Saturday, May 11, 2013

The day that almost never came for Txurruka
















After almost eight years of trying, Amets Txurruka finally got the reward he's been craving by taking his very first professional victory in Saturday's Vuelta a Asturias.

Rarely has there been a more deserving winner of a bike race. Sensing the opportunity to take Euskaltel and Movistar by surprise, the diminutive climber attacked the peloton after the last climb of the day some five clicks from the line in Pola de Lena.

For once, he wasn't to be caught. The Caja Rural rider soloed across the line four seconds ahead of a select group lead home by Jorge Martín Montenegro (Louletano) and Mikel Landa of Euskaltel.

"I feel an immense joy right now", he tells the team's website. "I thought I would retire without ever getting to win a race, but finally, here in Asturias, it's come to fruition. I'm so happy".

Along with Euskaltel, Txurruka's Caja Rural animated the racing throughout by continuously sending riders up the road. For the former, the likes of Jon Aberasturi and Adrián Sáez both made sorties off the front, not to mention the prodigious Mikel Aristi of farmer team Euskadi.

The team once again eluded 'the Carrots', but they'll head into tomorrow's decider well placed on GC given Landa's third place and Peio Bilbao's 10th.

Results (Euskadi riders in cursive):
  • (1, Amets Txurruka (Caja Rural), 4:21:03)
  • 3, Mikel Landa, 0:04
  • 10, Peio Bilbao, s.t.
  • 12, Haritz Orbe, 0:17
  • 21, Garikoitz Bravo, 0:55
  • 22, Igor Merino, s.t.
  • 24, Adrián Sáez, 5:04
  • 41, Mikel Bizkarra, 7:49
  • 43, Aritz Bagües, s.t.
  • 46, Ricardo García, 9:18
  • 58, Mikel Iturria, 15:58
  • 73, Jon Aberasturi, 19:23
  • 76, Mikel Aristi, s.t.
  • 79, Jon Larrinaga, 30:36
  • 90, Unai Iparraguirre, 30:58
  • 98, Jure Kocjan, s.t.
  • 102, Carlos Barbero, s.t.
  • DNF: Tarik Chaoufi

6 comments:

Vegard said...

That's actually absolutly fantastic!

Kristof said...

that's bloody fantastic. This year so far has been dramatic for Euskaltel (bad results, some worthless riders and a doping case!). Amets shows again they did it all wrong

Anonymous said...

Mountain Jersey and Sprint Jersey at Pais Vasco and now this! Makes me wonder if he was getting the support he needed while riding with Euskaltel.

Colin northern Ireland said...

Great result from a very good rider who should still be in orange

Stephen said...

What fantastic news!!!

No more deserving rider to win a race, Amets is the racer we all want to be..brave, daring, mercurial...now at last he has something to show for it

Chris said...

Why always blame Euskaltel. Amets hasn't won a single race and his attacks were not great last years. Change of air can be good and change a rider a lot! Remember Herrero with Karpin/Kaiku.

 

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