Klasika Primavera

Spanish domestique victorious in Amorebieta, claims 15th victory for Movistar Team in 2015 after hard work into Basque race's decisive break together with youngster Marc Soler (6th)

Five years after his last pro success in the Cinturó de l'Empordà, José Herrada (Movistar Team) got back to winning ways and rewarded his team-mates for all the efforts done during the prestigious 'Basque week' of cycling. The Spanish allrounder claimed the victory in the 61st Klasika Primavera Amorebieta on Sunday as the strongest into an 18-man move including two of the riders directed by José Luis Jaimerena: Marc Soler and the Mota del Cuervo-born cyclist.

Herrada and Soler made the selection into the front group -always keeping a gap between four and six minutes- through the first of three climbs to Montecalvo, where several attacks from the Catalan reduced the Blue duo's opposition to initially six riders, later only three as Evgeny Shalunov (LOK) was the last man able to join the two Spaniards. At the end of the descent leading up to the final climb, Herrada attacked and left the Russian behind -with Soler staying vigilant on Shalunov's wheel- to start a late solo he ultimately solved with about thirty seconds. Behind, a struggling Marc (winner of the King of the Moutnains) managed to finish in 6th place, with Giovanni Visconti in 8th to confirm the team victory.

Herrada's success is a reward to one of the most loyal, consistent domestiques in Eusebio Unzué's squad, taking the Movistar Team's account in 2015 up to fifteen -with already seven different riders (Valverde x4, Lobato x3, Malori x3, Quintana x2, Rojas, Moreno)- and increasing the tally of Amorebieta wins to four in the last seven editions.

REACTION / José Herrada: “When I joined the Movistar Team, I knew my role was going to be different from other squads. I had many chances to snatch another win before this, I came close, but it's obvious that winning in the WorldTour is always difficult and you've got to work for the team leaders at most times, though it's a pleasure to do it. We had to spend a lot of time at the front in both Catalunya and País Vasco, but that left me with great racing pace and it paid off here, as we showed. It's true that pain from my crash in the Itzulia's first day is still kicking, but my body responded pretty much well after that and I did a nice job for my team-mates.

"We started the race with a clear idea in mind that anyone into the team could win. There was a big split forming up, I went after it and started pushing early since I knew we could have a chance to contest the win. The team started to push behind only with a big margin so they could still have a chance if we didn't feel well, but fortunately, we were riding strong. Marc also did a hell of a job; he was with me until the very end, already rode fantastically well into a breakaway in Catalunya… he's aiming high. Since I saw Shalunov making part of the break, I knew he was going to be hard to be; he's strong and he never surrenders – that's how he behaved today. I wasn't certain I was going to win until the last 2k.

"This victory goes to my family, they're always by me side; also to my girlfriend, the whole team… and myself! The team is always contesting the victories no matter the race, chances for us domestiques are not usual and we must take advantage. We're used to this job, but it's a very rewarding win for me."

Result

Video via EITB Kirolak.