The under-23 team ready for the ‘mystical’ ascent to Gorla
The development teams of the Alberto Contador Foundation always have good memories of the Gorla climb. In 2001, twenty-three years ago, Alberto Contador won the climb from Bergara. Now the race has changed since then, but it is still one of the most important events on the country’s elite-under-23 calendar.
The under-23 team will start with a team capable of challenging for victory. A squad that will include Pablo García (stage victory and 5th overall in the Vuelta a Extremadura) and Dario Giuliano (4th in Aiztondo and 3rd in Zamora).
The race will consist of 128.5 kilometres and two ascents to the Elosua-Gorla pass (2nd) and one to Deskarga on its more comfortable side. The cyclists will ride 3 laps of a practically flat circuit and, at the start of the fourth lap, they will begin the first climb. Once the climb is crowned and the descent finished, they will have a very uncomfortable terrain before another descent that will lead them to the last and decisive final climb.
“Gorla is one of the most important races in the Torneo Euskaldun in terms of tradition, route, hardness and palmares”, told Rafael Diaz Justo, director of the under-23 team. “It’s a very special race that we haven’t raced for a long time. We will start with 7 riders, which I don’t think is a disadvantage because the toughness will eliminate many riders from other teams. The course is demanding and we will be taking a team of climbers. We are going with the intention of winning the race, we are really looking forward to it”, he added. “Martin, Pablo and Dario are in very good form and I think they will be the ones who will go the furthest. If we have a quiet day in terms of mechanical problems, we will be able to win the race”, he finished.
“The feelings are very good, I had a very good rhythm back in Extremadura and I think it can be a nice race, we have a very strong team, and I think that if luck is with us, any of us can opt for the victory”, said Martín Barrero before the prestigious climb to Gorla.
Line-up: Martín Barrero, Gerard Cano, Pablo García, Dario Giuliano, Antonio González, Daniel Tenorio and Manuel Sanroma.
