Prévoyance 5.03
54 José Alberto Benítez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir
55 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Crédit Agricole
56 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
57 Uros Murn (Slo) Phonak
58 Matej Jurco (Svk) Milram
59 Walter Bénéteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
60 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Phonak
61 Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Liquigas
62 Rémi Pauriol (Fra) Crédit Agricole
63 Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Astaná
64 Patrick McCarty (USA) Phonak
65 Rubén Oarbeascoa (Spa) Kaiku
66 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Crédit Agricole
67 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
68 Francesco Failli (Ita) Liquigas
69 Michael Barry (Can) Discovery Channel
70 Imanol Erviti (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
71 José Luis Arrieta (Spa) Ag2R Prévoyance 5.08
72 Aketza Peña (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
73 José Antonio Garrido (Spa) Quick-Step
74 Mauricio Ardila Cano (Col) Rabobank
75 Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Quick-Step
76 David George (RSA) Relax-GAM
77 Steve Zampieri (Swi) Phonak
78 Pierrick Fédrigo (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
79 Iñigo Chaurreau (Spa) Ag2R Prévoyance
80 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Ag2R Prévoyance
81 Wim Van Huffel (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
82 Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) Française Des Jeux
83 Ángel Vallejo (Spa) Relax-GAM
84 Ángel Gómez Gómez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir
85 Johann Tschopp (Swi) Phonak
86 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank
87 Bingen Fernández (Spa) Cofidis
88 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Cofidis
89 José Antonio Redondo (Spa) Astaná
90 Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) Crédit Agricole
91 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis
92 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
93 Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Cofidis
94 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
95 Sergio Ghisalberti (Ita) Milram
96 Björn Leukemans (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
97 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval-Prodir
98 Charles Wegelius (GBr) Liquigas
99 Lorenzo Bernucci (Ita) T-Mobile
100 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) T-Mobile
101 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
102 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick-Step
103 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis 5.51
104 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner 6.21
105 Antonio Berasategui (Spa) Kaiku 11.19
106 Jorge Azanza (Spa) Kaiku
107 José Antonio López (Spa) Kaiku
108 Iván Gilmartín (Spa) Kaiku
109 Jon Bru (Spa) Kaiku
110 Mario De Sárraga (Spa) Relax-GAM
111 David Navas (Spa) Ag2R Prévoyance
112 Nacor Burgos (Spa) Relax-GAM
113 Fabien Patanchon (Fra) Française Des Jeux
114 Pedro Horrillo (Spa) Rabobank
115 Scott Davis (Aus) T-Mobile
116 Francesco Bellotti (Ita) Crédit Agricole
117 Mikel Pradera (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
118 Matthew White (Aus) Discovery Channel
119 Christophe Brandt (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
120 Raul García de Mateo (Spa) Relax-GAM
121 Pavel Padrnos (Cze) Discovery Channel
122 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
123 Christophe Mengin (Fra) Française Des Jeux
124 Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
125 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
126 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française Des Jeux
127 Pieter Mertens (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
128 Martin Elmiger (Swi) Phonak
129 Luis Fernández (Spa) Phonak
130 Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Crédit Agricole
131 Juan Manuel Gárate (Spa) Quick-Step
132 Peter Luttenberger (Aut) Team CSC
133 Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Astaná
134 Aitor Pérez Arrieta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
135 Jurgen Van de Walle (Bel) Quick-Step
136 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel
137 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
138 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Phonak
139 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Crédit Agricole
140 Laurent Lefèvre (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
141 Carl Naibo (Fra) Ag2R Prévoyance
142 Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Milram
143 Patrick Calcagni (Swi) Liquigas
144 Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
145 Rubén Lobato (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir
146 Aaron Olson (USA) Saunier Duval-Prodir
147 Addy Engels (Ned) Quick-Step
148 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank
149 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
150 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Milram

Mountains
Alto de Orio - Cat. 3
1 Jon Bru (Spa) Kaiku 3
2 Mikel Pradera (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 2
3 José Antonio Redondo (Spa) Astana 1

Alto de Meagas - Cat. 2
1 José Azevedo (Por) Discovery Channel 3
2 Freddy Bichot (Fra) Française Des Jeux 2
3 Mario De Sárraga (Spa) Relax-GAM 1

Alto de Azkarate - Cat. 2
1 Jon Bru (Spa) Kaiku 6
2 Freddy Bichot (Fra) Française Des Jeux 4
3 Mario De Sárraga (Spa) Relax-GAM 2
4 José Antonio López (Spa) Kaiku 1

Alto de Udana - Cat. 2
1 Jon Bru (Spa) Kaiku 6
2 José Antonio Redondo (Spa) Astana 4
3 Mario De Sárraga (Spa) Relax-GAM 2
4 Rubén Oarbeascoa (Spa) Kaiku 1

Alto de Jaizkibel - Cat. 1
1 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 10
2 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 8
3 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 6
4 Luis Pérez (Spa) Cofidis 4
5 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears2
6 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 1

Alto de Gurutze - Cat. 3
1 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 3
2 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2
3 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 1

Mountains
1 Jon Bru (Spa) Kaiku 15
2 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 11
3 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 11
4 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 8
5 José Antonio Redondo (Spa) Astaná 5
6 Mario De Sárraga (Spa) Relax-GAM 5
7 Luis Pérez (Spa) Cofidis 4
8 José Azevedo (Por) Discovery Channel 3
9 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 2
10 Mikel Pradera (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 2
11 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 1
12 Rubén Oarbeascoa (Spa) Kaiku 1
13 José Antonio López (Spa) Kaiku 1

Best Basque
1 Patxi Vila (Spa) Lampre-Fondital 5:32'44"
2 David Herrero (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
3 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Ag2R Prévoyance
4 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
5 Iñigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
6 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
7 Rubén Oarbeascoa (Spa) Kaiku 5.03
8 Imanol Erviti (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
9 José Luis Arrieta (Spa) Ag2R Prévoyance 5.08
10 Aketza Peña (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
11 Iñigo Chaurreau (Spa) Ag2R Prévoyance
12 Antonio Berasategui (Spa) Kaiku 11.19
13 Jorge Azanza (Spa) Kaiku
14 Jon Bru (Spa) Kaiku
15 Pedro Horrillo (Spa) Rabobank
16 Mikel Pradera (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
17 Juan Manuel Gárate (Spa) Quick-Step
18 Aitor Pérez Arrieta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears