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Spanish Championships - CN
Talavera de la Reina, Spain, June 28-29, 2008
Day 1 - June 28: Time trial,
Luis León Sánchez proves race ready
By Gregor Brown
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Team Caisse d'Epargne put two on the podium of the Spanish Time Trial Championships with Luis León Sánchez first and Iván Gutiérrez third, while Rubén Plaza of Team Benfica snuck in for second. Sánchez, 24 years old, completed the 27.7-kilometre Talavera de la Reina course in 32'59".
With the win he feels ready to help team-mate Alejandro Valverde vie for the Tour de France. "I prepared very well for the Tour," he remarked in a team press release. "I will to do my best in France to help Alejandro Valverde win the race. Today, I believe that I showed everybody that I am in great condition already."
Tour de France favourite, Carlos Sastre (Team CSC), finished 1'46" back.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Isabelle Duchesne/www.photoscycling.com
- Spain's Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne) concentrated before his run.
- Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne) concentrates at the start.
- Iván Gutiérrez (Caisse d'Epargne) adjusts his helmet.
- Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne), 24, giving it full gas
- Spaniard Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne) comes home
- Rubén Plaza (Benfica) and Francisco Mancebo (Unknown) come to the line.
- Rubén Plaza (Benfica) takes third.
- Iván Gutiérrez (Caisse d'Epargne) comes home for second.
- Kisses: Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne) enjoys the day.
- Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne) salutes the crowd.
- Podium time for Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne).
- Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne), 24, raises the trophy after winning the Spanish TT National Championships.
- Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne) tops the podium with Iván Gutiérrez (Caisse d'Epargne) and Rubén Plaza (Benfica) (l & r).
- Media time for Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne).
- Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne) fresh in his new jersey.
Results
Elite men - 27.7km 1 Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne) 32.59 2 Rubén Plaza (Benfica) 0.16 3 Iván Gutiérrez (Caisse d'Epargne) 0.56 4 Jesús Del Nero (Saunier Duval-Scott) 1.02 5 Eloy Teruel Rovira (Contentpolis-Murcia) 1.07 6 Francisco Mancebo (Fercase - Rota dos Móveis) 1.16 7 Rafael Serrano Fernandez (Contentpolis-Murcia) 1.24 8 Carlos Barredo (Quick Step) 1.32 9 Markel Irizar (Euskaltel-Euskadi) 10 Juan José Cobo (Saunier Duval-Scott) 1.42 11 Jonathan Castroviejo (Orbea - Oreka S.D.A) 12 Carlos Sastre (Team CSC) 1.46 13 Juan Manuel Gárate (Quick Step) 1.56 14 Xabier Tondo (LA MSS) 2.05 15 Gonzalo Rabunal (Karpin Galicia) 2.09 16 Enrique Salgueiro (Extremadura-Ciclismo Solidario) 2.29 17 Egoi Martínez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) 2.31 18 Josu Agirre Aseginolaza (Euskaltel-Euskadi) 2.36 19 Serafín Martínez (Karpin Galicia) 2.44 20 José Luis Carrasco (Andalucía-Cajasur) 2.59 21 Sergio Dominguez Munoz (Contentpolis-Murcia) 3.01 22 Alexis Rodríguez (Fercase - Rota dos Móveis) 3.21 23 Arkaitz Durán (Saunier Duval-Scott) 3.26 24 Francisco José Martínez (Andalucía-Cajasur) 3.27 25 Unai Uribarri (Orbea - Oreka S.D.A) 3.47 26 Raul Santamarta (Burgos Monumental) 5.23 27 José Vicente Toribio (Burgos Monumental) 6.29
