Sevilla won in Vuelta a Jaén and good work of Polartec in France

It was an intense week for the Polartec U-23, which sent the team to two simultaneus stage races, the Route of the Castles and Battles in Jaén, and the Ronde de L’Isard in France. The balance of the riders of Rafa Diaz Justo and Gorka Beloki was excellent thanks to the stage victory achieved in Andalusia by Diego Pablo Sevilla and the promising performance by Juan Pedro López in the French Pyrenees, where he achieved a magnificent 12th place at the top of Plateau de Beille, in front of the best climbers of the European amateur squad.

Diego Pablo Sevilla confirmed in Jaen his good form, which already showed with his previous victory in Lazkao. In Jaen conditions were different, because unlike the cold and rain of the Basque Country, Sevilla had to overcome the Andalusian heat in a solo win. “Maybe that’s why, because of the heat, the sensations I’ve had were worse than in the Basque Country, but I’m very happy, because the conditions were very hard for the whole peloton”, explains the cyclist from San Martin de la Vega.

“It was a difficult triumph and people appreciated it a lot because we were 4 riders that went ahead after 50 kilometers and in the climbs I noticed that the others left me almost all the work, but I took it with tranquility and thinking mainly not to break. We arrived at the last mountain with a minute of advantage and I was releasing little by little to all, maintaining my rhythm, until seeing me alone with 3 kilometers to go. The only doubt I have is if I could have gotten those two seconds that I lacked to conquer the leader jersey, but I did not have clear references and I do not want to think too much about it. I won the queen stage and I’m very happy”.

Now, Diego Pablo will be one of the members of the Polartec that will run next weekend the Vuelta a Navarra, where will go those who have been better in Jaen and France. Sevilla says he feels ready for this new race. “I think I have recovered well and I will reach a good level. At least I have two stages that suits me well and the team can also be fine because we have riders who are going very well”.

Juanpe Lopez, premiere in the Pyrenees

One of those who will be in Navarra is Juanpe Lopez, who despite being only in his second year under 23, is performing very well on the last races. In the arrival at Plateau de Beille, the queen stage of the Ronde de L’Isard, finished twelfth, very close to the best European climbers and that was the first time that he ran in the Pyrenees. “I really liked the landscape. Last year I was in Aosta, Italy, but I liked this more”, explained the rider from Lebrija.

“On this tour I think I’ve gone from less to more. The first day the stage was suspended due to poor weather conditions, and from there I was going better”, says Juanpe Lopez. “At the foot of Plateau de Beille it arrived a group of about 25 or 30 riders and we started full speed. I got up to my pace and started picking people up to that position. I ended up very happy with the result, although on the last day I felt empty at the start, but I reacted and in the end I managed to finish the race 16 overall. It’s a result that gives me a lot of motivation to continue working”.

Now he waits the start of Vuelta Navarra with enthusiasm. “I hope to be ahead here too and I think the experience of France will suit me well. There you run very different, more controlled, with a more professional style. Running with the continental teams is more difficult, because they have a lot of level, but we tried to do it well”, concludes the Polartec’s rider.