Facing a new race that sees the light, over a passionate area and with a very promising future

I Challenge La Subbética
From 18 to 20 September

It is always wonderful news that new careers are born. New organisations, or not so new, that start up projects with that enthusiasm and freshness that are always fundamental in any company. But that they are also emerging in a season like 2020, absolutely marked by the coronavirus health crisis, the confinement and postponement of many sporting events, is a double joy. We would like to thank the organisation and institutions in advance for their firm commitment, initially planned for the month of May.

The new La Subbética Cycling Challenge will not be covering unknown terrain for cycling. On the contrary. They are places that in recent decades have seen platoons of the Vuelta a España or the Vuelta a Andalucía pass through and which have also been commonplace in the setting up of trials in the amateur or training field, for both boys and girls. Who has not heard of the Vuelta Ciclista a Carcabuey?

It will not be an easy race in terms of orography, nor will it be one of the longest in terms of mileage. Six high score points mark the entire route, which brings together 236 kilometres between the three days. With the climb up to Alto de Carcabuey very close to the finish line on the first day (1.2 km at 6.5% with peaks of 12%) it is the pass through Sierra Cristina on the second day that appears to be the key to the fight for the red jersey as the definitive leader.

Fuente de Tojar and Cerro de la Cruz will have already hardened this second stage, although the profile presents many other ascents that do not score for the grand prize of the mountain; and yet, the transit through Sierra Cristina will be crucial. This 927 metre high pass, not in vain, presents more than eight kilometres at an average of more than 5% and its summit is eleven kilometres from the finish

Pedro Beneit from Alicante, Arnau Gilabert from Catalonia, David Gimeno from Cantabria, Antonio González from Soria, Pablo García from Valencia and Marius Knight-Chaneac and José Luis Medina from Andalusia make up the ‘seven’ with whom the Kometa-Xstra Cycling Team will take part.

The stages.
18 September: Cabra-Carcabuey (60.9 km).

19 September: Priego de Córdoba-Priego de Córdoba (93.4 km).

20 September: Lucena-Lucena (81.5 km).

(automatic translation, sorry for mistakes)