Sergio Calvo wins in Markina-Xemein and jumps to the second overall place in the Bizkaiko Itzulia
The Galician Sergio Calvo climbed up to the provisional second position of the Bizkaiko Itzulia after winning the second stage this Friday, with start and finish in the town of Markina-Xemein. Calvo went on the attack, in the breakaway group in which he was riding, in the last of the two climbs to Gontzugarai, the big climb of the day, which was crowned with ten kilometres to go. oan Gamundi, who was present at the front, is the new leader of the race.
The rider from Ourense, who joined EOLO-KOMETA from Rias Baixas a few months ago, moved in the penultimate climb of the day from a chasing group to catch up with Iván Loaisa, Joan Gamundi (Saxun), Rafa Martínez (MMR), Diego Gutiérrez (Bathco) and Alejandro Abril (Valverde), Alejandro Abril (Valverde) and Gorka Corres (Iturribero), the last of the numerous offensive movements of a hard-fought day, with many alternatives (great work by Iker Díaz in a breakaway that faced the first pass through Gontzugari) and that already presented a completely broken race at kilometre 20. Loaisa would work hard for Calvo and would end up dropping out of the leading group. One kilometre from the summit, the EOLO-KOMETA rider launched a strong breakaway that allowed him to crown with almost twenty seconds.
Sergio Calvo, winner in Markina-Xemein: “The truth is that the development of the race had a certain similarity with the last Galician Championship that I won: to get to the head of the race from behind, although there the gap of the breakaway was bigger, and to attack on the last climb. Gorka had told me that I had to move before and look to anticipate and that’s what I did. I had good legs and I felt good, when I attacked the feeling was always good and on the descent I took my risks to open up as much space as possible. Now it’s time to recover for the double sector ahead of us on Saturday”. A day in which the EOLO-KOMETA led by Gorka Beloki starts as the leader in the classification by squads.
[? Aroa Santamaría / Sociedad Ciclista Balmasedana]
