Samuel Novak 5th in a bittersweet Memorial Valenciaga
The team arrived at the Memorial Valenciaga with the intention of redeeming itself after not having the best feelings at the Santikutz Klasika in Legazpi. The race was favorable thanks to the movements of Gabriele Raccagni and Pablo García, but the Spaniard had to abandon the race. Samuel Novak held on with the best riders on the climb to Ixua and finished 5th.
The race started very fast. The wind accompanied the cyclists throughout the day, favoring the high temperatures. In the first part of the race, the course and the favorable wind meant that none of the riders managed to open up too much of a gap. Gabriele Bessega took third place in the first special sprint in Deba. Shortly after, one of the breaks of the day was formed with 7 riders who reached a gap of almost four minutes over a calm bunch.
The work of the squad of the leading cyclist of the cup in the elite category reduced the differences. Once Elgeta (2nd) was crowned, the gap was only 1′. On the flat stretch between Elgeta and Areitio Gabriele Raccagni joined 4 other cyclists in a counter-attack that would reach the head of the race. The Italian’s move reached the foot of Ixua with just 1′ over the peloton where the rest of the team’s riders were. From that pack Pablo García attacked. Raccagni held on with Towers (CJR) until 2 kilometres to the summit, but could not keep up with the pace of a rider with a more climbing profile. Pablo García cut the gap from behind with 4 other riders and Novak arrived with him at the top of Ixua with Raccagni shortly after.
On the descent, the race was blown apart for the team. Garcia had to abandon the race. Novak started the climb to San Miguel (3rd) in a group of 4 riders who chased down one more rider and chased Towers for the remaining distance to the finish. Novak could not follow the attacks in his group and finally arrived with another rider at the finish, ahead of the group of the leaders of the general classification in 5th position.
Miguel Gómez, sports director of the under-23 squad finished the race with a bittersweet taste: “It was bittersweet because of how the end of the race turned out. We had it good, although our idea was to arrive with three riders, we had Pablo climbing very well to Ixua, but he had to put his foot down because of cramps and that changed everything. We didn’t achieve our objective, but today they did rode well andwe got rid of the thorn from Wednesday. Even so, we have the ambition and the ability to compete and in that sense we are upset because they are the ones who are the most upset because they are not competing. The work has been good, so the feeling is bittersweet”.
“Memorial Valenciaga is one of the most important races in Spain, and also one of the hardest. From the start it was chaotic with a strong breakaway after 30 kilometres. The guys did once again a great job for me, Dario and Pablo. In the hardest climb, Pablo attacked and that made the a selection on the bunch. 1 kilometre from the top I attacked and we made a group of 6-7 cyclist. In the downhill it was even faster and after that it was a continuous attack by attack.. I’m satisfied with the race block we did here and today’s 5place in the end”, explained Samuel Novak after his 5th in Eibar.
