Javi Serrano finishes second in a Vuelta a Extremadura that closes with an active Andrea Pietrobon
Vuelta a Extremadura
Stage 5: Ahigal – Moraleja (150 km)
The Vuelta a Extremadura 2022 concluded this Sunday with a mid-mountain stage in the Sierra de Gata, in the Central System of Cáceres, in which the Ethiopian Mulu Hailemichael (Caja Rural) secured his victory in the final general classification. The last stage with rain and much cooler temperatures was won by Jorge González (Gomur), the fastest of the seven riders who arrived at the Avenida de Extremadura in Moraleja. Javi Serrano from Madrid, who was the leader of the race the first two days, finally finished in an outstanding second place.
In the last section of the Extremadura round, a more complicated terrain than the profile reflected; a complicated half-mountain in which the ascent to the last pass of the race, the Alto de Villamiel, stood out. On its ramps, however, nothing happened in terms of a fight for yellow. A breakaway arrived on the climb, eleven riders including Andrea Pietrobon and Manuel Oioli, and on the climb the breakaway was selected.
Finally, Pietrobon, Diego Uriarte and Yago Segovia, who had stood out when they passed through the village of Villamiel when David Delgado arrived from behind with new energy, managed to regroup on the subsequent terrain after a frantic descent by the Asturian, an ex-Foundation rider. With 18 km to go, Tomás Miralles and Jorge González arrived. The leading group would face a phase of attacks and counterattacks, always with half a minute over the peloton, and then Elkin Malaver and Raúl Casadelrrey would arrive in front. Seven would play for the win. In the sprint, Andrea Pietrobon finished sixth.
Javi Serrano, second overall: “We are very satisfied with this podium. We tried in every possible way, but Mulo was very strong and was the best. We are struggling to finish, personally, but we are always there and that’s good. The team has done a great job all round”.
Félix García Casas, director of the team in the Vuelta a Extremadura 2022: “It has been a very demanding edition, especially because of the tremendous heat during three days, in which we have done a good job with the victory in the team time trial on the first day in Zafra, with the collective work done during the following stages and with the presence in the breakaways with Manuel Oioli or Andrea Pietrobon. Javi has fought for the overall victory and the second place is a great prize for that work. The biggest pity was not being able to count on Ramón Fernández in the hard stages due to the fall on the second day. Ramón was in very good shape and I’m sure he would have done a sensational job in the castle of Herrera del Duque. Overall, we are satisfied with our performance”.
