“A race that brings a lot to the kids”

All the first times in a life are unforgettable and this Vuelta Ciclista a Pamplona will be no exception in the collective imagination of the youth structure of the Contador Foundation. A beautiful race, very disputed, full of alternatives and accompanied with a great atmosphere. Gerard Cano, on the verge of the top ten (13th at the end), was the best classified in a final general classification where Aimar Alarcia (Iruki) won.

In the final stage, a breakaway formed in two movements and a regrouping (at the end, fourteen riders) which had no presence of EOLO-KOMETA youth riders, a lot of work at the front of the peloton to try to bring it down. In the final part, with the last exponents of the breakaway slightly ahead, acceleration from the peloton by the Argentinean Bernardo Cambareri (Alimco-Campagnolo) to catch them and win in the finish on a slight slope.

Gerard Cano: “It has been a complicated lap, which has been very hard. On the third day I felt very good and I attacked on the big climb of the day. We managed to get four riders away, but we couldn’t finish the ride. The team was sensational, they supported me at all times and thanks to them I was able to continue with aspirations to climb positions in the general classification and finally maintain that position in the general classification. The feelings during the race, in general, have been good and we leave with the feeling that we are getting in better shape”.

Isaac Cantón, team manager: “We leave satisfied with the work done, a very intense race every day, from the beginning to the end. A look at the classification leaves me with a bit of a bitter feeling, of injustice, from the point of view that the good work the guys have done in all the stages has not been matched. The boys have been proactive, always attentive to instructions and have done an immense job with their share of independence and maturity. A good example is the work of this final stage, where they have been working many kilometres to try to turn around an unfavourable race situation. A race that brings a lot to the boys. And once again we would like to thank the Sociedad Ciclista Ermitagaña for inviting us to take part. A wonderful debut and hopefully it won’t be the last time”.

[? Alimco-Campagnolo (1), Club Ciclista Estella (2), Isaac Cantón (3)]