A new Memorial Valenciaga with a summit finish puts the fight for the Spanish Cup back on the line
51º Memorial Valenciaga
Eibar – Santuario de Arrate (153,5 km)
When the COVID-19 crisis broke out, with the gradual return of the cycling calendar after the break caused by the health emergency, the return to the roads brought with it some changes in several races that seemed to be temporary but which, for the moment, have been prolonged over time. This is the case of the Memorial Valenciaga in Eibar, the great spanish amateur event, perhaps the one with the biggest name beyond the amateur field and among the general public. In 2020, the finish line was installed in the Sanctuary of Arrate, in that sacred mountain for cycling, and for the time being it will remain there for another year.
In 2022, the Valenciaga Memorial will once again feature a tough route and a high finish. This circumstance changes the approach of the race and even the profile of the riders who aspire to raise their arms in an event that is a direct springboard to professionalism. In Arrate, a climber or a cyclist who can defend himself very well uphill will win.
The EOLO-KOMETA Cycling Team U23 returns to the Basque Country with a strong line-up, with a good pedal stroke in both the Italian and Spanish calendars. Ramón Fernández, Fran Muñoz and Andrea Pietrobon are loyal to the Cup, while the ‘seven’ selected by Rafa Díaz Justo will be completed in Gipuzkoa by David Domínguez, Arnau Gilabert, Davide Piganzoli and Fernando Tercero. A line-up of many carats. The guy from La Mancha finished tenth last year.
Three riders from the U23 structure are currently in the top ten of the provisional general classification. Italian Andrea Pietrobon, who started as leader in the Clásica de Torredonjimeno, is in third place, behind leader Mikel Retegi and Andoni López de Abetxuko, with 263 points. Fifth is Fran Muñoz, with 232. And ninth, with 150 points gathered in only two participations in this Cup edition, one with a victory in the Aiztondo Klasika, is Fernando Tercero. “The Clásica de Torredonjimeno was a very tough race, but after it we are still in the race and the Cup still has many points left”, says Muñoz.
Rafa Díaz Justo, director of the U23 team: “At the end of the day, the Spanish Cup is eleven races and it’s not a bad thing that there is one for pure climbers. It opens up the range of contenders for victory or a good result. At this stage of the season there are several teams at a very good level. In our case, we have a strong team for this type of route. The Valenciaga is a complex route, but we can adapt well if there are no crashes or breakdowns. We travel motivated, aware of the weight in the race given by two men well placed in the general classification”.
