Like Cadel Evans, he wasn't previously known for his single-day race success. However yesterday Carlos Sastre beat known Classic riders to win the ACP championship, held each year by the Spanish Professional Cyclists’ Association.
At the end of a day’s racing, the 2008 Tour de France champion came out best ahead of riders such as Olympic champ Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) and Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne), who were second through to fourth.
The points contest got underway with a team time trial. The Xacobeo-Galicia trio of Gustavo Veloso, Carlos Castaño and David Herrero were quicker than Caisse d'Epargne (Valverde, Luis León Sanchez and Iván Gutiérrez) and Fuji-Servetto (Cobo, De la Fuente and Jufré).
Sánchez then won the points race ahead of Sastre and Valverde, but Cervélo Test Team riders Sastre made his big move in the elimination event. Biding his time and letting the others use up their strength early on, he chose his moment perfectly and rocketed clear.
The others were focussed on not being eliminated and, watching each other for those crucial sprints, Sastre could continue to build his lead. He hit the line well clear of Valverde and Sanchez, who finished third and second respectively behind him in the final overall standings.
Sastre won two stages and finished fourth overall in the Giro d’Italia earlier this season, but fatigue saw him perform below his usual level in the Tour de France. He took a long break after that race but is now building form prior to what he expects will be a strong 2010. Yesterday’s result will boost his morale as he continues to rack up the kilometres.
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Results:
Team time trial :
1. Xacobeo-Galicia (Veloso, Castaño and Herrero), 3:27,35
2. Caisse d'Epargne (Valverde, Luis León Sanchez and Iván Gutiérrez), 3.33,35
3. Fuji-Servetto (Cobo, De la Fuente and Jufré), 3.27:92.
Points race:
1. Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), 20:09
2. Carlos Sastre (Cervélo), 23:10
3. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne), 23:12
4. Koldo Fernández de Larrea (Euskaltel-Euskadi), 23:12
5. Carlos Castaño (Xacobeo-Galicia), 23:13.
Elimination:
1. Carlos Sastre (Cervélo)
2. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne)
3. Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
4. Iñigo Cuesta (Cervélo)
5. David de la Fuente (Fuji-Servetto).
Final overall standings:
1. Carlos Sastre (Cervélo), 3 points
2. Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), 4
3. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne), 5
4. Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne), 14
5. Luis Pasamontes (Caisse d'Epargne), 20
6. Iván Gutiérrez (Caisse d'Epargne), 22
7. David de la Fuente (Fuji-Servetto), 23
8. Diego Gallego (Burgos Monumental), 24
9. Jesús Rosendo (Andalucía-Cajasur), 26
10. Javier Etxarri (Contentpolis-Murcia), 27.