Luis Leon Sanchez Wins The Clasica de San Sebastian

Last updated : 14 August 2012 By Kev Monks

Luis Sanchez  won the Clasica de San Sebastian this afternoon.

The Clasica de San Sebastian, is the warm up for the Vuelta a Espana and has been held 1981.

The 227km race which favours those able to climb with six climbs including two first category ones, has been won by the likes of Lance Armstrong, Miguel Indurain, Laurent Jalabert and last year's winners Philippe Gilbert.

The BMC rider was not amongst the field which included London 2012 Olympic Mens Road Race Champion Alexander Vinokourkov and Alberto Contador with British and Irish interest coming from BMC's Steve Cummings ,Garmin's Danny Martin and AG2R's Nicholas Roche.

The stage started in Donostia (Alderdi-Eder) and saw Zandio, Irizar,  Garate and Cardoso get away with eight kilometres gone. 

They were caught and Palomares, Aramendia and Ramirez took over, getting 6.21 ahead of the peloton with 95kms gone after initally having a lead of 10.46.

On the volante de Andoain, Palomares went away on his own, leaving  Aramendia and Ramirez to be swallowed up by an FDJ led peloton.

Dall'Antonio of Liquigas was in front with 60kms to go. Ten had escaped from the peloton to chase him down but were soon caught.

Second time up the Jaizkibel and Team Sky's Richie Porte was up the frontwith 42km to go.

Fourteen kms later, Team Sky's Sergio Henao took over in a five man group.

On the final climb, Luis Leon Sanchez attacked and won the race ahead of Gerrans; 3. Meersman; 4. Le Mevel; 5. Mollema; 6. Santambrogio .