Valverde takes third Klasika

By Monika Prell in Amorebieta

Valverde wins the sprint
Photo ©: Susanne Goetze

Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) won the 55th edition of the Klasika Primavera by beating an on-from Egoi Mart�nez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) in a sprint of a small group. Jos� Herrada (Contentpolis-AMPO) ended the day in third.

"I am happy about this victory, it's the third time that I win this race," said Valverde at the finish. "I know this terrain very well, and we did a great race, we always had a rider in the breakaway groups. In the end I worked together with Joaqu�m Rodr�guez. I am happy that I go on winning races in spite of all what happens around me," declared Valverde with regards to the CONI investigation.

Egoi Mart�nez confirmed that his legs are good. "I am content about the whole week, I won the sprint classification in the Vuelta al Pa�s Vasco, and today I also finished on the podium. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to win, even though I was close. Now, I will ride the Belgian Classics and later the Tour de France and I hope to do even better there."