Triple world champion Oscar Freire was first to the line but subsequently disqualified from victory on the penultimate stage of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco, losing out in a large group sprint into Zalla.
The Spaniard beat Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre-ISD), Jurgen Van De Walle (Omega Pharama Lotto) and a surprising John Gadret (Ag2r La Mondiale) to the line, clocking up what would have been his third victory of the season. However the celebrations were short-lived as the race officials noted the strong push forward he received from team-mate Luis Leon Sanchez when he launched his sprint.
Although Freire did not request the boost, the judges decided that he should be declassified and victory went instead to Gavazzi Freire was dumped down to last in the group, being newly ranked as 48th.
“It is not fair,” the very disappointed Rabobank rider said when he learned that he was likely to be disqualified. “The last two hundred metres showed that I was the strongest. If they take that away, it would be very unfair.”
Overnight race leader Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) had a scare when one of his rivals, David Lopez (Movistar) went clear in the closing stages. Lopez was part of a three man group which crested the final climb of Bezi 14 seconds ahead, and which pulled out a further four seconds on the descent.
He had started the day just six seconds off yellow, making him race leader on the road. However hard chasing by Freire’s Rabobank team plus the RadioShack squad of Andreas Klöden managed to bring the trio back 4.5 kilometres from the line.
HTC Highroad time trialist Marco Pinotti took a flier 3.2 kilometres out, aiming to take his second career stage win in the Basque race. He was reeled in by Steve Cummings (Sky Procycling), who was himself then caught by the bunch.
Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel Euskadi) had started the day level on time with Rodriguez and wanted to move into yellow prior to tomorrow’s time trial. He gave it a shot inside the final kilometre, jumping hard, digging deep and going clear. He was reeled in, though, leaving the way open for a big bunch sprint. There was some jostling in the final 500 metres, with Alexander Kolobnev (Katusha) being pushed by Freire. Luis Leon Sanchez subsequently gave his own sprinter a different sort of shove, swinging away from the barriers to let his team-mate through, then pushing him forward hard to help him launch his sprint.
Freire was first to the line, but the team was left rueing what was a poor tactic Sanchez when their sprinter was declassified.
Dangerous move goes clear early on:
A total of 142 riders lined out for the last stage of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco, with Damiano Cuengo (Lampre-ISD) choosing not to continue. They were quickly onto the first climb of the day, the third category Alto de Arieto, which topped out 4.7 kilometres after the drop of the flag. A break of 14 went clear and fought it out for the points at the summit, with mountains leader Michael Albasini (HTC Highroad) getting top marks ahead of Francesco Bellotti (Liquigas-Cannondale) and Ivan Rovny (Team RadioShack).
The move was brought back, then many more attempts were made to get clear. The ascent of the first category Alto De Urkiola (km 28) was the perfect platform for aggressive riders and close to the summit, Beñat Intxausti (Movistar) and Przemyslaw Niemiec (Lampre – ISD) clipped away and took first and second. Albasini, Amaël Moinard (BMC Racing Team), Rémy Di Gregorio (Pro Team Astana) and Dario Cataldo (Quickstep) set off in pursuit, and joined up. Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Cervélo), Maxime Monfort (Leopard Trek) and Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick Step) also joined up.
They eked out a 30 second lead by kilometre 35, but the bunch was chasing hard due to the fact that Intxausti had started the stage just nine seconds behind race leader Rodriguez. It became clear that it was going to be very difficult for the move to stay ahead because of this, and ten kilometres later Albasini, Cataldo and Seeldraeyers pushed on ahead. Moinard, Niemiec and Di Gregorio continued in pursuit.
Break builds its advantage:
Albasini beat Cataldo and Seeldrayers to the top of the Alto De Bikotx-Gane (km. 64), by which time the gap back to the chasers was just over a minute, and the bunch were already five minutes behind. The trio of chasers was caught before the top of the category three Alto De Garate, where Albasini further bolstered his advantage.
He was again first to the top of the Alto De San Cosme (km. 101) and Alto De Humaran (km. 136); after the latter climb, the bunch was just one minute 55 seconds back, and continued to close in. With Rabobank chasing hard behind for Freire, Seeldraeyers realised the situation was serious and attacked 15 kilometres from the line. He was caught a kilometre later.
With the road heading upwards again for the final climb of the day, the Alto de Beci (km 164), David Lopez Garcia (Movistar) attacked. He was joined by Wout Poels (Vacansoleil-DCM) and Jelle Vanendert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) and they went over the summit in that order. Vanendert was distanced but rejoined on the descent.
Lopez had started the day six seconds behind race leader Rodriguez, and there was panic behind. The gap at the top of the climb was 14 seconds, putting him into yellow, and despite a chase by RadioShack and Rabobank, the gap was up to 18 seconds with 6.5 kilometres left. The situation looked serious for those behind, but the breakaway riders faltered and the junction was made two kilometres later.
Final attacks, and messy sprint:
Marco Pinotti (HTC Highroad) attacked 3.2 kilometres out, seeking to take what would be his second career sage win in the race. Steve Cummings (Sky Procycling) tried to bridge and got Pinotti back 2.7 kilometres from the line. However the bunch were just behind and quickly reeled him in.
Rabobank took over again inside the final two kilometres, doing everything for Freire. Inside the final kilometre, Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel Euskadi) accelerated clear and tried to hit the line first. He was hauled back, though. There was a certain amount of pushing in the lead up to the gallop, which was led out by Kolobnev on the left side of the road. Freire went on the right, being momentarily impeded by team-mate Luis Leon Sanchez by the barriers. The latter realised his leader was there and moved aside, giving him a strong shove forward which would ultimately lead to the triple world champion’s disqualification and the promotion of Gavazzi to winner.
There was no change in the overall standings, with Rodriguez holding yellow heading into tomorrow’s final time trial. He is level on time with Klöden and Samuel Sanchez, while Horner is just one second further back.