Nicolas Roche takes Clasica San Sebastian top 10
Nicolas Roche has shown he has come out of the Tour de France in good form by scoring a top 10 result at Clasica San Sebastian today.
The Irish rider finished in 10th place, just 38 seconds behind the four-man winning move.
Michal Kwiatkowski took victory after combining brilliantly with his Team Sky team mate Mikel Landa in the final.
Another Team Sky rider, Gianni Moscon, was the last of a threatening breakaway to be swept up on the finishing circuit.
The young Italian was recaptured with 10km remaining. And just after the catch was made the peloton, reduced to about 40 riders, split on the final climb.
??@michalkwiatek of ??@TeamSky wins ??@dklasikoa #Klasikoa pic.twitter.com/3wKduXh6fz
— World Cycling Stats (@wcstats) July 29, 2017
Landa made much of the early running on the ascent, matched by France’s Tony Gallopin (Lotto-Soudal).
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And while Tour de France runner-up Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale-Drapac) looked like he would ride clear with them, his challenge faded.
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It meant Landa and Gallopin pressed on, chased and eventually joined by last year’s winner Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo).
And just behind Kwiatkowski was chasing with Giro winner Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb).
Kwiatkowski would distance Dumoulin on a short descent and would catch the three leaders first. But Dumoulin eventually got up to them.
Team Sky's brilliant final
Landa attacked in the closing kilometres. And when Dumoulin went after him and Kwiatkowski forced Gallopin and Mollema to chase, Team Sky were in charge.
In the end it came down to a sprint between the four leaders, with Kwiatkowski winning from Gallopin, Mollema, Dumoulin and Landa in that order.
Just 28 seconds back Alberto Bettiol (Cannondale-Drapac) finished alone for 6th.
Ten seconds later a small group containing Roche and his BMC Racing team mate Greg Van Avermaet sprinted it out for 7th place.
Anthony Roux (FDJ) would lead them in from Van Avermaet, Tiesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal) and Roche.
Sat, July 29th: Clasica San Sebastian
1 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky 5:52:53
2 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto Soudal
3 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo
4 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Sunweb
5 Mikel Landa (Spa) Team Sky 0:00:02
6 Alberto Bettiol (Ita) Cannondale-Drapac 0:00:28
7 Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJ 0:00:38
8 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing
9 Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto Soudal
10 Nicolas Roche (Irl) BMC Racing
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