RABOBANK TOPS TEAM CLASSIFICATION AT CASTILLA Y LEON

Clement, Menchov finish fourth and fifth at Spanish stage race

Photo by Cor Vos.

Impressive time trialing and mountain riding by Rabobank’s top General Classification men Stef Clement and Denis Menchov led the squad to victory in the team classification at the Vuelta Castilla y Leon stage race in Spain. Clement and Menchov finished fourth and fifth respectively in the five-day stage race that finished in Valladolid on Friday.

Riding their Giant prototype TT bikes, Clement and Menchov finished fourth and fifth respectively in the pivotal Stage 2 Time Trial, a 28.2-kilometer race against the clock in Palencia.

Rabobank rode aggressively over the following three stages, joining breaks and helping put Clement and Menchov in position to hold their top-five overall GC placings through the mountains and sprint finishes.

Menchov’s impressive second-place finish on the difficult Stage 4 put Rabobank into the lead in the team classification, which it defended on Friday’s final stage.

Clement ended up fourth overall, 49 seconds behind overall winner Levi Leipheimer of Astana. Menchov was fifth.

Held in northwestern Spain, the Vuelta Castilla y Leon is an important event that draws the attention of many Grand Tour contenders. With a long time trial and summit finish at the San Isiro ski area, it’s viewed as ideal preparation for the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France.