Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia (1.1)
a medium mountain one-day race in Gipuzkoa, often a precursor to San Sebastián with a weaker startlist, this features the same run-in as the first stage of País Vasco this year, although the rest of the route's climbing is somewhat more consistent than we often see in Euskal Herria. Startlists for Spanish races continue to weaken with the difficulties facing Spanish cycling in terms of funding (and the difficulties for registering as a Continental squad, which perhaps need revamping from those in the times of plenty, following the Portuguese lead), and predictably Movistar were at the forefront of things. Ordizia is a pretty town and the race scenery is predictably pretty in this attractive corner of Europe, and the fans also got the joy of cheering a local boy to victory - Gorka Izagirre, who bested Luís León Sánchez in a sprint on the slightly uphill drag in the final half kilometre, was born less than 10km from the finish today, in Ormaiztegi. It is Gorka's second triumph at the race, having also won with Euskaltel in 2010, and was the least Movistar could do, having 3 in the final 4 at the front of the race... reminiscent of the 2012 Klasika Amorebieta, when Igor Antón found himself isolated against no fewer than four Movistar riders trying to stay clear of a chasing group with four Saur-Sojasun riders. Some of the stronger teams in the race were total non-factors, surprisingly - Cofidis and Androni Giocattoli did not do much, save for Hoogerland's presence in the chase group.
1 Gorka Izagirre Insausti (Movistar Team) ESP 4'22'22
2 Luís León Sánchez (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) ESP +st
3 José Herrada López (Movistar Team) ESP +3"
4 Igor Antón Hernández (Movistar Team) ESP +6"
5 Dayer Uberney Quintana Rojas (Movistar Team) COL +24"
6 David Belda García (Burgos-BH) ESP +38"
7 Jordi Simon Casulleras (Team Ecuador) ESP +38"
8 Johnny Hoogerland (Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela) NED +44"
9 Edson Arturo Calderón Erazo (4-72 Colombia) COL +44"
10 Javier Moreno Bazán (Movistar Team) ESP +48"
11 Julien Antomarchi (La Pomme Marseillaise) FRA +48"
12 Bernardo Suaza Arango (4-72 Colombia) COL +48"
13 Manuel Sola Arjona (Keith Mobel-Partizan) ESP +48"
14 Fabricio Ferrari Barcelo (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) URU +48"
15 Ángel Madrazo Ruíz (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) ESP +48"
16 Omar Fraile Matarranz (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) ESP +48"
17 Diego Antonio Ochoa Camargo (4-72 Colombia) COL +1'24"
18 Juan José Oroz Ugalde (Burgos-BH) ESP +1'36"
19 Ricardo García Ambroa (Team Ukyo) ESP +1'36"
20 Jérôme Coppel (Cofidis Solutions Crédits) FRA +1'36"