Stage victory and race leadership for Tommaso Bessega
The Circuito Montañés continued the calendar of stage races of the under-23 team with several stages that were favorable to the qualities of the riders of the squad. After a remarkable effort by the whole squad and the coverage of Pablo García in the last kilometres, Tommaso Bessega was able to win the first stage in Renedo and wear the leader’s jersey.
The stage started in the rain in Renedo de Piélagos. Gradually the weather improved and gave the riders a break on the first day of the Circuito Montañés. Soon the first attacks began and the riders of the team tried at all times to infiltrate in those groups that were formed. Finally, a breakaway of five riders was formed, which would be neutralized several kilometres later to form a larger one that would put the bunch in check. Ten riders led the stage for a large part of the kilometres and one of the riders of this group remained leading the stage until the last six.
The team, with five of the six riders in the race together with other teams, increased the pace during the kilometres before the final climb to the Alto del Churi (3rd), which would end up being decisive. Pablo García took over from Riccardo, Bálint, Álex and Daniel to lead Tommaso and close the gap on the rider ahead. García’s pace broke the pack and led to the formation of a small chasing group. Once the escapee was caught, it was García himself who responded to different attacks on three occasions. On the last straight and with the small compact group Tommaso was able to deploy his top speed and take his second victory of the season. The Italian also took the race leader’s jersey.
“It was a very hard finish because we went up the last climb very fast, but I want to thank the whole team for their work. I’m very happy. I don’t see myself with options for the overall, but I look at the race with the intention of winning another stage”, commented Bessega at the end of the stage that served him to wear the race leader’s jersey.
Miguel Gómez was really satisfied at the end of the stage because the team was able to carry out the established plan: ‘It’s very difficult to make it finish as planned, but we have a very fast rider like Tommaso and Pablo who is in a sweet state of form. It was a very demanding stage and what was planned was to control between the two passes through El Churi and that’s what they did. Pablo took care of Tommaso on the last climb and sacrificed himself for him. We are very happy for the victory, but on the other hand we are worried about Daniel Tenorio because of a fall he suffered affecting the same arm from which he had recovered from an injury”.
Photo: Ciclismo Gonzalez
