The competition returns: the comeback of the bibs in the tribute to the great Manolo Sanroma
XXII Memorial Manuel Sanroma
From 19 to 20 February
The time has come. Although the amateur cycling calendar has already faced some races, this weekend of 19 and 20 February marks the return to competition for the U23 structure of the Contador Foundation. The stage, of luxury, will be a new edition of the Memorial Manuel Sanroma. Fernando Tercero, Javi Serrano, Andrea Montoli and Davide Piganzoli, four of the veterans of the structure, will come to La Mancha in a team completed by three new faces: Francisco Muñoz, Marcel Camprubí and Andrea Pietrobon. A versatile and interesting seven riders for the Memorial.
The La Mancha event, which also returns to the roads after its postponement last year due to the health situation caused by COVID-19, has not stopped growing since its creation. Its reputation and esteem have gone hand in hand with this increase and for many teams it is a fundamental test of the start of the season. In 2020 the team led by Rafa Díaz Justo won the overall and the two stages through the Andalusian David Martín, now a professional with the EOLO-KOMETA Cycling Team.
For this return, the Peña Ciclista Lolo Sanroma has decided to include some novelties in the route. To begin with, the first stage will not finish in Almagro, usual start and finish of the two stages, but will visit the hill of Alarcos, important archaeological site, enclave of a historical battle and privileged viewpoint on the fertile valley of the Guadiana or the fields of La Mancha. The finish, by the way, is on a slope. The second stage maintains the traditional passage through Alto de Hortezuelas (1,011 m; 5.5 km at 5.7%) and tries to toughen its last kilometres on the route to Almagro. Although the high speed, the offensive mood and the influence of the wind will have a lot to say.
Fran Muñoz: “I’ve been looking at the route over the last few days and the forecast is very, very windy. I’ve seen that on the first day we have the finish in a kilometre that goes uphill; it will be a tough finish, but I would point out that if this forecast is fulfilled it will be a tough race because of the wind: they talk about up to 20 km/h and that’s a good thing. In the end it’s the first race for many teams and riders. And we all have a bit of uncertainty to see how we are after all this preparation. Motivation, of course, is at its highest”. “In the first stage,” adds Davide Piganzoli, “the terrain is mainly flat. Javi can do very well. In general, he can have a very good race. The second stage is longer, but we’re travelling with a team that can do very well. We’ll see how everything develops. Personally, I’m looking forward to it, but I’m also aware that we have to take it step by step”.
Rafa Díaz Justo, director of the EOLO-KOMETA Cycling Team: “… And the start ramp has arrived. It is now, with the arrival of the competitions, when all the work of these months really makes sense. After the uncertainties of the last two years everything seems to have recovered a certain normality. And in this context, the Sanroma Memorial takes on a special value. It is the first race for many teams, it is a race that continues to grow year after year and it is an event in which, in addition to the desire to do well and be competitive, we have achieved good results in recent times. We must not forget that David Martín, now professional with our EOLO-KOMETA Cycling Team, won the last edition of the Challenge after winning both stages. The objective is to do well, to fight and to be ambitious. It is also interesting because until now there are many unknowns from the point of view of how all the riders are and how all the teams are. The Sanroma, with a route that also varies this year on its first day, is a first contact, but not just any contact, for what is to come”.
The stages.
19 February: Almagro – Alarcos (122 km).
20th February: Almagro – Almagro (168 km).
