Seven seconds away from yellow at the Vuelta a Ávila: Andrea Montoli, second overall

A very tough stage from start to finish, not very long in terms of mileage, but with many metres of elevation gain. Four big passes of the Central System and a very demanding approach to the finish line, without respite and in constant ascent, provided a great sporting spectacle that resulted in a second place both in the stage and in the final overall for the Italian Andrea Montoli. Pablo García (Caja Rural), who won in the streets of El Barraco, took the definitive lead. The last stage of the Avila round had again a great work of the EOLO-KOMETA Cycling Team during the whole day.

In that uphill terrain, intense minutes, many things happened. The brave offensive of Hugo de la Calle (Caja Rural) launched in the descent and the subsequent terrain of Serranillos (with more than 1’40” of advantage for him in the terrain after Morisco), was thrown down first by Elkin Malaver (Maglia) and immediately after by a very small group where García attacked, Montoli followed him and the leader Krawiec (Telco’m) gave up. The final part of the race was frenetic, with Montoli marking García as he awaited the final climb on José María Jiménez street. The rider from Madrid managed to consolidate a small gap to consolidate his double, stage and overall, against a brave Montoli, very attentive all day to the race situations presented both in Serranillos and Morisco.

Andrea Montoli, second overall: “Today was a really tough day. We knew we had to be calm. In the end the race situation got a bit complicated with Hugo’s start. My team-mates did a great job all day. Sebastiano and Haimar did a spectacular job to close the gap in the final part and leave open the options to take the overall in the final climb. Pablo was the strongest, congratulations to him. In my case, in Italy we say ‘che sfortuna!’: second in the stage, second overall… I’m happy with the result and with the performance and we’ll face the next objectives with more enthusiasm”.