The promising Bence Mészáros and Zétény Szijártó, with the Foundation’s junior team in the return of the Bizkaiko Itzulia
Bizkaiko Itzulia
From 1 to 4 July
The Bizkaiko Itzulia of the Sociedad Ciclista Balmasedana was one of the many races affected by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on everyday life from March 2020. The great Biscayan event was postponed until a better occasion when circumstances were more benign and the health emergency was not an absolute priority. After last year’s forced break, the Bira Juvenil returns in 2021 with a route that is as demanding as ever, with an abundance of slopes, with up to 17 scoring climbs throughout the race, and the discipline against the clock will be maintained.
Gordexola, Markina-Xemein, Sopela, Muskiz and Balmaseda will be the finishing points of the different stages. Perhaps the second day, with start and finish in Markina-Xemein and the presence of Gontzugaray, Milloi on three occasions and Lekoitz on two can be considered the queen stage, although the proximity of Unbe in the first sector of the third day or a final stage in which the Alto de Beci is crowned with less than seven kilometres to go will also be important points for the resolution of the race. The time trial also has a climb of more than half a kilometre with an average gradient of 10%, which is sure to be very selective.
Catalan Joel Diaz, Antonio González from Soria, Lucas Guillermo from La Rioja, and Hungarians Gergo Magyar, Bence Mészáros and Zétény Szijártó will compete on behalf of a youth structure of the Contador Foundation that won the last two editions of the Biscayan race under the guidance of the now WorldTour rider Carlos Rodríguez. Mészáros and Szijártó are two of the most promising young riders in Hungary and their presence in this race is part of the intense collaboration of the sports structures of the Foundation with the Hungarian Federation for the development of new talents. Szijártó already participated in the last edition of the Foundation’s Selection Campus, which was held online.
The stages.
1 July: Balmaseda – Gordexola (86.6 km).
2 July: Markina-Xemein – Markina-Xemein (97.1 km).
3rd July (a): Sopela – Sopela (69.4 km).
3 July (b): Muskiz – Muskiz (7 km ITT).
4th July: Balmaseda – Balmaseda (99.7 km).
