Naturgas aggressive in Legazpi

Naturgas Energía decided to leave it all on the road in today's Copa de España-race in Legazpi. Unfortunately for the red team, there was no reward for an attacking performance.

Eduard Prades, who might well show up among the pros again next year, handed the win to Mopesa by beating powerful Russian Alexey Rybalkin of Lokosphinx by two seconds on a sun-drenched day in the Basque Country. The duo, along with Alvaredo (Extremadura), Terpstra (Azysa) and Pedrero (Lizarte), distanced the pack going up the final climb of the day, the Deskarga, some six kilometres from the line. Overall series-leader Prades and Rybalkin went it alone near the top and were never to be seen again. Alvaredo bagged third.

The winning move came about shortly after Naturgas's Larrinaga breakaway attempt with Mutua Levante's Sánchez and recent Tres Días de Álava stage-winner Márquez of Lizarte had been caught approximately nine clicks from the line. Larrinaga was active throughout, as were Victor Etxeberria, Alain González and Loïc Chetout. Etxeberria eventually finished as the team's top rider in 20th.

Ibai Salas, who emphatically took out the Tres Días on Sunday, finished a creditable ninth.

Results:

•  (1, Eduard Prades (Mopesa), 3:37:56)
• 20, Victor Etxeberria, 0:41
• 23, Mikel Iturria, 0:47
• 57, Jon Larrinaga, 3:05
• 94, Alain González, 10:40

Full results can be found at BiciCiclismo. 

Photo: www.fundacioneuskadi.com