Harsh luck for Rojas in Belgium
03 April 2013

Scheldeprijs

Spaniard just 11th in Scheldeprijs after mechanical problems in the final sprint - new chance for the Blues tomorrow at GP Pino Cerami

The most favourable race for Movistar Team’s chances in their long ‘tournée’ across Belgium and the Netherlands left a bitter sweet to the roster directed by José Luis Jaimerena. Spaniard José Joaquín Rojas was only able to finish in 11th place at the 101st edition of the Scheldeprijs, held on Wednesday over a pan-flat, 204-kilometer parcours -only seeing some minor echelons in the first part of the race- from Antwerpen to a three-lap circuit around Schoten, including a cobbled section of 1.7km.

The telephone squad gambled for the bunch kick with their two traditional guns, Rojas and Fran Ventoso, who was boxed in during the charge to the finish -where German Marcel Kittel (ARG) conquered his second consecutive win-. Rojas saw his chances ruined by a mechanical failure that avoided him putting all speed available and left him just behind the best ten of the day. Thursday will offer a brandnew opportunity to the Blues in the GP Cerami in Wallonia: 205.8km including a final circuit with four climbs of the pavé of Tienne du Dragon.