Luis Leon Sanchez Gil of Spain won gold in the men's road race at the Baku 2015 European Games on Sunday afternoon in a time of five hours, 27 minutes, 25 seconds.
Andriy Grivko of Ukraine, who like Sanchez rides for Astana, took silver and Petr Vakoc bronze.after being in a break which stayed clear for all the race.
With a hundred metres to go, Spanish rider Jesus Herrada led out his team mate Luis Leon Sanchez, who was third in the time trial to take the win.
"Today was a super hard race," third placed Vakoc said to the Etixx Quick Step team press office. "The parcours was hard, including a section with the cobblestones, and the pace was always high. In the last 4 or 5 laps we accelerated even more. I tried to go away on one of the last laps, but the action didn't work as I planned. So I waited until the last lap and I accelerated on the last climb. Herrada, Grivko, Sanchez, and I went together to the line ahead of the peloton, but for the sprint I didn't have the legs to contest the victory. But in any case I am super happy about this race, because it is a medal for my nation, which was the 4th in all the European Games for the Czech Republic. So I am proud about my bronze medal. The entire experience was nice. It was like a small Olympic Games.
"In 2016 I really hope to be a part of the selection for the Czech Republic in Rio. It would be a dream and I will try to do my best to be there. As for the European Games, I didn't know what to expect from a race like that but now I am happy I did it, and was prepared to perform well there after a hard race like the Giro.
"I will come back immediately to the Czech Republic and ride both the time trial and road national championships. My goal is to try to do well there. It won't be easy with a lot of good riders, but I will try my best."
Source: DSG
