Best team and Iker Díaz 3rd on the Classic Araba
The junior team’s return to competition was just as successful as their last race. They came close to victory and were the best team in a very demanding Clasica Araba Vitoria-Gasteiz. Iker Díaz finished third after an attack by Robinson Rincón was neutralised 500 metres from the finish line.
The race started very fast and after the first pass through Zaldiaran (3rd) Óscar Orts joined a breakaway with five other riders. The breakaway, a long way from the finish line, rode with a very cautious Óscar who proved to be in great form because when the peloton neutralized that movement he managed to stay at the front together with Eleazar Jiménez who attacked from behind. Both Órts and Jiménez decided to lift their foot as a chasing group had formed behind with Iker Díaz and Iván Loaisa. The bunch increased the pace and managed to counteract this movement.
Already at the 100th kilometre of the race the forces began to lack and after multiple attacks a new breakaway was formed in a moment of respite in the large group. Hector Teruel entered the group along with nine other riders. The peloton again increased the pace as the group began to threaten the chances of victory of the riders behind. The peloton came back together again with 20 kilometres to go. A new attacking group managed to open up an advantage with three riders, including Iván Loaisa. From behind, Robinson Rincón managed to arrive with a strong attack and Iker Díaz infiltrated a chasing group a few seconds behind. On the last climb to Zaldiaran Robinson attacked and went solo. Two of the riders who were with him in the breakaway caught up with him and rode together until the last few metres. The lack of collaboration meant that the breakaway and the chasing group were unified, with a total of 10 riders to fight for the victory with Rincón, Loaisa and Díaz on the team’s side. In the uphill sprint Diaz was third with Loaisa fourth and Rincon ninth. Jimenez took the mountains prize and the team was the best squad.
Iker Díaz fought for the victory in a great Clasica Araba Vitoria-Gasteiz of the team without final reward: “I think we had a good race. Robinson took the lead, but then our group caught him and Iván and I did what we could in the sprint. It’s very difficult to win the sprint for Adrià, because we all know when he’s riding. Now comes the most important part of the season and I’m looking forward to training well and having a good rest after finishing my studies and the university entrance exams”.
Isaac Cantón finished satisfied with the cyclists’ race despite their failures: “The victory is still not there, but the most important thing is that they have to learn from the good and bad things they have done in the race. I know that it is difficult to make certain decisions when the race is upside down because they have their pulse racing at 200, but in general the level of the team is good and we are ready for the Vuelta al Besaya. From the first to the last they have done a great job, they are doing great. We have had the return of Robinson who has shown good pace in the mountains and I think we have to be satisfied”.
