Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez wins the final stage and the overall classifications at the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco 2012
Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez of Team Euskaltel-Euskadi secured his second stage victory at the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco.
The cyclist rode brilliantly to claim the top podium spot during the 18.9 kilometre stage 6 of the race.
He overcame Bauke Mollema of Team Rabobank, Tony Martin of Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step and Marco Pinotti of Team BMC claimed the next four positions.
Damiano Cunego of Team Lampre-ISD, Joaquim Rodriguez of Team Katusha and Stef Clement of Team Rabobank claimed the fifth, sixth and the seventh positions in the respective order.
Samuel noted, “Right now I am at peace with myself and the fans, at 34 years old”.
“I was third, had won stages and have been the leader [in previous years]. I have arrived, perhaps, in better shape than other years and I have not had a bad day”.
"We are a small team fighting with big teams with budgets of 19 and 20 million Euros, but we have perseverance and have had the mentality and have done the job well”.
“Since the first day my colleagues rode in support and left me in a position to finish well", he concluded.
The Spaniard is enjoying a terrific season and has already filled his bag with as many as seven victories in the season.
He secured an overall victory at the Tour of Basque Country and finished second at the Volta a Catalunya.
The cyclist also succeeded during the third and the sixth stages of the Tour of Basque Country and claimed the point’s classifications of the race.
He finished second during the Volta a Catalunya and also registered the sixth stage victory at the race.
Samuel started the final stage of the race with a deficit of 9 seconds on Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver.
He rode brilliantly during the 18.9 kilometre individual time trial stage of the race and cut down his deficit over Rodriguez.
He climbed the top podium spot after the final general classifications with Joaquim Rodriguez finishing 12 second behind at the second spot.
Bauke Mollema of Team Rabobank, Damiano Cunego of Team Lampre-ISD and Tony Martin of Team Omega Pharma occupied the next three spots after the final classifications at the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco 2012.
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