Gerard Cano triumphs in Berriatua and opens the EOLO-KOMETA structure’s locker in 2023

First victory of the season both for the junior team and for all the sport structures of the EOLO-KOMETA Cycling Team. In the Bizkaia town of Berriatua, in the framework of its Aitxekutz Saria, in a wet edition, Gerard Cano won alone. The rider from Girona achieved success on Saturday after an attack before the last climb to Mereludi in which he amassed a few seconds of advantage that he managed to defend on the subsequent terrain. Manuel Sanroma came close to the podium, fourth, in a race where the EOLO-KOMETA Cycling Team climbed the podium as the best team and Cano himself won the general classification in the mountains.

Until Cano’s attack, the whole team led by Gorka Beloki also played a great role. Daniel Díaz joined a breakaway of six riders that led the race for a few kilometres and reached the first pass through Mereludi. The seven of the EOLO-KOMETA Cycling Team was in charge of imposing a strong pace to neutralize this movement and, at the same time, to make a great selection. Barely twenty riders were on their way to the second and last pass through Mereludi.

Cano would arrive ahead of Hodei Muñoz (Alimco-Campagnolo), with a margin of about ten seconds. “I’m very happy, but I’m also a little bit exhausted. It’s the first of the season and the truth is that it was overdue. Besides, winning in the Basque Country is always very special. There’s a high level. It’s been a tough day because of the weather. I am very grateful to the work of my teammates, they have been fundamental for me to win. Without the team, without their hard work, of course it wouldn’t have been possible. I moved on the final climb, just where it started, and I took about 30 seconds. Behind me they were cutting time, but my team-mates were covering all the gaps and allowed me to get there”.

Isaac Cantón, in leadership duties in the Biscayan race alongside Gorka Beloki: “The truth is that it was a difficult day, with rain and with a profile of constant climbs and descents. It wasn’t an easy race at all. The guys did a fantastic job, pulling the group at a key moment and selecting the race. They have executed perfectly the idea we had. Gerard was the trump card for this race, the other day he did a very good race in the rain in Salamanca and he showed us that, in these conditions, with his current form, he could have a chance to compete”.

[? Cortesía Alimco-Campagnolo Team]