Álex Martín: “They have been days of much learning that contribute a lot of motivation”
The Bidasoa Itzulia has left several very attractive readings in the heart of the Kometa Cycling Team under23. One of them was the fifth place in the final general classification of the Catalan Álex Martín. The Barcelona rider was one of the mainstays of the formation in the support to Alejandro Ropero’s leadership and he has also been key in the conquest of the general by teams of the Basque race. In his first year in the category, Martín showed a great state of form and won the general classification for under 20 riders, the classification that points to the best young people within a test essentially focused on young riders ((and in which second ended his teammate Alessandro Fancellu).
“Personally, I felt very good. And it’s very rewarding to have those good feelings day after day as you work for your team and your teammates. Every day I’ve come a long way ahead and that’s what made me finish so high in the standings. The advantage was Alejandro and we gave everything for him”, explains the Barcelona cyclist.
Martín was one of the most outstanding riders of the junior panorama in 2018, season in which he competed in the youth structure of the Alberto Contador Foundation. Winner of the demanding Tour of l´Ain or the prestigious Tour of Besaya, Martin also finished second overall in the Spanish Cup, where he won the victory in the inaugural event of the Memorial Joan Bautista Llorens. The change of category is on the right track.
“If it’s hard this change? Yes, it’s the truth; that’s how it is. Luckily, I’m getting a good orientation within the team. They make me see things in a realistic way, they are taking me little by little so that I continue with my progression and I don’t stagnate. That’s why this last week leaves me with a great taste in my mouth, they have been days of a lot of learning and they provide a lot of motivation for everything to come. The truth is that I was especially excited about competing in Bidasoa, which is one of the most important races on the calendar and I had been preparing it with a lot of enthusiasm and enthusiasm,” explains Martin.
Beyond the evolution of the last stage of the Vuelta al Bidasoa, Martín values the overall experience very positively: “Obviously it’s a shame to lose the race on the last day, but we have to leave very happy because we did everything we could. We played our tricks, all of them, and it couldn’t be done any more. We emptied ourselves completely. Alejandro arrived at a spectacular moment of form and the route suited him very well. The first day confirmed that he was there to win. We were very clear that we had to be with him at the top. And we were on top”.
(automatic translation, sorry for mistakes)