Benito conquers Natxitua

Caja Rural are firing on all cylinders these days. Just an hour or so after Amets Txurruka secured the professional team the overall win in the Vuelta a Asturias, the amateur outfit took yet another victory courtesy of young Miguel Ángel Benito.

He might just be 19, but he'll be on the radars of numerous professional teams come the end of the year after a barnstorming season. On Sunday he triumphed in the Clásica Natxitua, besting Naturgas Energía's Alain González and Ibai Daboz, a recent victor at the Vuelta al Bidasoa, at the top of the final climb.

Benito thus inherited Marc Soler's overall Torneo Lehendakari lead.

Results:

• 1, Miguel Ángel Benito (Caja Rural), 2:57:38
• 2, Alain González (Naturgas Energía), 0:05
• 3, Ibai Daboz (Gipuzkoa-Eki Sport), 0:08
• 4, Egoitz Fernández (Seguros Bilbao), s.t.
• 5, Raúl Martínez (Lizarte), 0:17
• 6, Josú Zabala (Reyno de Navarra), 0:22
• 7, Eddy Valdespino (Ibaigane Opel), s.t.
• 8, Diego Rubio (Caja Rural), s.t.
• 9, Ander Plazaola (Lizarte), s.t.
• 10, Sergio Rodríguez (Seguros Bilbao), s.t.

Photo: Team Caja Rural