Fernando Tercero clinches his victory in the overall of the Volta a Galicia 2022, his second absolute classification in 2022
XX Volta a Galicia
Stage 4: Ponteareas – Ponteareas (124,7 km)
The rider of La Mancha Fernando Tercero clinched his victory in the overall final of the Volta a Galicia 2022 this Sunday after a final stage in which the partial victory came from a large breakaway that was selected as the kilometres went by and in which the yellow jersey responded firmly to the attacks it received during its development, especially in what was the hot point of the day: the climb to Estacas.
The breakaway triumphed in the streets of Ponteareas, one of the meccas of cycling in the Iberian Peninsula, cradle of winners of the Vuelta a España and multiple races. A large breakaway, 24 riders, in which several teams were represented in double figures and others had even more riders, such as Gomur (4), Cocinas Lasal (3) or Telco’m (3). Among them all, Carlos Gutiérrez (Cortizo) was the best placed in the general classification (5’30” behind the leader Tercero). The breakaway was selected, Gutiérrez always resisted in it and the U23 structure of the Contador Foundation did not stop setting the pace to keep it under control.
On the climb to Estacas the Telco’m riders tested the leader, who defended himself well and found the complementary help of Marcel Camprubí and Javi Serrano for the last kilometres in which, as far as the breakaway was concerned, they left nine riders in the lead with a margin of about two minutes.
That movement was composed of Samuel Fernández, Caja Rural; Guillermo Silva, Previley; the Gomur Ángel Coterillo, Jorge González and Jon Gil; Carlos Gutiérrez, from Cortizo; Daniel Martín and Álvaro García, from Telco’m; David González, from Team Extremadura. Nine riders who took part in the partial with victory for Jorge González.
Fernando Tercero: winner of the Volta a Galicia 2022: “Today we can say that we have won the race and, to be honest, I am very happy, it is a great pride to win a race with this level and with this organisation. The rivals made it very difficult for us, but thanks to the work of the team we were able to achieve this victory. We knew that the best classified of the breakaway was 5’35” and that we had to control it. On the pass Telco’m was very fast, but my team-mates always supported me. And after being pulling all day, they were still there, they didn’t let me go. I am very grateful. More than teammates, they are groups of friends. When the rivals make it so difficult for you, victory tastes better”.
Rafa Díaz Justo, director of EOLO-KOMETA Cycling Team U23: “They made it difficult for us, but when it’s like that it’s doubly worthwhile. There has always been a race, and a race with difficult moments. Today we had a great day as a team and that was the key to defend ourselves. In the end, without the work of our team-mates it was impossible. The stage had a trap, there was a rider who could be in the fight riding in the breakaway, and then there was the ‘picapica’ of the rivals, very hard, who attacked us a lot, they practically started in any mini climb”.
The Volta a Galicia, where he was third in 2021, is the second overall for Fernando Tercero this season after his victory in the Memorial Sanroma, as well as his fourth appearance on a stage race podium (second in the Bidasoa Itzulia), third in the Vuelta a Salamanca). This Volta a Galicia 2022 also means the fifth overall classification of the U23 structure of the Contador Foundation in this campaign that will be unforgettable (Camprubí, winner in Vuelta a Toledo Imperial and Vuelta a Cantabria; Piganzoli, Bidasoa Itzulia and the two stage races won by Fernando).
[📷 Álvaro García / Federación Gallega de Ciclismo]
