Before the stage race with a more generous ration of time trial of the Spanish amateur calendar
IX Volta a la Provincia de Valencia
From 5 to 8 September
Alessio Acco, Joan Martí Bennassar, Alessandro Fancellu, Carlos García, Sergio García, Edu Pérez-Landaluce and Alejandro Ropero are the seven riders summoned by Rafa Díaz Justo to take part in a new edition, the ninth, of the Volta a la Provincia de Valencia. The Ronda Levantina, organised by the Comunitat Valenciana Cycling Federation (FCCC), presents a route in line with those offered in recent editions, standing out especially for a long time trial that emerges as a ‘rara avis’ in the context of cycling competitions in the state amateur camp.
“The Volta a Valencia is the only elite and U23 stage race in Spain that includes a time trial with this distance”, explained Amadeo Olmos, chairman of the FCCV, weeks ago during the official presentation of this stage. With 22 kilometres, no less, this stage presents itself as a very propitious day for Joan Martí Bennassar’s great aptitudes. The Mallorcan took bronze in the last two editions of the Spanish Championships in this discipline.
“There are not many races in which there is a time trial and much less so long. For a rider of my characteristics is a special day, one of the most important of the year from a more individual prism. For those of us who like the time trial, we don’t have many opportunities like that. Last year I didn’t have my best day, I had a strong pain in my mouth because my wisdom teeth were coming out and I ended up doing an eighth position that this year I hope to improve a lot. I arrive at a good moment of form and I see myself with good legs”.
Beyond the time trial, the route presents master guides very similar to those of 2018, with a queen stage that will return to the Alto Turia region, although shortening its mileage and varying the start and finish with respect to last year, and a final stage that will again be disputed in the town of Moncada, always fixed in the routes of the race since its birth, in 2011.
The Valencian round also presents the particularity that among the participating formations will be the Spanish selection of the youth category directed by Paco Cerezo. The idea, given the lack of junior competitions at this stage of the year, and in line with what has been done for some years in Italy with the absolute selection, is that the runners maintain the pace of competition in the weeks prior to the world championships. In this national selection the Kometa Cycling Team junior will have four riders represented: Raúl García, Carlos Rodríguez, Javier Serrano and Fernando Tercero.
The stages.
5 September: Valencia-Riba-roja (130.5 km).
6th September: Lliria-Lliria (22 km CRI).
7 September: Aras de los Olmos-Benageber (125 km).
8 September: Moncada-Moncada (122.3 km).
