Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez wins opening stage of Vuelta a Burgos 2011 - Cycling News
The 2010 Vuelta a Burgos champion of Euskaltel-Euskadi team’s Samuel Sanchez remains with his good performance in the opening stage of Vuelta a Burgos 2011 on Wednesday, August 3.
The race started in Villarcayo and ended in Miranda de Ebro/San Juan del Monte. With 500 metres remaining, the 33-year-old Spanish professional cyclist was the first rider who was able to attack Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) and Sanchez covered the distance
of 168 kilometres in 3 hours, 51 minutes and 7 seconds.
Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver was runner-up with the same timing of Spanish while Sergio Pardilla Bellon of Movistar finished third with the difference of 4 seconds.
After finishing the stage, Oliver told the media, "I'm happy anyway since my form and my teammates' is improving fast. With this team we can aim to win the race's general classification. It would be a boost to morale for each of us before taking part in
the Vuelta."
With few kilometres to go, the group of three cyclists made their first breakaway including, Kenny De Ketele (Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator), José Luis Roldan (Andalucia Caja Granada) and Yoann Offredo (FDJ).
At 20 kilometres to go, they can never build an advantage of more than one minute while Yoann Offredo set off alone. Although, other two cyclists sat up and look forward by the peloton. The two cyclists Kenny De Ketele and José Luis Roldan rewarded for their
stint in the break.
Ski-Shimano launched several attacks in the next four kilometres but the peloton managed to gain a lead and back together. Rodriguez and Sanchez made a move but Rodriguez failed and the Spaniard crossed the finish line ahead of the other cyclists.
Oliver further added, “We were brilliant, pulling the group and imposing our pace. I know this finishing line very well because I won here in 2009 and I was second in 2005. I tried to anticipate my sprint with 500 metres to go, but unfortunately Sanchez
was better than me.”
Recently, Sanchez took the first place in GP Miguel Indurain and third place in La Fleche Wallone. He also grabbed overall fifth place in Paris-Nice race.
The next stage will start in Burgos and all the cyclists will cover the distance of 144 kilometres.
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