Luis Leon Sanchez has had a difficult first few months at Caja Rural but finally found back to his winning ways when he won yesterday's final stage of the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon. The Spaniard was pleased to put his struggles behind him and will now take a rest to prepare for the second half of the season.

After his controversies with the Belkin team, Luis Leon Sanchez was signed by Caja Rural to lead the team in the biggest races but until now he has failed to live up to the lofty expectations. He got it all off to a great start when his very first race with the team in the first stage of Tropicale Amissa Bongo but since then things haven't gone his way.

Yesterday it finally came together for the former Paris-Nice winner when he made one of his trademark attack to catch and pass lone leader Benat Txoperena. He managed to keep the peloton at bay, crossing the line with a healthy advantage to take his second win of the season.

"I am very happy with the win," he said. "I was ina group of around 25 riders. I attacked on the descent and caught Txoperena. He was unfortunate to crash after being hit by a motorcycle. Luckily, I managed to reach the finish without getting caught by the peloton.

"I want to thank my teammates for their support. In the first days I was not feeling good. Since March I have had no rhythm and been more tired than usual. I was fortunate, we won and I am very happy.

"We came with the intention to do well. The team wanted to perfom as it is a race that we like and is important for Caja Rural that plays a huge role in the area. You can always do better but a stage win and second overall is a positive balance so we leave the race with a good feeling.

"Now I will take a rest, knowing that my teammates will continue to do well and are extremely motivated. The team is still very good but it is always difficult to win and we have been close so many times. This win is an extra motivate to resume training and get to the next phase with good condition. Now I will take a rest for a few days with a good taste in my mouth."

Marcos Garcia defended his 2nd place overall that he took by finishing a runner-up in yesterday's queen stage.

"I felt good. I'm happy, but also disappointed," he said. "I wanted to win the second stage that would also allow me to fight for the overall. One day later the team did a great job to win a stage that was easier. Fortunately Luis Leon could finish it off.

"Now I travel to Germany [for the Bayern Rundfahrt] and hope to have the same feelings. I have felt good since Trentino and like to use those good sensations before taking a rest."

Manager Eugenio Goikoetxea was pleased with the team's third win of the year.

"We leave with a good balance, a stage win, 2nd overall and the teams classification," he said. "It has been a good Vuelta a Castilla y Leon for the team. In the last stage we wanted to fight for the overall win but once we saw that it was impossible, we focused on the stage and the teams classification. This is a good win for the team and for Sanchez who will be extra motivated for his next targets.

"Now we go to Norway and Germany. The team will do well and show off our sponsors, please the race organizers and try to win again."