Romandie 2 : Mikel close to victory

It was a good day for Euskaltel in the first and hilly stage of the Tour of Romandie because both Haimar and Mikel managed to stay in the important groupe. The latter of those two even with a great fighting spirit. On the last climb a group of nine goes away and Mikel is the first to close the gap. Then he even attacks and leaves them behind. He gets companied by Botcharov and Veikkannen but at 2 kilometres their story was over. There were reeled back in by a peloton of 38 with also Haimar in it. The sprint was won by Iglinsky in front of Albasini, Mikel became 16th. Ruben Perez was the first to come in of the next big group on a 40th place. Juan Jose Oroz quit the race because he already rode the six northern classics and can use his rest.




Results
1 Maxim Iglinsky (Kaz) Astana 4.47.28 (38.07 km/h)
2 Michael Albasini (Swi) Liquigas
3 Markus Zberg (Swi) Gerolsteiner
...
16. Mikel Astarloza +0:02
24. Haimar Zubeldia +0:02
40. Ruben Perez +1:18
45. Jorge Azanza +1:18
77. Amets Txurruka +1:52
93. Iñaki Isasi +8:19

General Rank
1 Michael Albasini (Swi) Liquigas 4.49.30
2 Maxim Iglinsky (Kaz) Astana 0.01
3 Markus Zberg (Swi) Gerolsteiner 0.08
...
7. Mikel Astarloza +0:10
15. Haimar Zubeldia +0:12
52. Ruben Perez +1:29
75. Jorge Azanza +1:36
77. Amets Txurruka +2:10
91. Iñaki Isasi +8:31