Durán annihilates field in Oiartzun

Arkaitz Durán once again made a mockery of the opposition as he cantered to his 18th win of the year in Oiartzun earlier on Sunday.

The Azysa-Telco'm-Conor WRC rider easily won the Torneo Euskaldun-race solo, coming in 52 second ahead of Enric Mas of Jun-1 Sepelaco. Third place was for Niki Terpstra's brother, Mike, Durán's team-mate coming in a further four seconds in arrears.

According to the Basque Cycling Federation's website, the race was won on the second time going up the climb of Arkale (which previously featured in the Clásica San Sebastián). The 26-year-old of Vitoria distanced Lizarte's impressive Rafa Márquez and went on to claim yet another victory.

As for Naturgas Energía, Víctor Etxeberria was the team's top finisher in 25, coming in with the main pack at 58 seconds.

Results Xanisteban Saria:

• 1, Arkaitz Durán (Azysa-Telco'm-Conor WRC), 2:54:05
• 2, Enric Mas (Jun-1 Sepelaco), 0:52
• 3, Mike Terpstra (Azysa-Telco'm-Conor WRC), 0:58
• 4, Rafael Márquez (Lizarte), s.t.
• 5, Ramon Villalobos (Koplad-Uni2), s.t.
• 6, Ion Pardo (Entente Sud Gascogne), s.t.
• 7, Adrián González (Ibaigane Opel), s.t.
• 8, Imanol Iza (Bidelan-Kirolgi), s.t.
• 9, Krzystof Tracz (Hostal Latorre), s.t.
• 10, Pim Klaver (Azysa-Telco'm-Conor WRC), s.t.
• 25, Víctor Etxeberria (Naturgas Energía), s.t.
• 37, Mikel Iturria (Naturgas Energía), 2:57
• 41, Imanol Estévez (Naturgas Energía), 4:45
• 53, Jon Larrinaga (Naturgas Energía), 5:57
• 61, Loïc Chetout (Naturas Energía), s.t.

Imanol Estévez came third in the mountains classification.

Photo: GARA