Oscar Orts 4th on a active day of the team
The junior squad faced the second round of the Copa de España with Oscar Orts in eighth position. La Canonja hosted the Trofeo 15 d’abril over a course of 121 kilometres and 2000 metres of positive climb. The race, with different attacks of cyclist of the team reached the last kilometres in a tense battle between the bunch and the head of the race with Jose Miguel Moreira. Finally the victory was decided by sprint with a great performance of Óscar Orts finishing in fourth position.
At the start of the race, a breakaway was formed, not being a big threat for the bunch, which maintained the gap at around 30″. At the first climb of the day, the Coll de Mont-Ral, the bunch chased them down with the increased pace of the race. Héctor Teruel managed to take second place at the top while three other team-mates rode with him in the main group. During the next climb, the Coll de Capafonts, one rider managed to open a gap on his own, but the very reduced group chased him down. On the third pass, the Coll de La Musara, Jose Miguel Moreira attacked and managed to breakaway with two other riders. On the descent the breakaway was neutralised, but soon after a group of eight riders was formed with Moreira again taking the lead.
The battle went on for about fifteen kilometres between the escapees and the teams without representation at the head of the race. With less than two kilometres to go, the bunch was grouped again and Óscar Orts managed to take 4th place as the best rider of the team. Matteo Compagnoni, Héctor Teruel and Miguel Moreira himself were also in the leading group.
Isaac Cantón was positive about the result and the team’s performance after the race: “Hector has been very active in the climbing zone and Moreira also did a great job. They have done a great race, being attentive and well positioned”.
Jose Miguel Moreira was the protagonist during the race in his return to competition. His feelings were good and positive: “Today I felt good and I was always as far ahead of the peloton as possible. In the climbs, as I was ahead, I was calm and confident. On the last mountain pass, on Isaac’s orders, I attacked and I was only joined by two riders. On the descent we were joined by a group of riders who I found it hard to follow because after the fall in Cabedo I was a bit scared, but I stayed with them and they only caught us 1 kilometre from the finish. In short, the sensations were good after two bad weekends, and I’m still focused on achieving more things and taking the team’s name to the top”.
Óscar Orts showed his speed in a favourable final. The Valencian rider valued the race which, although hard, was satisfactory because of the team’s work. He was closed by other riders in the last kilometre but could manage to be fourth although the result could have been better with a better position as he commented at the end of the race. In addition, he suffered a small fall at the beginning of the race, but it didn’t affect his performance.
