Lastras happy with Eneco win

By Monika Prell

Pablo Lastras (Caisse d’Epargne) was delighted with his victory on Stage 6 of the Eneco Tour. It's been two years since the Spaniard's last victory of this level, with him taking victory on Stage 8 of the Tour de Suisse in 2005. "It was a long time that I tried to win and today I finally managed it," beamed the two times Vuelta a España stage winner. "It's really a big joy and I hope that I showed that I am able to have a great end of the season."

The 31 year-old, who is looking for a new squad in 2008 after Caisse d'Epargne said it wouldn't renew his contract, confirmed that he had focused on this stage from the beginning of the eight stage event. "I liked the course, with the Cauwberg which makes the Amstel Gold race famous," he said. "I knew that today was the day to try it. It was very important to go with the breakaway groups, and I tried it already when there were still 156 kilometres to go. I was lucky, this was the good group."

"Later on when I formed part of the group of 12 riders I had to try to escape," he added. "I accelerated together with [Anders] Lund at a bit less than 50 kilometres to Landgraaf. We worked well together and this was my fortune. I felt that I had the legs to accelerate again and I attacked at nine kilometres before the finish. In the last kilometre, I only had 10 seconds of advance, but I wanted absolutely this victory and I gave all, so that I could resist until the finish line."