Murgoitio: "It wasn't to be"

After beating main rival Aitor Hernández and everyone else with consummate ease in Itsasondo on Saturday, Egoitz Murgoitio headed into Sunday's Igorre classic as arguably the main favourite. Despite leading the race for five out of the seven laps though, the Hirumet-Taldea rider was forced to give best to the former Euskaltel man on the hallowed Olabarria circuit - who thus became the first Basque in 25 years to win in Igorre.

Speaking post-race, Murgoitio was as always magnanimous in defeat. Besides praising his rival, though, he went on to admit he got his equipment wrong.

"It wasn't to be", he said in a team press release. "My legs didn't respond. The sun hardened the mud, and I didn't get the tire pressure right. Riding against competitors of the level of Hernández, details like that might be decisive, and today I failed. I had to put unclip in almost every bend.

"Hernández is very strong and very tough psychologically. He didn't give up and won deservedly. All in all, though, the week has been very good, and I embark on the toughest part of the season in high spirits".

Next up for Murgoitio and his team-mate Jonathan Lastra, who as usual was the best of the sub-23s, is the C2 race in Valencia next Sunday (the Ciclocross Internacional Ciudad de Valencia), before heading back to Belgium for more World Cup action.

Photo: Iñaki Azanza