Cycling: Jalabert bringing the curtain down in style
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Your support makes all the difference.Laurent Jalabert was ecstatic and exhausted in equal measures after his sprint finish to win the San Sebastian Classic, part of the World Cup series.
Soon to retire, Jalabert admitted to being tired by the rigours of the cycling circuit but said he still gets the same thrills from winning races.
"I wanted so much to do well that I put myself under extra pressure and I was very tense," the Frenchman said after yesterday's win, adding that the fact that he was looking for his second consecutive triumph in Donostia helped calm him down.
"I attacked earlier than last year, I was relaxed then and calm because my experience has proved worthwhile and having won last year was also a help," he said. "It was a head wind and I knew that if I attacked from behind I would have a better chance of winning."
Jalabert dedicated his win to the Basque supporters, who turned out in their thousands for the race. "The win is for them, because they have always supported me. Now I hope I can keep focused enough to continue to the end of the World Cup." The Tour de France's king of the mountains added: "I am missing being at home, but I'll have plenty of time to be bored when I retire in two months time."
Jalabert powered clear of a field that included Lance Armstrong and Joseba Beloki, first and second in the Tour.
Armstrong, supporting his American team-mate George Hincapie, was in pursuit of the lead group on the long descent from Jaizkibel in the last 20 miles of the race. However, Hincapie fell and injured his shoulder and Armstrong finished back in the pack in 46th place.
Jalabert was part of a five-man group fiercely contesting the last nine miles toward the finish in the picturesque seaside city of Donostia
Spain's Igor Astarloa came in second, followed by Italian Gabriele Missaglia and Andrei Kivilev of Kazakstan. Dario Frigo finished fifth after leading into the home stretch.
Belgium's Johan Museeuw maintains his overall lead with 270 points after seven races in the 10-event World Cup series. He is followed in second place by Italian Paolo Bettini, who had 202 points, and Astarloa, with 152 points.
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