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Astarloa stuns Hamilton field
Canada, Oct 14: Spain`s Igor Astarloa broke away three kilometres from the finish and held off the chase to win the world road race title in Canada.
The 27-year-old Astarloa launched a bold solo attack on the final climb said he was stunned by his achievement.
"I don't think I'm going to believe this even a year from now," he said.
Astarloa became the first Spaniard to win the Fleche-Wallonne one-day classic earlier this season.
The decisive move in the race came on the final 12.4km lap of the circuit when Van Petegem attacked the two-man break of Swiss Martin Elmiger and Dane Frank Hoj.
The Belgian took five other riders with him, including pre-race favourite Paolo Bettini, Astarloa, Oscar Camenzind, Michael Boogerd and Bo Hamburger and they went on to build a lead on the rest of the 92 riders remaining with only six kilometres to race.
Moments later and with the peloton fast closing in, Astarloa made a decisive move which his pursuers failed to respond to.
With a 10sec lead at the summit of the circuit's second climb the Spaniard was given just enough time to race downhill all the way towards the finish line.
Bureau Report