The under23 team returns to the competition in Vuelta a Avila
After a week without competition and the dispute of the respective national championships of each rider, the under-23 team returns to competition in the Vuelta a Avila. The race will be a great test before the Giro Valle d’Aosta, one of the objectives of the season.
The team will participate with six riders in the race. Three Spanish riders and three Italian riders will make up a very well balanced team ready to fight every day. Riccardo Archetti will arrive to Avila after finishing 12th in the Italian championships and making great performances in the June races in Spain. Luca Bagnara will return to competition after his 18th place at the Giro Next Gen and suffering a crash at the national championships that prevented him from achieving a better result. Martin Barrero and Antonio Gonzalez participated in both the Giro and the national championships last week and will travel to Avila sharing race once again. Gabriele Bessega will arrive in great shape after finishing second in the Memorial Sagasti and finishing in the top10 of the time trial of the Italian championships. Finally, Álex García will also prepare in Avila for the next races after completing a great month of June.
The route proposed by the organisers will be very demanding, with an initial medium-mountain stage and two stages with major mountain passes. The first day will be the shortest of the three and, a priori, the easiest due to its profile. With the Cruz de Hierro (3rd) and La Lancha (3rd) climbs in the final part of the stage, the cyclists will race on a day with multiple options in terms of the resolution of the race. The second stage will have four mountain passes and, although the finish will be completely favorable, the route during the day will make it difficult. Las Fuentes (2nd), Menga (3rd) and La Centenera (3rd) will dynamite the stage from the first kilometres. In the final part of the stage and after a long descent, the Alto de Guisando (1st) will finally select the bunch. The last stage will be the day that will decide the final winner with its five climbs during the 144 kilometres of the route. Mijares (1st), with its 22 kilometres, will be the race’s main climb. Once it has been crowned, the riders will still have to overcome two more climbs in the last 50 kilometres.
Rafael Díaz Justo will travel with the team to Ávila. He will be in charge of the six riders: “We are coming from a short break, but necessary for everyone considering the intensity of the season. So far we have had ups and downs with the weather, but in Ávila the weather will be hot and sunny and the route is demanding. We had intended to fight this race with Pablo, but after the crash he needs to recover. Gabriele is the least climber of the six riders, but we think that the first stage could be good for him. It is a race that will serve as preparation for the Giro d’Aosta that will be ten days later. The second day could be crucial for the fight for the podium”.
Stage 1: El Fresno – Las Navas del Marqués (97km)
Stage 2: Martiherrero – Arenas de San Pedro (121km)
Stage 3: Navarredondilla – El Barraco (144km)
Photos: Directvelo
