Pablo García wins the last stage of the Circuito Montañes after a great breakaway of Álex García
The fourth and last stage of the Circuito Montañés started with Pablo García in seventh position in the general classification 15 seconds behind the leader and with a very motivated team. The last stage ran over a demanding profile with a climbs with steep gradient. After the breakaway with Álex García was neutralized, Pablo García resisted the attacks on the Alto del Churi and took the victory at the finish in Muriedas.
The stage started with Tommaso Bessega attacking and looking to open a gap in an early breakaway. He was joined by Bálint Feldhoffer, but his attempt was quickly neutralised. After the first few kilometres and the first climbs, a great breakaway was formed with double representation for the team. It was between Fuente las Varas (3rd) and Alisas (2nd) when Bálint himself and Álex García made it to the breakaway of the day. In the last meters of Alisas García was able to open a gap with another rider, whom he released on a descent with wet asphalt. After the descent and the more favorable kilometres that followed, only García and five other riders stayed ahead, while the Hungarian returned to the bunch to cover Pablo García and the rest of the team.
On the first pass over the Alto del Churi (3rd), while Álex García reached the summit in first position, Pablo García resisted the first attacks. The work of the Arabay continental team meant that both groups came together. The team counted with the representation of both cyclists at the head of the race, but Álex after a great effort couldn’t follow the pace at El Churi while Pablo was able to resist the attacks. In the last kilometres, the rider from Madrid was cold-blooded and managed to take the victory in a tight uphill sprint. Álex García finished eighth in a second group after being in the breakaway for a large part of the stage.
Finally Pablo García finished third in the overall classification with Tommaso Bessega second in the points classification after his victory and second place and Álex García second also in the king of the mountains classification closing a great Circuito Montañes.
“On the second pass there was a breakaway and we didn’t have anyone so Bálint and I decided to attack. When we got to the front we tried to keep it going. It was a big breakaway where there were people who didn’t cooperate and there were several attacks that I was able to respond to. We had enough time and after the pass through El Churi they caught us and in the end I finished in a second group. I am very happy for me and for the team for the victory and the third place in the overall classification for Pablo. I finished very surprised by how well I felt after combining Castellón with this race. I’m happy and I’m looking forward to more”, were the words of Álex García, who was very active throughout the day, giving a leading role to the team.
“The idea was to take a breakaway in front and that’s what Tommaso and Bálint tried to do. It didn’t work out and on the first pass we lost a big breakaway. They attacked after catching some air and Bálint and Álex arrived to the front. We were unlucky with Pablo’s fall on the descent of Alisas, but luckily Tommaso, who was cut, did not disconnect and rejoined the bunch with him. We had the whole team in front, with Álex in the lead and despite having lost Bálint due to a puncture in the first pass, Pablo was able to read the race very well in the second climb. In the end he read the race even better and we got the victory. In general, we have been thinking day by day and we have achieved very good results racing very well”, explained Miguel Gómez after a race that ended with the team on an upward trend.
Photo: Ciclismo Gonzalez
