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Spaniard Carlos Barredo won the San Sebastian Classic when he used some crafty tactics in the last of his three late attacks to secure the biggest victory of his career.

The Quick Step rider (pictured centre) outsprinted Czech Roman Kreuziger after the duo had powered away close to the finish of the rain-soaked 237km Classic, Spain's biggest one-day race.

France's Mickael Delage led in the main chase group seven seconds behind for third.

"I had to take a lot of risks to win this race, but it finally paid off," Barredo said.

"First I attacked with (Frenchman Pierrick) Fedrigo, then a second time with (Spaniard Luis Leon) Sanchez and last of all with Kreuziger.

"In the last kilometre I pretended I had run out of energy, then surprised him with a late sprint.

"You've got to be crafty like that in cycling if you want to win."

With his previous best win a stage in Paris-Nice 2008, the 28-year-old Barredo said his victory was "the biggest of my career so far and hopefully a turning point".

He dedicated the victory to his team.

"We had a poor Tour de France, and this victory puts us back on the map," he said.

Runner-up Kreuziger said he was disappointed at losing so narrowly and that he had lost focus in the final kilometre.

"I was more worried we'd get caught by a chase group than about sprinting against Barredo and that probably cost me the win," he commented.

Several riders, amongst them Barredo, crashed on the waterlogged descent of the Jaizkebel climb, 30km from the finish.

"I hit my left thigh and knee quite badly when I came off," Barredo said.

"But fortunately I got back on my bike quickly and could stay in the front of the race."

Results:

1 Carlos Barredo (SPN) Quick-Step

2 Roman Kreuziger (CZE) Liquigas

3 Mickael Delage (FRA) Silence - Lotto

4 Peter Velits (SVK) Milram

5 Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Garmin

6 Filippo Pozzato (ITA) Katusha

7 Christophe Riblon (FRA) AG2R

8 Sergei Ivanov (RUS) Katusha

9 Ruben Perez (SPN) Euskaltel

10 Marco Pinotti (ITA) Columbia-HTC

Reuters