They could only be 5th in the race -thanks to the brilliant final rush by Ángel Madrazo-, but still Movistar Team was the team doing the best efforts to grab the victory in the GP Miguel Indurain, the race paying homage of the biggest figure in the history of Spanish cycling.

The squad directed today by José Luis Arrieta was the main protagonist for every single kilometer of the 179km demanding route on Navarran turf. The attack by Xavi Tondo in the opening phase took him into the lead along with Azanza, Stetina and Paterski for the opening 60k before a dozen units joined them, with the telephone squad also making the big cut with Ángel Madrazo and Pablo Lastras. The veteran Spaniard showed a great fitness level and jumped from the front group to make the real breakaway of the day for more than 100 kilometers along with Amets Txurruka and David Belda. With 15 kilometers from the finish, the escape was aborted by a short peloton of barely fourty units, split by the hardness and the big pace into the course.

More ‘Blue bullets’ would be making their moves from that point: firstly, David Arroyo, who tried it with 10k to go and preceeded the hard attack by Vasil Kiryienka. The Belarusian, 2nd in the recent Critérium International, went solo on front and was only a few pedal strokes to avoid the usual finish atop the El Puy climb. Kiry kept some seconds’ gap over the bunch during the final 7km of the race, but was chased down with 500m remaining by the first pursuers, with Samuel Sánchez (EUS) eventually claiming honours. Madrazo was 5th, Arroyo came in 12th, Intxausti finished in 14th, Lastras went over the podium as winner of the intermediate sprints’ competition and Movistar Team also took its podium time as the best squad in the day’s results… and, above all, attitude during the race. The best way to honour a legend in his own race.