The under-23 team resumes the Copa de España in Ontur
Almost a month after the last round of the Copa de España competition in Aiztondo, the most recognized competition at national level returns. The Copa de España travels to Ontur for its fourth round: the LXX Gran Premio Primavera de Ontur – Diputación de Albacete.
To the Gran Premio Primavera de Ontur the team arrives after two important races in Italy and while another part of the team will compete in two races in Segovia. In the fourth appointment of the Copa de España the team will align Gabriele Raccagni, who managed to be leader of the under-23 classification and to the brothers Gabriele and Tommaso Bessega, who already have managed to be in the top10 of several races thanks to his aptitude in the sprint. The team also has good memories of this race as in the last three editions it has been on the podium; winning in 2021 and 2022 with David Martin and Fran Muñoz respectively, currently professionals within the structure and being the best team in 2023.
The race will take place on a terrain of constant climbs and descents that will reduce the group, but which may not be decisive. The Alto de la Muela (3rd) and the Alto de la Galera (3rd) will be the only two climbs with points, which, far from the finish line, will complete the intermediate prizes together with two intermediate sprints and two special sprints. The last part of the course will be a 3-lap circuit around the Bayco swamp.
Manuel Sanroma will be one of the cyclists who will compose the ‘seven’ of the team in Ontur, a race that “a priori will be decided by sprint”, but where there is always the possibility of being “a race marked by the wind as in previous years”. Sanroma, a first year U-23 rider, will give his best to help the team which, as he explains, is: “A very good team and in general the team’s sensations in the previous races are good”.
Rafael Díaz Justo will be in charge of leading the team in Ontur: “It’s a race that I like a lot, which in recent years has been characterised by the wind and the rain that makes it break up a lot. We are going with a strong team, with riders who will adapt very well and with the intention of winning. We could be fighting for the race”.
Line-up: Gabriele Bessega, Tommaso Bessega, Balint Feldhoffer, Dario Giuliano, Samuel Novak, Gabriele Raccagni and Manuel Sanroma.
Photos by Martin Early
