Sánchez, Clement Win National Titles

Clement was one of four Rabobank men to finish in the top-10 in the Time Trial National Championships in The Netherlands. Cor Vos photo.
 
Spaniard Luis León Sánchez and Dutchman Stef Clement each won a national championship this weekend as Rabobank riders of various nationalities competed in their respective national road and time trial championships.

Sánchez and Clement each won a national title in time trial competition, earning the right to wear a national champion’s jersey for the next year.

Sánchez put in a strong ride on his Giant Trinity Advanced SL, beating the current Giro d’Italia champion Alberto Contador by 1:12 in the 44.5km Spanish Time Trial Championship. The win, on a 44.5km course in Cuevas de San Jose, was the second straight and third overall for Sánchez.

Clement was one of four Rabobank riders to finish in the top-10 in the Netherlands Time Trial Championship. He won the race in Veendam with a time of 56:56. His Rabobank teammates Maarten Tjallingii, Dennis Van Winden and Jos Van Emden finished 7th, 8th and 9th respectively.

Rabobank also had a podium finisher in the Dutch men’s road race. Bram Tankink rode his Giant TCR Advanced SL to second-place, narrowly missing the win in a sprint finish against Pim Ligthart.

26 iunie 2011