The Clásica de Torredonjimeno, a tough race in Jaén to get new impetus in the Spanish Cup

37ª Clásica de Torredonjimeno
Torredonjimeno – Torredonjimeno (165 km)

The Copa de España / Spanish Cup increases its speed with what has always been one of its hallmarks as a competition: the succession of races in a more or less short space of time. And despite the pandemic, and all the changes it has caused, as it is not in vain that the first two races were postponed until June and July, the time has come for the chaining. From last Sunday’s Memorial Valenciaga until mid-May, up to five races will be held. And in this context emerges the Clásica de Torredonjimeno, which faces its 37th edition and proposes again its broken and complex route.

The U23 team of the Fundación Contador goes to Jaén with a ‘seven’ composed by the Balearic Joan Martí Bennassar, the Cantabrian Álvaro García, the Castilian-Leonese Vicente Hernaiz, the Catalan Álex Martín, the Castilian-La Mancha Fernando Tercero and the Andalusian David Martín and José Luis Medina. Tercero is the best placed in the provisional overall standings of the Spanish Cup after two rounds, 17th with 55 points, while Álex Martín is in 20th place with 39 points.

“The Spanish Cup is a really difficult and complex competition that we always approach in the same way: each race is unique. Race by race, fighting for the victory, and then at the end we see where we can be. Because if winning is always difficult in itself, winning the Cup is even more so. So far, two rounds of this edition have taken place and there are still eight to go. That’s a lot of points. It’s true that we haven’t started like in other years. In Aiztondo the team’s performance was very good, but the prize was insignificant for the great work done. In Valenciaga we didn’t ride so well and that hurt us when it came to fighting for the victory or being further ahead”, says Rafa Díaz Justo, U23 sport director.

The route of the Clásica de Torredonjimeno will have one of its hot spots in the chain of climbs to Locubín and Valdepeñas, although the race has a multitude of steep slopes and non scoring climbs that will make it much harder. It’s a long race with a lot of accumulated gradients. Any point can be good for the final selection or the definitive attack, as previous editions have shown.