Astana Cycling Team

photo from www.cyclingnews.com

Mountain Stage, as yesterday marked with the ascension of seven categorized climbs.

Approximately 35km after the start, a breakaway is formed and shortly after, during the ascension of “Alto de Altzo” (3rd category), the Kazakh Maxim Iglinskiy joins the breakaway group.

Maxim and his 3 breakaway companions (Amael Moinard BMC, Dario Cataldo Quick Step and Rafael Valls Geox-TMC) created a gap going until 5min45s. "I thought we would go through, said the Kazakh, but Garmin Cervelo riders imposed a very strong pace in front of the pack." The sports director Alexandr Shefer adds "I think Maxim has done well to go in this break, it was a good group, but it would have been better if there had also been riders from Garmin-Cervelo and Lampre".

Maxim shown a good form in all the climbs of the day "I felt good today, even if I still have some pain in my legs after my crash in the Tour of Flanders". Climbs have succeeded and he accumulated points in the Mountain’s Classification "At first I didn’t think of the Mountain’s Classification, then progressively, I decided to fight for points, almost for the last climbs."

At 32 kilometers before the finish, while the gap with the bunch was only about 15 seconds, Carlos Barredo (Rabobank) launched an attack and surpassed the escapees, but Maxim Iglinskiy made a strong move and remained in his wheel "At this moment, I thought of the points so I launched me, I felt I was able of it."

25km from the finish, the group is compact, led by Team Garmin-Cervelo. At the front of the bunch riders from Astana are forming a group around the leader Alexandre Vinokourov. During the last climb, at the summit of “Alto de Azpiroz”, many attacks are launched at the front and the pack is disorganized. Then once the descent begins, Alexandre Vinokourov attacked at 3.5 km to the finish, along with Vasil Kiryienka (Movistar). Kiryienka takes some distance, and Alexandre Vinokourov is among the pursuers, he led the group behind Kiryienka until the last sprint. He finally crossed the line in 19th place 2-seconds behind the winner, Vasil Kiryienka. The Kazakh leader is now in 15th position overall, 15 seconds behind the new leader Andreas Kloden "Alexander is in good shape now, we'll see if he can do something in the overall standings," said Alexandre Shefer.

Maxim Iglinskiy is awarded by the Best Climber’s jersey, in a race considered as the most hilly race of the season "I am very happy to wear this jersey. I'd like to keep it, so I'll try to go in the next breakaways to earn more points and defend that title. "

Pro Team Astana
Communication Department
Blandine Roquelet