Álex Martín and Fernando Tercero, in the leading group playing for the victory in Maliaño

Vuelta Ciclista a Cantabria
Stage 1: Maliaño-Maliaño (145,9 km)

The proximity of El Churi to the finish line, with a double pass within the last twenty kilometres, was fundamental for the resolution of the Cantabrian opening, a first stage in which Kevin Suárez imposed his speed tip within the reduced platoon, 29 units, which faced the last straight. A group where Álex Martín and Fernando Tercero were riding on behalf of the Kometa-Xstra Cycling Team u23. The Catalan finished twelfth and twenty-fourth in La Mancha.

A first stage full of alternatives, with many attempts to escape and some escapes achieving a certain advantage. From the beginning, in the fight, the Froiz Iván Martínez. In the approach to the first pass through El Churi, within the last fifty kilometres of the stage, the u23 team of the Contador Foundation worked as a block for a few bars to reduce the advantage of a breakaway of four riders (Iván Martínez, Froiz; Arnau Fonollosa, Caja Rural; Abner González, Telco’m; and Gaizka Sotil, Caja Laboral) and put them on track to be absorbed. Yago Segovia and the Czech David Andrlé were crucial in this phase of the race.

Hardened by a first pass through El Churi marked by the rhythm of Gomur, near the second ascent, a small head group was reached in which Álex Martín managed to roll in a few bars. Minimal differences with a platoon compared to a platoon in whose vanguard David Martín was filming. The very fast Andalusian could not crown among the first or connect with the small group that was completed after the descent.

This Friday, in a stage similar to the inaugural one, 141 kilometres with start and finish on the Colindres coast and passing through the Alto de Campolayal, on the slope of the sanctuary of La Bien Aparecida (6.5 kilometres at 6.2% and some ramps above 10%), in the last phase of the race.

(automatic translation, sorry for mistakes)