A mixed few stages for the Linda McCartney Foods Cycling Team in Spain, where they continue to contest the Circuito Montanes under-26 event. There were excellent 5th places on Friday and Saturday for Tayeb Braikia and Ciaran Power respectively, but Bjornar Vestol lost his high overall placing.

The team's attacking riding has brought them plaudits and good results, but sometimes it can backfire, like on Friday. The constant aggression had split the field down to around 30 riders on the day's big climb, but Bjornar had dug deep into his reserves to force the selection, and he paid the price. He was dropped from the group containing all his main rivals, and could only watch as they sailed clear.

Ciaran and Tayeb both showed excellent form by taking good results despite the work they were doing for Bjornar to protect his position. Matt De Canio is riding into good condition, impressing team manager Chris Lillywhite with his form and Huw Pritchard is enjoying his first taste of riding with the elite team.

Report by John Deering

  1. M Soro (Pinturas Banaka)           3.49.46
  2. F José Lara (Avila Rojas)        @    0.02
  3. S Villamil (Alcosto-Fuenlabrada) 
  5. Tayeb Braikia                    @    0.07

 
Overall: 

  1. T Strenersch (Vlaanderen 2002)    11.50.37
  2. D Bruylandts (Palmans Ideal)     @    0.19
  3. A Martín (Caffes Baque)          @    1.07

  1. J Gomís (Cropusa)                  3.02.31
  2. A García (Pinturas Banaka)       @    0.01
  3. C García (Kelme)                 @    0.16

 
Overall: 

  1. D Bruylandts (Palmans Ideal)      14.53.51
  2. J Gomís (Cropusa)                @    0.10
  3. T Strenersch (Vlaanderen 2002)   @    0.26

  1. D Bruylandts (Palmans-Ideal)          1.42
  2. H Van Dyck (Palmans-Ideal)       @    0.01
  3. Y Le Boulanger (Cofidis)

  1. G Toledo (Videoporteros Tegui)     2.47.38
  2. A García (Pinturas Banaka)       @    0.02
  3. A Encinar (Saunier Duval-Mapei)  @    0.43
  5. Ciaran Power 



Overall: 

  1. D Bruylandts (Palmans Ideal)      17.44.31
  2. A García (Pinturas Banaka)       @    0.17
  3. J Gomís (Cropusa)                @    0.21