Movistar Team won teams' overall at Prueba Villafranca, came up short for individual victory as Lastras, Madrazo took 3rd and 5th within five-man field, following attacks by López and HerradaMovistar Team went a step short for their ninteenth victory of the 2011 season. The Prueba Villafranca-Clásica de Ordizia opened today the run of post-Tour competitions, and the squad directed today by Alfonso Galilea proved to be the best team in the race. However, the Blue squad could not take the biggest honours, which went to Frenchman Julien Simon (SAU) as he beat the 5-rider field contesting the final sprint.

There, Pablo Lastras (3rd) and Ángel Madrazo (5th) fought until the last meter to bring a victory for the telephone squad, playing an attacking role in the race at Gipuzkoa. A long attack by David López with 45k from the finish took him solo on front until the last twenty kilometers. The group’s youngest rider Jesús Herrada would then show his huge quality, the rider from Cuenca leaving a short group of favourites being being chased down with 10k to go by a strong Joaquim Rodríguez (KAT), on the attack through the last climb to Abaltzisketa, still being caught into the descent by the Lastras / Madrazo quintet. Movistar Team, despite not getting the victory, would make it to the podium of the Basque race thanks to them.

Picture: Ainara Hernando