Ride Of My Life: Xabier Zandio

Xabier Zandio relives the week he switched from domestique to team leader, and claimed his sole professional victory.

Bike riders don't come much more selfless than Xabier Zandio. He's only won one race in 15 seasons as a professional, spending the rest of that time sacrificing his own chances of success for others.  As our new feature continues, we talk to Xabi about the week in which he switched from domestique to team leader - and made it count!

Saturday 9 August 2008: Vuelta a Burgos - overall victory

Xabi - as pro wins go, winning a tough Spanish stage race like the Vuelta a Burgos overall is a pretty good one!

Yes I think so! The day I won the Vuelta a Burgos sticks out for me the most. It was back in 2008 but I remember it well and it was a beautiful day for me. It's my most important victory and my only one as a professional. It's the day I remember the most.

The race was blown apart on the opening stage but you still had to hold on for four more days. Explain to us a bit about the race that year.

In Caisse d'Epargne we were a strong team with Purito [Joaquim Rodriguez], Dani [Moreno] and Jose [Rujano]. But on the first day into Villarcayo I found myself in the break and I was able to take 29 seconds on all the pre-race favourites. After this, everybody said 'Hey OK, we work for you'. Just like that everything completely switched from my normal role. I remember being very nervous as that is not my world, being a leader. Normally I work for others.

The next three stages ended in sprints and I was quite tense, but on the last day I had the strength to win the overall. After all the pressure, when you've finally crossed the line and you can win, it's a great feeling.

To win the race you had to conquer the infamous climb of Lagunas de Neila.

Yes, the last day finished on the Lagunas de Neila. In Spain it's a big, famous climb. It is sometimes used towards the end of the Vuelta, but always at the end of Burgos. It's hard. The last 10km are really tough. There are a few sections of downhill but then the last 2km is really steep. I'm a heavy guy (laughs). I know I am not a super climber like some of the other riders. It was complicated for me but I was able to win.

How did it feel getting the win after such a long time as a pro?

I remember when I was younger I was able to win more races. That felt good but this was different. As a professional there is bigger competition and so it is much tougher to win. After the finish all my family and friends were happy and were calling me.

You've dedicated your career to helping others as a domestique. Looking back, what does this success mean to you?

I know what my role is in cycling and I know what I am good at - and that is to work for other people. This race I was able to take a chance and things changed. But I know there are going to be team-mates stronger than me. In 15 years - one time! It was a beautiful victory and a day I'll always remember.