A week after completing the 100th Tour de France, RADIOSHACK LEOPARD TREK’s Tony Gallopin brought his good form to the Clasica San Sebastian and rode himself into the winner’s circle with a perfectly timed attack in the final 15km. For Gallopin, 25, it was the biggest win in his promising career and made him only the third Frenchman to win the cherished classic.

Gallopin:  “I was so tired after the Tour de France and even disappointed because I couldn’t win a stage. But this morning I immediately knew that I had super good legs. I like the one-day races but this is the first time I’ve done this race so it was really new for me. But I’m so happy. To be here on the podium with Valverde and Kreuziger means a lot to me.” The 234km race took place in San Sebastian and included an all-star line-up of 66 Tour riders, including 14 from the top 20 and 7 from the top 10.

Tony Gallopin: “I already felt good on the Jaizkibel and then on the Arcale I could feel I was still good. As I knew Bob Jungels was coming back I didn’t dare attack but Alain gave me the green light. “

Team director ‘Uncle’ Alain Gallopin explained: “Tony told me he had good legs on the Arcale so I told him to go. Cycling is not complicated. I think the victory is well deserved. We didn’t start with one leader as we had many, many riders in good shape, like Bakie, Haimar, Tiago, Stijn and Bob. The fact that we’ve also won the Teams GC here illustrates the teamwork involved. Tony was probably the smartest guy as he didn’t waste his forces on the first climb of the Jaizkibel. Yesterday when we arrived from the airport we did a recon of that climb with Tony behind my car and he liked it. It was at that point he already showed his motivation.”

Riders from RadioShack- Leopard were active throughout the day, with several taking turns at the front in an effort to soften up the competition.  On the second ascent of the Jaizkibel climb, Gallopin was part of a 13-rider selection who quickly established a gap to the chasers. Seizing the moment, Gallopin made his decisive attack on the second time up the Arkale climb. A chasing group formed behind him but true organization was never seen and with his head down and eyes forward, Gallopin time trialed his way to the finish line to earn the right to wear the traditional Basque txapela.  Second and third places at 28-seconds went to Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and Roman Kreuziger of Saxo-Tinkoff, both coming off strong Tour performances that put them in the top ten on the general classification.

"I gave everything according to our plan to see where I would be on the top of the Arcale. I was alone, so I decided to go for it alone till the end. This is nice for me after a season with illness or mechanical problems at bad moments. This is a nice start of something new. Not that I will ask to be a leader now. I will not change. The team can continue to count on me."