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    ZURICH, Switzerland -- Samuel Sanchez of Spain claimed his first major one-day victory with a brave solo effort in the Zurich ProTour event on Sunday. The Euskaltel rider broke clear alone 12 km from the end of the rain-soaked race to hold off a chasing group by 30 seconds. Spain's Alejandro Valverde did not take part in the race but sealed overall victory in the season-long ProTour competition. Valverde has amassed 285 points. Sanchez is second with 173 and only 90 points are available in the Paris-Tours race next Sunday and the Tour of Lombardy on Oct. 14. Sunday's win allowed Sanchez to crown a great season after finishing fourth in last week's world championships, fourth in the Paris-Nice and second in the Fleche Wallonne. He also won a stage in the Tour of Spain last month. It was the first big one-day victory for the small Euskaltel team since their creation in 1994. "I'm from the north of Spain and so I always ride well in the rain and cold," said Sanchez. Australia's Stuart O'Grady finished second and Davide Rebellin of Italy was third. The remnants of the main peloton crossed the line over one minute behind after a race which was hampered by appalling weather conditions. Meanwhile, newly-crowned world champion Paolo Bettini of Italy was forced to pull out of the race 40km from the line after his blood sugar level fell. The next ProTour race is Paris-Tours on Sunday. The ProTour ends on Oct. 14 with the Tour of Lombardy in northern Italy. |
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Sanchez prevailed on a day marked by wind and driving rain.
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