Salas close in Essor Basque day three

Ibai Salas of the Basque National Team sprinted to a creditable 11th in today's round of the Essor Basque, the 115km Ronde du Pays Basque starting and finishing in St. Jean Pied de Port, Pyrénées-Atlantiques.

23-year-old Frenchman Dimitri Le Boulch proved too quick to handle for his competitors on the finishing straight to take top honours in the race won last year by a certain Omar Fraile. Caja Rural rider Salas, last year's sub-23 Basque road race champ, had to settle for a place just outside the top ten, while new Bidelan signing Joseba del Barrio led home a big group 1:12 down to grab 29th. In that same group was Antton Ibarguren in 35th, Unai Iparragirre in 39th and Urtzi Murgia in 43rd. Júlen Mitxelena failed to complete the race, and is not on the team sheet for the remaining two races for the team on Thurday and Saturday.

Full results can be found here.

Naturgas Energía will join in on the action on Saturday.