28th Clásica San Sebastián - ProT

Spain, August 2, 2008

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

• Matteo Tosatto (Quick Step) leads team-mate Paolo Bettini early in the race.
• Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) leads the five-man selection after the Alto De Arkal.
• Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) takes the sprint ahead of Kolobnev and Rebellin.
• The podium with Alexandr Kolobnev (CSC Saxo Bank, 2nd), Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne, 1st) and Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner, 3rd).
• Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) was satisfied with his third place.

Images by Régis Garnier/www.velofotopro.com

• Europe ProTour leader Damiano Cunego is back in action after his Tour crash (his chin still spots a souvenir)
• World Champ Paolo Bettini uses San Sebastián to test his Olympic fitness.
• Alberto Contador is so happy to be back racing.
• Carlos Sastre also will check his pre-Olympic form.
• Contador gets ready to race
• Sastre would love to win in Spain.
• Sastre greets the fans.
• Bettini and Davide Rebellin share a pre-race smile but will want to take out the win for their respective teams.
• The Spanish team gets ready for Beijing with Carlos Sastre (Team CSC), Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Alberto Contador (Astana) and Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne). Missing is Oscar Freire (Rabobank), who is not racing due to illness.

Images by Isabelle Duchesne/www.photoscycling.com

• Valverde and Kolobnev go head-to-head in the final sprint.
• Valverde knows he has the race won.
• The Spaniard celebrates a morale boosting victory.
• Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) will travel to Beijing full of confidence and with a strong Spanish team to support him.
• Joaquin Rodriguez (Caisse d'Epargne) rolls in 12th after working hard for Valverde.
• David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) finished 15th, 1'13 down on Valverde.
• David De La Fuente (Scott-American Beef) comes in 16th.
• Russian Vladimir Karpets was part of a super strong Caisse d'Epargne team.
• Alejandro Valverde added another big one-day race to his palmares.
• Valverde was awarded the typical Basque headwear for the podium ceremony.
• No matter how many races you win, this part is never a chore...
• And neither is this.
• Alexandr Kolobnev (CSC-Saxo Bank) was delighted to make the podium.
• Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) has been here before, winning the race in 1997 and coming third in 2004.
• Rebellin accepts a rather unusual trophy.
• The podium (l-r): Alexandr Kolobnev (CSC-Saxo Bank), Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) and Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner).
• Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) is the new ProTour leader.
• Davide Rebellin is still getting to grips with this champagne lark.
• The podium girls somehow managed to avoid getting soaked.
• But the riders certainly don't...
• David De La Fuente (Scott-American Beef) crossed four of the six climbs in first place to secure the mountains competition.
• De La Fuente sports the team's new jersey after previous title sponsor Saunier Duval withdrew following the Tour de France.
• Gorazd Stangelj (Liquigas) took the sprints competition.
• Haimar Zubeldia (Euskaltel Euskadi) was the best placed Basque rider.

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

• Italy's Damiano Cunego (Lampre)
• Damiano Cunego (Lampre) returns to racing after the Tour de France.
• Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner)
• Denis Menchov (Rabobank)
• Damiano Cunego (Lampre)
• World Champ Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) led by team-mates.
• Alexandr Kolobnev (CSC-Saxo Bank) has a go.
• The peloton climbs the Alto de Jaizkibel.
• Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) on the Alto de Jaizkibel.
• View from Alto de Jaizkibel.
• Quick Step rides
• Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) on his own.
• Italy's Paolo Bettini (Quick Step)
• Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) checks out Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner).
• Bettini looks to Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner).
• Paolo Bettini (Quick Step)
• Italy's Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) determined.
• Paolo Bettini (Quick Step)
• Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) and Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner)
• Bettini leads Rebellin
• Luxembourg's Andy Schleck (CSC-Saxo Bank)
• Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) wins
• Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) finishes
• Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) congratulated
• Team Saunier Duval on stage
• Damiano Cunego (Lampre) looking rough after his Tour de France crash.
• The view at the back.
• A Saunier Duval rider has a go.
• The group along the shores.
• The peloton rides early in the race.
• Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom)
• Damiano Cunego (Lampre) descends
• Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner)
• Flying downhill
• Spain's Alberto Contador (Astana)
• Giro d'Italia champion Alberto Contador (Astana)
• Alberto Contador (Astana) leads Damiano Cunego (Lampre)
• Damiano Cunego (Lampre)
• Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne)
• Alberto Contador (Astana) readies for the Olympics.
• The peloton thins out.
• World Champion Paolo Bettini (Quick Step)
• Paolo Bettini (Quick Step)
• Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) rides along.
• The new Saunier Duval-American Beef kit
• Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) talks with Paolo Bettini (Quick Step).
• Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) and Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) used Clásica San Sebastián as an Olympic warm-up event.
• Four of the Olympic Spanish team members: Carlos Sastre (CSC-Saxo Bank), Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Alberto Contador (Astana) and Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) (l-r).
• New Saunier Duval-American beef team car.
• Saunier Duval in action
• Alberto Contador (Astana)
• Damiano Cunego (Lampre)
• Italy's Damiano Cunego (Lampre)
• Spain's Alberto Contador (Astana)
• On the Alto de Jaizkibel
• Quick Step leads on the Alto de Jaizkibel for Paolo Bettini (Quick Step).
• Riders climb the Alto de Jaizkibel
• José Luis Arrieta (AG2R La Mondiale) heads up Alto de Jaizkibel.
• Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) holds off his rivals
• Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) charges to the line
• Spaniard Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) wins the Clásica San Sebastián.
• Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) wins.
• Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) over Alexandr Kolobnev (CSC-Saxo Bank).
• Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) wins in his home country.
• Spain's Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) wins.
• Podium time for Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne)
• Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) dons the txapela.
• Kisses for Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne)
• Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) flanked by podium girls.
• Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) awarded for a hard day.
• The final touch: Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) adjusts his txapela.
• Second: Alexandr Kolobnev (CSC-Saxo Bank)
• Third: Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner)
• Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) tops the podium with Alexandr Kolobnev (CSC-Saxo Bank) and Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) (l & r)
• New ProTour leader Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne).
• Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) awarded as ProTour leader
• Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) in the ProTour top
• Bubbly time for Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne).
• Spanish Champion Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) at the finish.
• Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) congratulated.
• Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) tops the podium with Alexandr Kolobnev (CSC-Saxo Bank) and Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) (l & r)
• Spaniard Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) on top with Alexandr Kolobnev (CSC-Saxo Bank) and Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) (l & r)
• Winner of Clásica San Sebastián, Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne), with second Alexandr Kolobnev (CSC-Saxo Bank) and third Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) (l & r)