Simon Gerrans delighted with his podium place finish at the Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian 2012
Simons Gerrans of Team Orica-GreenEdge improved his last year’s performance at the Spanish one-day race, the Clasica San Sebastian 2012.
The cyclist finished the race at the 11th position last year and fell 7 seconds short to occupy the top podium position on Tuesday.
Luis Leon Sanchez of Team Rabobank secured the top overall spot after he finished the race in a total time of 5 hours, 55 minutes and 34 seconds.
Simon Gerrans of Team Orica-GreenEdge, Gianni Meersman of Team Lotto Belisol, Christophe Le Mevel of Team Garmin-Sharp and Bauke Mollema of Team Rabobank claimed the second, third, fourth and the fifth positions respectively.
The Australian was content with the second place finish considering the fact that the Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian is his first race since the 2012 Olympic Games.
"I'm happy to stand on the podium as I begin the last part of my season," Gerrans briefed.
The 32-year appreciated the efforts of his team-mates especially Cameron Meyer who played a vital rode in his podium finish.
"Basically, there were continuous attacks as we went up the final climb," said Gerrans.
"Groups would go away and come back together. The front group was constantly breaking up and reforming”.
“I managed to survive over the final two climbs and not spend too much energy so that I would have something left for the final".
"Christian Meier did a lot of work to help me in the peloton," Gerrans added. "And Cam gave me a good lead-out in the last couple hundred meters”.
Simon also succeeded during his National Road Race Championships along with a first overall position at the Santos Tour Down Under and the Milan-San Remo in the earlier part of the season.
Gerrans helped the World Tour debutant side, Team Orica-GreenEdge with a much-needed victory during the UCI Inaugural event, Santos Tour Down Under.
The team has not really been able to continue its performance in the second half of the season and is now hopeful to make an impression at the Vuelta a Espana 2012.
Team Orica-GreenEdge squad for the Vuelta a España 2012 include Simon Clarke, Allan Davis, Julian Dean, Mitch Docker, Cameron Meyer, Travis Meyer, Daniel Teklehaimanot, Wesley Sulzberger and Pieter Weening.
Tags: