Ropero, 19 seconds from the winner at the start of Salamanca

47 Vuelta Ciclista a Salamanca
Stage 1: Saucelle – Saucelle (4,8 km CRI).

Antonio Soto (Lizarte) from Murcia became the first leader of the reborn Vuelta Ciclista a Salamanca after a demanding initial time of less than five kilometres that gave rise to the first differences in a general classification where Alejandro Ropero from Granada, after his great participation with the Polartec-Kometa continental team in the Vuelta a Burgos, finished 19 seconds behind Soto, set the seventh best time of the stage.

A not easy time trial where Lizarte placed four of their six riders in the top ten. “The time trial was very hard. And we’re seeing, and we’ve already been given brushstrokes in Xátiva, that are very strong at the moment,” says director Rafa Díaz Justo from the bordering territory between Spain and Portugal.

“I am by no means a specialist in this discipline, but I have done my best. This has just begun. In this race there is a lot of level, there are still three very hard days left and we are going to keep on giving everything. Day by day”, said Ropero, seventh in the provisional general standings.

José Antonio García signed the 21st time, 29 seconds from Soto.  35 ceded Carlos García, 39 Jorge Pastor, 47 Daniel Viegas and 49 Daniele Cantoni.  The Polartec-Kometa left the inaugural stage as the sixth formation among the 21 participants.

“The race is super open. There are a lot of very good people, a lot of powerful and interesting teams and a very hard course. We want to have a nice race and that’s where we’re at, to see if our fortune is with us,” adds Díaz Justo.
This Friday a demanding second stage will be held that will unite Sardón de los Frailes and Retortillo on 148 kms not easy. A stage with a rather complicated first two thirds, with a very rough terrain and up to five high points in the third category for the Grand Prix of the mountain.

(automatic translation, sorry for mistakes)