Spaniard Carlos Barredo won the Clasica San Sebastian on Saturday when he used some crafty tactics in the last of his three late attacks to secure the biggest victory of his career.
The Quick Step rider outsprinted Czech Roman Kreuziger after the duo had powered away close to the finish of the rain-soaked 237km Classic, Spain’s biggest one-day race.
France’s Mickael Delage led in the main chase group seven seconds behind for third.
PHOTO: AFP
“I had to take a lot of risks to win this race, but it finally paid off,” Barredo told reporters. “First I attacked with [Frenchman Pierrick] Fedrigo, then a second time with [Spaniard Luis Leon] Sanchez and last of all with Kreuziger.”
“In the last kilometer I pretended I had run out of energy, then surprised him with a late sprint,” he said. “You’ve got to be crafty like that in cycling if you want to win.”
With his previous best win a stage in Paris-Nice last year, the 28-year-old Barredo said his victory was “the biggest of my career so far and hopefully a turning point.”
Barredo dedicated the victory to his team.
“We had a poor Tour de France, and this victory puts us back on the map,” he said.
Runner-up Kreuziger said he was disappointed at losing so narrowly and that he had lost focus in the final kilometer.
“I was more worried we’d get caught by a chase group than about sprinting against Barredo and that probably cost me the win,” he told reporters.
Several riders, amongst them Barredo, crashed on the waterlogged descent of the Jaizkebel climb, 30km from the finish.
“I hit my left thigh and knee quite badly when I came off,” Barredo said. “But fortunately I got back on my bike quickly and could stay in the front of the race.”
Twelve days after winning her second Grand Slam title at the French Open, Coco Gauff fell at the first hurdle on grass in Berlin on Thursday as beaten Paris finalist Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarter-finals. Recipient of a first round bye, American Gauff lost 6-3, 6-3 to Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu as world number one Sabalenka beat Rebeka Masarova 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) in her second round tie. Winner of 10 main tour titles, including the US Open in 2023 and the WTA Finals last year, Gauff has yet to lift a trophy in a grass-court tournament. “After I won the first
Lionel Messi drew vast crowds and showed flashes of his brilliance when his Inter Miami side were held to a goalless draw by African giants Al-Ahly as the revamped FIFA Club World Cup got off to a festive start on Saturday. Fans showed up en masse for the Group A clash at the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, but Messi could not fully deliver, his best chance coming through a last-second attempt that was deflected onto the crossbar. Inter Miami next face FC Porto on Thursday in Atlanta, while Al-Ahly, who benefited from raucous, massive support, are to
Sergio Ramos on Tuesday outfoxed two Inter players and artfully headed home the first goal for Monterrey at the FIFA Club World Cup. The 39-year-old Ramos slipped through the penalty area for the score just as he did for so many years in the shirts of Real Madrid and Spain’s national team, with whom he combined smarts, timing and physicality. Ramos’ clever goal and his overall defensive play at the Rose Bowl were major factors in Monterrey’s impressive 1-1 draw against the UEFA Champions League finalists in the clubs’ first match of the tournament. “There is always a joy to contribute to the
Aaron Civale got a little wild in the right-hander’s first start for the Chicago White Sox two days after he was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers. Civale on Sunday walked four of the first seven hitters he faced in a 2-1 loss to the Texas Rangers. The 30-year-old finished with four walks, one off his career high, while allowing six hits and two runs in five innings. He threw 65 strikes and 39 balls. Chicago trailed 2-1 when he was replaced by Dan Altavilla to start the sixth. “Not the cleanest,” Civale said. “It’s been a whirlwind of a week. First couple
RSS