Samu 15th in Amstel

Samu Sánchez placed an impressive 15th in today`s one-day Pro Tour classic Amstel Gold Race. Samu led home the second group at 1:14 from victor Schumacher, and this is surely a good sign for the two remaining Ardennes classics. Samu had claimed in the days leading up to the race that he didn`t expect to be in the mix, as he caugth a fever after the conclusion of the Vuelta al País Vasco. In that aspect, a 15th is sensational. Though, the rest of the team didn`t perform as good as the line-up would suggest. The next best Euskaltel rider was Gorka Verdugo in a quite good 44th place. I looks like everyone but Rubén Pérez finished today`s demanding race, so at least that`s a positive thing today. Here`s how all Euskaltel riders placed today:

• 15th, Samu Sánchez, 1:14
• 44th, Gorka Verdugo, 2:19
• 62nd, Aitor Galdos, 4:47
• 72nd, Mikel Astarloza, 4:47
• 82nd, Unai Etxebarria, 5:45
• 83rd, Jon Bru, 6:12
• 85th, Iñigo Landaluze, 8:01

In the team rankings, Euskaltel ended up a lowly 15th.