The demanding Fira d’Agost Trophy and its journey through the Serra Grossa, with Portixol and El Campello in front, measure the momentum of EOLO-KOMETA
33º Trofeo Fira d´Agost
Xativa – Xátiva (139,3 km)
The month of August, because the passage of time is relentless, faces overcoming its first fortnight and in the framework of the festive days of the Fira d’Agost de Xátiva, organized by the Club Ciclista Bicicletes Sanchís and the municipal consistory and with the support of many peñas signatures, because such is the spirit of the festive races, a new edition of its classic one-day race returns. The Fira d’Agost Trophy is back, a race that has become one of the reference events of the national cycling scene in August.
The route is practically the same as in recent years, with just a change in the location of the start and finish area, which returns once again to the area around the Baixada de l’Estació street; a route of some 140 kilometres, with more than 2,000 metres of accumulated height gain, where the chain of climbs in the nearby Serra Grossa stands out for its toughness.
Halfway through the race, the Portixol is tackled, via Ontiyent (768 m altitude, almost 8 km of ascent at an average of 5%), and then, after descending the slope of Moixent, El Campello is tackled from Vallada. El Campello is the big climb of the race. It is crowned at an altitude of 603 m and has 4 km at an average gradient of 8.6%: misleading numbers, with an average gradient of 12.5% and 11.5% in its final two kilometres.
From El Campello to the finish there are still 45 kilometres to go, but from its gradients the race will be very broken and, although there will be regroupings, few riders will face a final part in which the ascent to Serragrossa, in the last fourteen kilometres, will host the final selection.
The U23 team led by Rafa Díaz Justo has enjoyed very productive days in this race in its last editions. Not in vain in 2021 they achieved victory with Fernando Tercero, with Vicente Hernáiz also on the podium. In 2019 (there was no race in 2020 due to the pandemic) Alejandro Ropero triumphed. And in 2018 José Antonio García came close to victory. In 2021, however, a serious fall of Joan Martí Bennassar tarnished the participation and prevented the Spaniard from closing the season and his link with the team on the bike.
For 2022, the team will be made up of Marcel Camprubí, Ramón Fernández, Arnau Gilabert, Antonio González, Fran Muñoz, Andrea Pietrobon, Javi Serrano and Pablo Uría.
