Chetout keeps up Naturgas dominance in Lemoiz

Loïc Chetout showed just why he'll be riding with the pros later this season by taking a commanding win in the prestigious Klasika Lemoiz on Wednesday.

The fast-finishing Frenchman will be handed the chance to strut his stuff with Team Euskadi at the Tour de Gevaudan in September, and, judging by his current form, he seems to be on track and then some for the two-day event in France.

In Lemoiz (or Lemóniz in Spanish), Biscaya, he was easily the strongest in the dash for the line, taking his fourth win of what's been a breakout season for the soon-to-be 21-year-old. It was also the team's second consecutive win in Lemoiz - Imanol Estévez sprinted to glory last year, Chetout then finishing third.

The photo above, kindly sent over from expert photographer Iñaki Azanza, shows Chetout, arms aloft, besting Seguros Bilbao's Egoitz Fernández and Juan Antonio López Cózar of Cajamar into second and third respectively.

Ibai Salas of Caja Rural, also he set to ride with the pros in the near future, had to make do with fourth, but could console himself with the mountains prize. The on-song Bernat Font did like he did in Muxika recently, winning the intermediate sprints classification to cap off a good day for the red and whites.

Results:

1. Loïc Chetout (Naturgas Energía), 2:44:07
2. Egoitz Fernández (Seguros Bilbao), s.t.
3. Juan Antonio López Cózar (Cajamar), s.t.
4. Ibai Salas (Caja Rural), s.t.
5. Adrián González (Opel Ibaigane), s.t.
6. Jonathan Lastra (Grupo Hirumet Taldea), s.t.
7. Josep Miralles (Gijón - Las Mestas), s.t.
8. Davíd Civera (Koplad-Uni2), s.t.
9. Rafael Márquez (Lizarte), s.t.
10. Imanol Estévez (Naturgas Energía), s.t.

Best team: Naturgas Energía

Climbers competitio: Ibai Salas (Caja Rural)

Intermediate sprints competition: Bernat Font (Naturgas Energía)

Photo: Iñaki Azanza