The Polartec-Kometa, facing the tradition of Valladolid

XXVII Vuelta a Valladolid Promoción Junior

The Itzulia or the Vuelta al Besaya may have more predicament, poster and participative level, but the truth is that the Vuelta a Valladolid Promoción Júnior, official name of the event, is not without tradition with its 26 disputed editions. “It is a very important race for basic cycling and our hope is that it will be one of the best laps in Spain,” said Eduardo Manrique, president of the organiser of the Velo Club Delicias, a few days ago. Félix García Casas, head of the Foundation’s teams adds: “It has a huge, well organised tradition, although it has a totally different profile as a career with regard to Besaya or Itzulia”.

In Pucellan lands, very flat; of course, heat. And capital importance for Saturday’s time trial. The Polartec-Kometa will be one of the 28 teams taking part in the event, and for the Pucelan event it will be presenting two major innovations within the framework of its collaborations with Belgian entities. The Belgians Gilles Vercruysse and Alex Vandenbulcke compete under the baton of the Alberto Contador Foundation junior team in this race. Javier Serrano, Juan José Rosal, Luis Miguel Mendoza and the Portuguese Daniel Lopes complete the participating team.

“When Wiebren Plovie, the manager of our training, told us if we would be interested in joining Polartec-Kometa to compete in Valladolid I didn’t think much about it. I made the decision almost immediately. It’s a pleasure to have that opportunity,” explains Gilles Vercruysse. “I have heard a lot of positive things about this ensemble and I look forward to taking this opportunity. I hope to learn a lot, as much as I can, and do it well. I’ve already seen that Valladolid is a very well organized race with a time trial. I’m sure this experience will help me become a better cyclist”.

“Valladolid is an important race, which they like to be on the starting line. Besides, we already know what it is like to win it several years, including last year with Joan Martí Bennassar. It’s always a difficult race to control. The climb up the paved road to the Portillo always marks the race, a step that, together with the individual time trial, marks the victory in the general classification. Javi Serrano and Juanjo Rosal arrive in good shape and together with Dani Lopes, Luis Miguel Mendoza and the two Belgian boys who are coming we will try to make a great lap and continue with the always positive legacy in Valladolid, something that will not be easy”, explains the director Guillermo Gutiérrez, the director.

The stages.
20 July: Valladolid-Valladolid (102 km).
21 July (a): Q. de Onésimo-Quintanilla de Onésimo (10.2 km CRI).
21 July (b): Bodegas Arzuaga-La Seca (64 km).
22 July: Valladolid-Valladolid (100 km).

(automatic translation, sorry for mistakes)