Euskaltel finish up decent Tour of Beijing

Euskaltel-Euskadi attempted to shake up the General Classification a few times on the last stage of the Tour of Beijing but with the final flat run-in into the finish, the men in orange were all but resigned to their fate. A two-man breakaway of Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin) and Steve Cummings (BMC) rode away from their breakaway companions and held off a charging pack into Pinggu as Tony Martin (OPQS) sewed up his 2nd consecutive Tour of Beijing.

The 182.5km stage 5 was the last chance for the Euskaltel to shake up the G.C. with Iván Velasco in 11th and Samu Sánchez in 14th. Velasco, who was not resigned by the team for the coming year, was one G.C. spot away from 4 precious World Tour points, which would greatly boost his worth. Samu attempted a couple of digs on the final climb but both were easily covered by the chasing group. Euskaltel also has numbers going into the finale with 5 riders in the front chasing group of around 30 riders but alas they were not able to change the outcome.

Stage Results (Full Results found here)

• (1, Stephen Cummings (BMC), 4:05:08)
• 15, Iván Velasco +0:17
• 20, Samuel Sánchez +0:17
• 26, Gorka Verdugo +0:17
• 27, Mikel Nieve +0:17
• 28, Igor Antón +0:17
• 60, Mikel Landa +1:48
• 66, Peio Bilbao +1:48

General Classification

• (1, Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), 17:16:56)
• 11, Iván Velasco +1:00
• 12, Samuel Sánchez +1:00
• 26, Igor Antón +3:45
• 33, Gorka Verdugo +5:38
• 51, Mikel Nieve +11:40
• 52, Peio Bilbao +11:49
• 84, Mikel Landa +24:16

Photo: diegoweb.net