The Copa de España is resolved in the Vigo area over more than 4,000 metres of accumulated height difference
II Vigo Copa de España
Vigo – Monte A Madroa (180 km)
A very special race. The second edition of the Vigo Copa de España, promoted by the Club Ciclista Rias Baixas, is set to be one of the most important cycling events of the year in the elite and U23 field this Sunday, due to its very difficult orography. More than 4,000 meters of accumulated unevenness put at stake the last points of this edition of the Spanish Cup, a final appointment with a lot of attraction for the U23 team of the Contador Foundation to arrive with Fran Muñoz at the head of the absolute general.
The team led by Rafa Díaz Justo will take part with a ‘seven’ composed by Marcel Camprubí, David Domínguez, Ramón Fernández, Arnau Gilabert, Fran Muñoz, Andrea Pietrobon and Fernando Tercero. A formation with a high level when the road looks upwards. And the Galician race demands climbing skills in 2022.
The Vigo Copa de España was already planned as the last race of the Copa de España, but the sine die postponement of the Momparler Memorial had opened the possibility that it would not be so. A few days ago, however, the Real Federación Española de Ciclismo confirmed that the Valencian race was definitively suspended this year and the Vigo Copa de España regained its status.
The route, of course, is well worth it. Because of the mileage, as it will climb to 180 kilometres, and because of the six punctuated climbs (plus the odd additional one that does not, but which accumulates wear and tear and fatigue) that will mark the route.
A Groba (9.5 km at 6.3% average gradient), Aloia (7.2 km at 7.9%), Monte Alba (9.5 km at 5%), Monte Galiñeiro (3.1 km at 8%), Fonte dos Cien Anos (7.7 km at 4%) and the final ascent to A Madroa up to the accesses to the zoo (3 km at 6.%) make up Sunday’s menu.
“In terms of the tournament, this is the toughest Cup so far. There hasn’t been a race like this before, especially with the accumulated time of the day and with the climbs at the top of the climb. It is true that this year in the Cup we have had several high finishes, such as Valenciaga or Aiztondo, but Vigo is undoubtedly the hardest. A very complicated stage to defend a leadership, but we will try to win a title that we have not yet achieved with the U23 team of the Foundation”, explains Rafa Díaz Justo, the team’s director.
