San Sebastian Race Report – Zubeldia Fourth

Haimar Zubeldia brings home a fourth place for RadioShack in the 2010 Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian

At 234 km the San Sebastian classic is no easy day in the saddle. And in the heat the rider’s tribulations increase.

Today’s classic saw many riders fall by the way-side, including Andy Schleck (Sax).

The composition of leading and breakaway groups changed frequently but just inside 40 kms the dominant riders were Vinokourov (AST), Roche (ALM), Sastre (SAX), Sanchez (GCE) and Rodriguez (KAT). Vinokourov looked to be the strongest of the riders; as some of his fellow riders faded a little on climbs he took big turns on the front and seemed to be sucking them along in his slipstream.

The leading group evaporated to Vinokourov, Sanchez and Sastre but with a smidgeon over 25 kms to ride the gap back to the chasing group was just 20 seconds. The day was shaping up to be a close one, it seemed.

Haimar Zubeldia was one of the chasers but the gap between the leaders and this group grew to 38s; and the three front runners had 1m 40s over the peloton.

Onto the last climb and the leaders looked to be suffering from their exertions. The gap back to Zubeldia and the chasers fell to 23s as they reached the top of the Arkale climb.

Into the descent and the gap to the chasing group stayed static. Surprising? Perhaps. The descent should have been fast but no-one in the chasing group seemed to want to take on the challenge of closing the leaders down.

With 3 kms to ride Vinokourov attacked. Sanchez responded. Sastre faltered and found himself alone and sandwiched between the leaders and Zubeldia’s chasing pack.

Inside the last kilometre and Sastre made it back to Sanchez and Vinkourov; these two started to play mind-games. Sanchez sat up for a few metres before all three got to work and sprinted for the line – but Sanchez got his way; Vinokourov led the sprint.

Into the closing metres it was cat and mouse but Vinokourov just couldn’t put an end to Sanchez who pulled out to take the line ahead of him.

And behind the third placed Sastre, Zubeldia won the right to take the fourth place, leading the chasers by 3 seconds. His was an illustration of head-down determination.

Haimar Zubeldia has featured in the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco and La Flèche Wallonne, to mention a few of his appearances for Team RadioShack this year, but in terms of the UCI World Ranking Elite Calendar this has been his most successful outing to date. Its races like this that demonstrate RadioShack’s depth of talent – talent that shines through even on the hottest of days and on the roughest of roads.

Top Ten Results
1  SÁNCHEZ, Luis León ESP  GCE  5:47:13
2  VINOKOUROV, Alexander KAZ AST
3  SASTRE, Carlos  ESP  CTT
4  ZUBELDIA, Haimar  ESP  RSH    a 34
5  RODRIGUEZ, Joaquin                 ESP KAT a 37
6  HESJEDAL, Ryder  CAN  GRM a 37
7  GESINK, Robert  NED                 RAB  a 37
8  ROCHE, Nicholas  IRL ALM  a 37
9  SÁNCHEZ, Samuel  ESP  EUS  a 37
10  PORTE, Richie  AUS  SAX  a 37

Team RadioShack Results
38  LEIPHEIMER, Levi  USA  a 3:43
63  IRIZAR, Markel   ESP  a 9:44
69 RUBIERA, José Luis  ESP  a 11:59
DNF  MCCARTNEY, Jason  USA
DNF  BUSCHE, Matthew USA
DNF  LEQUATRE, Geoffroy FRA

By Julian Winn, staff writer