Hernández ends year on top step

Aitor Hernández put the seal on a breakout year on the cyclo-cross scene with victory in today's race in Ormaiztegi. The Orbea rider prevailed in a duel with former Euskaltel team-mate Aketza Peña on the muddy course in the Gipuzkoan town, while Orbea companion Iñaki Lejarreta closed out the podium half a minute in arrears. Javier Ruiz de Larriñaga, who'll not be sad to see the back of 2011 after an off-colour campaign thus far, came in fourth a big 2:12 down, with former great Isaac Suarez snatching fifth. Movistar's Fran Ventoso came in eighth, while Basque Caja Rural duo Aitor Galdós and Garikoitz Bravo grabbed 11th and 12th respectively.

The Gómez brothers, Iñigo and Jon, once again dominated the sub-23 category. The former bested the latter with close to a minute. Ismael Barba of Enbici-Stevens-Mecha came home in third place. Kevin Suarez beat Pablo Fernández and Jonathan Bilbao to the junior crown. Mercé Pacios took out the women's elite race in crushing fashion, coming in 2:28 ahead of her nearest competitor.

Elsewhere, Spain's undisputed number one, Egoitz Murgoitio, put his mark on the last race in the Fidea Classics-series yesterday in Leuven, Belgium. The 28-year-old finished up a noteworthy ninth in the race won by Sven Nys.