Friday, April 12, 2013

Urtasun breaks Euskaltel duck















Pablo Urtasun finally got Euskaltel's season up and running on Friday by winning the Vuelta a Castilla y León opener in Valladolid.

The 33-year-old, second last weekend in the Klasika Primavera, bested Caja Rural's Francesco Lasca and Movistar's Enrique Sanz at the end of the 194,8km stage one.

A seven-man break, including young Basque Igor Merino of Equipo Euskadi, had animated the day's racing by jumping clear inside the first 10 clicks and staying away until only six were left to ride. Euskaltel, armed with speedy finishers Urtasun, Jon Aberasturi and Juan José Lobato, drove the pace at the head of the pack with Movistar and Caja Rural in the closing stages, and were duly rewarded when Urtasun proved the strongest to claim his seventh professional victory.

JJ Lobato expertly led out Urtasun on the slight rise to the line, giving the latter plenty of time to savour his win.

Watch how it unfolded below:



Results (full results here):
  • 1, Pablo Urtasun, 4:31:28
  • 5, Carlos Barbero (Euskadi), s.t.
  • 6, Juan José Lobato, s.t.
  • 27, Gorka Verdugo, s.t.
  • 33, Jorge Azanza, s.t.
  • 44, Mikel Nieve, s.t.
  • 48, Aritz Bagües (Euskadi), s.t.
  • 56, Mikel Iturria (Euskadi), 0:28
  • 69, Haritz Orbe (Euskadi), 1:46
  • 70, Robert Vrecer, s.t.
  • 73, Ricardo Mestre, 2:49
  • 80, Unai Iparraguirre (Euskadi), 4:07
  • 103, Igor Merino (Euskadi), 6:06
  • 119, Mikel Bizkarra (Euskadi), 13:27
  • 120, Jon Larrinaga (Euskadi), s.t.
  • 123, Jon Aberasturi, s.t.
Photo: Euskaltel Euskadi

7 comments:

Michael said...

YES!!! Well done, Pablo Urtasun!
That's it, what I've been waiting for so long.

Colin northern Ireland said...

Finally onwards and upwards :-)

Kristof said...

Great rider, delivers more publicity and cycling joy then the whole bunch of foreign newbies together. I've seen he participated Giro, would have liked to see him in TDF.

Kevin said...

Finally the first victory. Yes

Stephen said...

WHOOOOO!!!!!!

At last!

Well done Pablo!

azanca02 said...

Way to go. I hope this is a moral booster for the complete team. Especially ahead of the Hilly Classics.

Stephen said...

Funny coincidence, as I have been unable to get a new Euskaltel shirt and my old one is a bit baggy now I had it taken in, got it back from the tailor this afternoon and saw the great news...its an omen, I now own a 'lucky' shirt!

 

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