Home rider Igor Anton secured a dream victory for Euskaltel--Euskadi on Friday when the Vuelta a Espana went through the team’s Basque Country region for the first time in 33 years.
Race leader Juan Jose Cobo of Spain also had to respond to a double attack by second-placed Briton Chris Froome on the Vivero climb.
With two days remaining, Cobo leads by 13 seconds. Froome’s Sky teammate Bradley Wiggins of Britain is third at 1 minute, 41 seconds.
Photo: EPA
Cheered on by thousands of Basque fans welcoming the race back after a long absence, Anton powered away on his regular training climb on the Vivero for a solo victory in the center of Bilbao.
Second behind the climbing specialist on the hilly 158.5km 19th stage was Italian Marzio Bruseghin, 41 seconds back. German Dominik Nerz finished third at 1 minute, 30 seconds.
A winner on the prestigious Zoncolan climb in the Giro d’Italia in May, Anton told reporters: “This victory today is so important I could retire right now. In a sense it didn’t matter if I won, just being able to break away ahead of the pack was amazing, to be able to race through the Basque Country after a 33-year absence was something very special.”
“I had a lot of physical problems at the start of the race. I did not recover well after a hard Giro,” added Anton, who is down in 33rd place overall. “I was sunk mentally and physically, but I slowly got better and winning today has made it all worthwhile.”
Cobo said he was wary of the twin Sky threat from Froome and Wiggins in the last two stages.
“Today was a big step forward, but it’s not over yet,” Cobo said. “I’m sure Sky will keep attacking.”
Froome said: “I’ve got nothing to lose and all to gain so I went for it. Thirteen seconds is such a small margin it would be crazy to give the race to him.”
The Vuelta ends in Madrid today.
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