News & Reviews

The two FUJI-SERVETTO youngsters fought against the Old Guys in the Queen Stage that put an end to the 55th Vuelta a Andalucia, as they finished 8th and 11th in the final GC. Teammates Del Nero and Benitez –final winner of the Int. Sprints competition- opened today’s route as part of the break of the day.

INTXAUSTI AND CAPECCHI PROUDLY WITHIN THE BEST

A brilliant overall performance by the riders from team FUJI-SERVETTO put an end to an excellent 55th edition of the Vuelta a Andalucía, with the race’s Queen Stage in this edition covered today on a route from Torrox Costa to Antequera, with five interesting climbs. The riders directed by Joxean Fernández Matxin and Sabino Angoitia took a lead role from the very first climb of the day, the Alto de Cómpeta (2nd Cat.), where Madrilian Jesus del Nero, the main exhibitor of today’s leading breakaway, attacked and finally went into the day’s escape along with teammate Alberto Benitez, Adrian Palomares (Contentpolis-Ampo) and Arnold Jeanneson (Caisse d’Epargne) just before the end of the first climb.

The two riders from FUJI-SERVETTO and their companions kept their way into the race’s lead for more than 130 kilometers, just before getting caught on the last slopes of the Puerto del Torcal (the only 1st Cat. climb of the race, 14 kms. to the finish line of today), when Benitez, who gained the white Int. Sprints competition leader back, and Jeanneson took the tempo down and left the race’s lead on the liks of Del Nero and Palomares. The group was chased down by the remainder of a broken peloton halfway the climb.
While descending into today’s finishing town, a select 12-man group formed, with FUJI-SERVETTO’s youngsters Benat Intxausti and Eros Capecchi (both aged 22). Veteran Davide Rebellin (Diquigiovanni) attacked and grabbed a little gap on the leaders to snatch his second stage win in a row. Intxausti and Capecchi came across the line in 8th and 11th position, respectively; the places they ended in at the GC, in which Dutchman Joost Posthuma (Rabobank) took one of the best victories in his career and endorsed in a last-minute move into the red leader’s jersey, before (during the climb) virtual winner Xavi Tondo (Andalucia) and legendary Rebellin.

The Boys in Blue proved their great fitness level by placing third of the Teams’ overall classification. Joxean Fernandez Matxin felt really proud of his riders’ efforts: “I’m very satisfied about what we developed here today, even though I think the reward is too short for the effort we did. We were convinced Capecchi and Intxausti were the lads to have a look for today’s finale, so that’s why riders like Del Nero and Benitez, despite being in a good position at the GC, made an early move today. Intxausti and Benitez were the last riders to cut out of the leading group [Rebellin, Simoni, David Lopez, Scarponi and Tondo] in the last climb; however, they had no problems to enter the short field later. We looked for the stage win with them, but they obviously lack the experience of a veteran rider, just like Rebellin is. Nevertheless, they’ve shown they’re fully made of quality, and their top-class style must get them really far. The team followed the philosophy we want to keep up during the season: to be combative and aggressive, and to fight for everything.”

Upcoming races in Italy
The FUJI-SERVETTO squad isn’t having a rest after their race on Andalusian soil. The Boys in Blue are travelling in Italian turf to take part of the Trofeo Laigueglia (on next Saturday) and the Giro di Sardegna (from Tuesday 24th to Saturday 28th). Eros Capecchi, Fredrik Kessiakoff, Iker Camano, Ermanno Capelli, Javier Megias, Boris Shpilevsky, Davide Vigano and William Walker will be the riders directed by Stefano Zanini at Laigueglia (UCI 1.1), while Alberto Benitez, Jesus del Nero, Iker Camano, Josep Jufre, Javier Megias, Boris Shpilevsky, Davide Vigano and Ricardo Serrano will be the lads in charge of Joxean Fernandez Matxin at Sardinian’s 2.1 stagerace.
 
RESULTS:
55th VUELTA A ANDALUCÍA
5th stage:
1. Davide Rebellin (Diquigiovanni) 4.35.45
2. Juanjo Oroz (Euskaltel-Euskadi) 0.09
3. Gilberto Simoni (Diquigiovanni) s.t.
…
8. Beñat Intxausti (FUJI-SERVETTO) 0.09
11. Eros Capecchi (FUJI-SERVETTO) s.t.
17. David de la Fuente (FUJI-SERVETTO) 1.34
56. Alberto Benítez (FUJI-SERVETTO) 18.16
58. Jesús del Nero (FUJI-SERVETTO) s.t.
64. Josep Jufre (FUJI-SERVETTO) 19.29
65. Ricardo Serrano (FUJI-SERVETTO) s.t.

General Classification:
1. Joost Posthuma (Rabobank) 17.28.40
2. Xavier Tondo (Andalucía-Cajasur) 0.02
3. Davide Rebellin (Diquigiovanni) 0.03
…
8. Beñat Intxausti (FUJI-SERVETTO) 0.23
11. Eros Capecchi (FUJI-SERVETTO) 0.57
19. David de la Fuente (FUJI-SERVETTO) 2.41
56. Jesús del Nero (FUJI-SERVETTO) 18.29
57. Alberto Benítez (FUJI-SERVETTO) 18.58
58. Josep Jufre (FUJI-SERVETTO) 20.28
59. Ricardo Serrano (FUJI-SERVETTO) 20.41

General Teams Classification:
1. Serramenti Diquigiovanni (ITA), 52.27.09
2. Rabobank (NED), 01.02
3. FUJI-SERVETTO (ESP), 01.25
4. Euskaltel-Euskadi (ESP), 01.55
5. Caisse d’Epargne (ESP), 05.00

Intermediate Sprints Classification:
1. Alberto Benítez (FUJI-SERVETTO) 9 pt.