The first bibs of the season, once again at the Memorial Sanroma in Almagro

The most eagerly awaited moment for the runners has arrived: the start of the new season in terms of competition. And it does it one more year in a Memorial Sanroma in which the U23 structure of the Contador Foundation had a great group performance a year ago, with final victory for Fernando Tercero and second place (and victory in the second stage) for Davide Piganzoli. In 2020 (in 2021 the race was not held) David Martín won the two stages and the overall. A race, in short, that we like, that brings back good memories and in which we hope to do well.

The Peña Ciclista Lolo Sanroma proposes the same route as in 2022, when the great novelty of the finish in the Archaeological Park of Alarcos, next to its hermitage, in the outskirts of Ciudad Real, was implemented. A finish on a short steep slope, with ramps of 10%, welcomes the race on the first day. On Sunday, the usual route that descends to Sierra Morena with a winding approach full of steep slopes and a poor road surface along the CR-P-5041 road, faces the Alto de Huertezuelas (1,011 m; 5.5 km at an average gradient of 5.7%, better known as the Collado de Pisa).

Eight cyclists will be called up by Rafa Díaz Justo for this commitment: Luca Bagnara, Haimar Etxeberria, Ramón Fernández, Antonio González, Raúl López, Andrea Montoli, Fran Muñoz and Pablo Uria. A formation that presents three of the signings and in which several cyclists will know the race. This is the case, for example, of Antonio González, second year in the category, or Pablo Uría, fourth year.

“It’s my first Sanroma and I’m really looking forward to it”, says the rider from Soria. “There is a hunger for races already, and in my case I would say even more so because of the injury I had last year, which made me stop for a while. I don’t know the race, but I wanted to see what it’s like. It’s not particularly hard orographically, more complex on the second than on the first day, and it’s very fast, with a lot of riding; you’ll have to be aware of the wind and the fans. Personally, I think I’m in good shape, in a good moment”, concludes the rider from Gijón”.

Stage 1: Almagro – Alarcos Archaeological Park (122 km).

Stage 2: Almagro – Almagro (168 km).