Antonio Gonzalez 4th in Gorla
The under-23 team arrived to the race in Gorla with the highest intentions. An initial crash, which forced the race to be neutralised, and a great breakaway marked the development of the race. Antonio González was part of the breakaway and finished 4th in one of the best races of the year for climbers.
The 128-kilometre race with two climbs to Elosua-Gorla was affected from the early stages by a fall that forced the race to be neutralised. The stoppage was long and the organisers decided to reduce the total distance. Despite the breakaway attempts, the bunch started compactly the first of the climbs.
One kilometre from the summit Pablo García attacked and opened up a 25″ lead. He was first up the first climb, but the goup caught him during the descent and subsequent kilometres on a slight ascent. In that intermediate zone, a group of 19 riders stood out from the bunch. Antonio González was very attentive and managed to form part of that group. There were different attempts to break the breakaway but they arrived united at the foot of the decisive climb. The peloton started the climb at 1’40”, but they did not manage to catch them. Antonio González put his rhythm and finally signed a great 4th position.
“On the first climb I was ahead and I felt very good. On the false flat I got into the leading group where we should have had more people. I was on the wheel because there were teams with a lot of riders. I thought they were going to catch us from behind, but we got there together. There were a lot of attacks on the last climb, but I went at my own pace, as I know myself, I thought it was the right thing to do. I’m already getting some good results on a personal level after a start to the season in which I’ve struggled to get going”, said Antonio González, the protagonist of the prestigious Basque race.
Rafael Díaz, sports director: “we had a breakaway of 19 riders where Antonio was the only one member of the team and although we worked behind it was impossible to neutralise them. We lost the race even though Antonio was well positioned”.
Photos: ZIKLIAMATORE
