The climb to Manzaneda Estación de Montaña on a day with a very steep gradient, the hot point of an exciting Volta a Galicia 2022
Volta a Galicia
From 15 to 18 September
Galicia, which always offers hardness and difficulty to the cycling itineraries given the broken orography of its territory, gives a twist to its elite and U23 stage race with a view to this 2022. A year in which the race promoted by the Galician Cycling Federation has coexisted with very interesting Galician proposals in the elite and U23 Spanish Cup and with the creation of a stage race, O Gran Camiño, once again aimed at professionalism. For this occasion, its promoters propose a demanding high finish in the winter sports centre and ski resort of Cabeza de Manzaneda. A finish that will be fundamental in the resolution of the final general classification.
The climb to Manzaneda Estación de Montaña will be tackled on the Manzaneda side and after overcoming the Soutipedre ambush (6 km at 5.2%, with two very hard final kilometres). It is an eleven-kilometre climb that alternates more favourable sections with kilometres that exceed 7 and 8% average gradient, and especially one, after passing Paradela, with an average gradient of 10% and ramps of 15% and 16%. The day, although short in terms of mileage, presents an added difficulty with the early ascent to the Alto de Portela, a climb of more than 15 kilometres with an average gradient of 5%. And after that, it’s a bit of a Comanche terrain.
The truth is that the Galician race is not limited to the Manzaneda stage in terms of orographic difficulties to manage. On the first day, on the way to Poio, there was the close pass over Monte Castrove through A Escusa, 6 kilometres at an average of over 7%. The second, on the route to Taboada, the presence of San Pedro Líncora (5.2 km at 5.9%). And the last day, not easy either in terms of terrain.
For what will be the last stage race of the season for the U23 structure of the Contador Foundation in Spanish territory, the director Rafa Díaz Justo, with part of his family roots in Galicia and always very motivated to achieve good performances in his races, has called a ‘seven’ composed by Edoardo Alleva, Marcel Camprubí, Arnau Gilabert, Antonio González, Fran Muñoz, Javi Serrano and Fernando Tercero,
The stages.
Stage 1 (15 September): Combarro – Poio (157.5 km).
Stage 2 (16th September): Taboada – Taboada (163.3 km).
Stage 3 (17th September): Manzaneda – Manzaneda Mountain Resort (114 km).
Stage 4 (18th September): Ponteareas – Ponteareas (124.7 km).
