The Spanish Cup sets a course for the Basque roads at the Aiztondo Klasikoa
XVI Aiztondo Klasikoa – Patxi Alkorta Memoriala
Villabona-Aduna (131,5 km)
Alejandro Ropero from Granada has made a leap of ten positions in the general standings of the Spanish Cup (Copa de España) and is now fourth, with 108 points, to 57 of the leadership that Cristian Galván occupies after his victory in the Trofeo Guerrita. This is the way a general classification is going to face, this coming weekend, the third round of the competition in the always demanding routes of the Basque Country. The Spanish Cup is heading for Euskadi on the occasion of a new edition of the Aiztondo Klasikoa.
Ropero is the first advantage of the Kometa Cycling Team in a classification in which, backed by his 25 points to date, the Asturian Eduardo Pérez-Landaluce occupies the twenty-second place. With 14 points, in the 27th and 28th places, the Catalan Álex Martín, debutant in the category, and the Madrid-born Carlos García Pierna are the next classified riders of the U23 team.
Facing Aiztondo, the director Rafa Díaz Justo gives entry in the call to the Italian Alessandro Fancellu, bronze medal in the junior race of the past world championships, and the Colombian Jhon Stiven Ramírez. Nursing has also had its influence. Sergio García recovers from the aftermath of his crash during the dispute of the Trofeo Guerrita, Arturo Grávalos also finishes his set up after a small boil and Sergio Hernández also comes out of a small muscle injury.
Fancellu and Ramírez, therefore, join a ‘seven’ that will be completed by Carlos García, Álex Martín, Eduardo Pérez-Landaluce, Alejandro Regueiro and Alejandro Ropero.
“I’m very motivated and I can’t wait to finally start this season with my new colours. I am very curious to know first hand the Spanish calendar and their races. Honestly I am not in my best moment, because last winter I had to do three cycles of antibiotics and still today I am not completely recovered, “says Fancellu. Recently arrived from his country Ramirez, for his part, adds: “I had very good feelings during training in Colombia. But the competition is always another story. After those good feelings, now I hope to do very well in Spain”.
The Aiztondo Klasikoa, Memorial Patxi Alkorta, is a test with a marked itinerant character in its departures and arrivals. In 2018, Juan Pedro López finished third, 17 seconds behind the winner Eusebio Pascual. For this occasion the start of the race will be located in Villabona and its arrival in the town of Aduna. The 131.5-kilometre course is based on two circuits and foresees passes through the Alkiza heights and, on five occasions, Aduna, where the finish line will be located.
(automatic translation, sorry for mistakes)
