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Dekker praises Posthuma's riding

By Gregor Brown

published 17 February 2009

Joost Posthuma of Rabobank combined an eighth place finish in the first stage of the Vuelta a...

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Joost Posthuma(Image credit: Bert Geerts)

Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) timed his sprint to perfection against Samuel Sanchez(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

A relaxed Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) rolls up to sign on. (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) is already out of overall contention.(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Joost Posthuma of Rabobank combined an eighth place finish in the first stage of the Vuelta a Andalucía yesterday with a second place in the prologue to gain the lead in the race's overall lead by two seconds.

"Joost has good legs right now and he rode particularly well," Directeur Sportif Erik Dekker said on the team's website.

On Monday in stage one, the 27-year-old was one of a group of nine who finished three seconds ahead of the main field, but he only caught up to that group within the last kilometre. Dekker praised his rider for his attentiveness.

"Finishing second by three-tenths of a second is frustrating," Posthuma said of the opening 7.3-kilometre time trial on Sunday.

He made up for it on Monday, though. "I was especially happy for the team. They supported me well the whole day and in the finale brought me forward perfectly. Without their work I would not have won this battle."

Dekker believes that Posthuma can go on to win the race and become the third Rabobank rider to do so. Dekker himself won it in 2001. The only problem he sees is in the final stage, which has a climb in the finale. (SW)