Antón shows form in Crit. Int-finale

Igor Antón displayed promising early-season form in the Critérium International finale earlier today. The 29-year-old climber to seventh on the summit finish of the Col de l'Ospedale.

The team's intentions were clear from the outset: Antón was aiming for the stage win. Antón was expertly marshaled by Egoi Martínez and Gorka Verdugo as the deciding climb came closer, and once on the ramps of the Ospedale, Antón was in his element. After digs from Martínez and as well Mikel Landa, Antón gave it a go. Evans was right on his wheel though and the move came to nothing, but the Galdakao native still had enough in the tank to grab seventh both on the stage and on GC, while Landa also did well with a decent 17th place. Astarloza wasn't far behind in 23rd to close out a good day for the team. Alán Pérez failed to complete his first race of the year as he abandoned underway.

The stage eventually went to Pierrick Fedrigo, while the overall went to Cadel Evans.

"I'm very pleased with the riders' performances", DS Álvaro González de Galdeano told www.fundacioneuskadi.com. "As a team we worked well - everyone did their job. Egoi and Gorka especially so. Igor Antón was in his element and showed his form is good. We'll be ready for the Vuelta al País Vasco."

Stage three results:

• (1, Pierrick Fedrigo, FDJ-Big Mat)
• 7, Igor Antón, 0:08
• 17, Mikel Landa, 0:48
• 23, Mikel Astarloza, 2:19
• 41, Gorka Verdugo, 3:45
• 46, Peio Bilbao, 4:34
• 54, Egoi Martínez, 6:58
• 71, Romain Sicard, 9:50

Final general classification:

• (1, Cadel Evans, BMC)
• 7, Igor Antón, 0:38
• 23, Mikel Astarloza, 3:21
• 39, Gorka Verdugo, 4:55
• 42, Peio Bilbao, 5:43
• 47, Mikel Landa, 7:35
• 53, Egoi Martínez, 8:20
• 90, Romain Sicard, 16:18

Euskaltel finished fourth in the teams classification.