Alejandro Ropero, new leader of the Volta a Galicia catapulted by his third place in Baiona
XVIII Volta Ciclista a Galicia
Stage 2: Baiona-Baiona (137 km)
Alejandro Ropero from Granada ascended to the leadership of the Volta a Galicia after finishing third in a very crazy second stage in which the last climb, five kilometres from the finish in Rúa Elduayen de Baiona, was fundamental for its resolution. After this ascent, Jorge Montenegro (Aluminios Cortizo), Jacobo Ucha (Club Ciclista Vigués), Martín Lestido (Froiz) and Ropero himself stood out, who would play the triumph in a sprint where the cyclist from Aluminios Cortizo won. The first squad, 21 units, reached four seconds.
Montenegro, Ucha, Lestido and Ropero stood out from the pack of thirty units, five riders of the Kometa present, which was formed after the mountain pass of more entity, the Alto da Groba. Initially five riders would stand out in the lead in the subsequent descent, with 20 kilometers until the finish, but the work of the Kometa Cycling Team and Lizarte allowed this movement to end with less than fifteen by the end.
Alesandro Fancellu, eighth, Edu Pérez-Landaluce, fifteenth, Álex Martín, sixteenth, and Sergio García, twenty-sixth, finished within this chasing pack and underpin the first provisional position of the under23 team of the Alberto Contador Foundation in the overall team. “The few differences between the first have made the race was quite controlled among the favorites, although from time to time it was possible to leave some escape that did not bother,” said director Rafa Diaz Justo.
Alejandro Ropero, new leader and also in front of the general among the U23 riders: “The climb has been quite selective. We stayed in the group about thirty cyclists and facing the finish line, once we all gathered in front, we were clear that the race was going to play in the climb to the lighthouse that was very close to the finish line. The team was once again great and the best of all is that up to four riders are still in the fight”.
The overall is kept with up to ten riders separated by just 12 seconds. Ropero is dressed as leader with three seconds of margin on Roger Adriá, Ferran Torrent and Martí Márquez, the three of the Lizarte. Fancellu, Pérez-Landaluce and Martín are located in the sixth, seventh and eighth places.
“The race is still very open and there are two hard stages due to the climate and the hardness of the route. Personally I will focus on the day to day, giving my best to try to finish the year well, but without more pressure than that,” said the new leader. This Saturday, 151 kilometers between Teixeiro and Curtis that promise battle with the two steps by the Alto de Queimada, the last one less than five kilometers to the end.
(automatic translation, sorry for mistakes)
