Valladolid, an opportunity to make amends
After a weekend where the good performance in the Copa de España could not be continued, the fifth race, in Valladolid, will be an opportunity for the under-23 team to make up for it. The fall of five riders in the last kilometres of the race in Ontur meant that the result was not what they were looking for.
The Memorial Angel Lozano y Jesus Nieto is another of the races in which the team has shone in the past. Except in 2023, in the three previous seasons the team managed to be present on the podium of the race. In 2022 Francisco Muñoz finished third and in both 2020 and 2021 David Martín raised his arms in Valladolid. Both are still part of the structure, now in the professional team.
As for the route of the race, the under-23 riders will have to overcome 160.5 kilometres and 7 categorized climbs in a real ‘spring classic’ in Valladolid, reminiscent of the usual races in Northern Europe. From the start, the cyclists will face the ascent to Renedo, which, despite not being a scoring climb, will be very tough. The Alto de La Parrilla (3rd), the Alto de La Garganta (3rd) on two occasions as well as the Alto del Portillo (3rd), the climb to Simancas (3rd) and to Robladillo (3rd) will be the climbs that will award points for the fight for the king of the mountain classification. In addition, the race will have three especial sprints and two intermediate sprints. The Alto del Portillo will be one of the most emblematic climbs due to its cobbled asphalt.
Rafael Diaz Justo: “We will take the same team to Valladolid as we did to Ontur. The situation in the Copa de España is very complicated for us because of the fall that the riders suffered last week. Our intention is still to fight in the remaining races. We would like to be present in the cuts and test Tommaso’s options in the sprint. We have to be smart and try to take advantage of every race situation with other teams that will be involved”.
Dario Giuliano: “The Ontur race was different compared to the ones at the beginning of my season because it was quite flat and windy. The race was fast and very nervous, after the “hard” part of the course we were in a group of about 40 riders and we were all of the team there. However on a false descent before the final circuit a rider fell in front of me and I couldn’t avoid him. I managed to catch the first group on the final circuit, but the pain was too bad, so I had to drop out, which was very disappointing because I was feeling so good. I had burns and stitches over my left eye, but this doesn’t affect my training or my participation in Valladolid”.
Line-up: Gabriele Bessega, Tommaso Bessega, Balint Feldhofer, Dario Giuliano, Samuel Novak Gabriele Raccagni and Manuel Sanroma.
XIII Clásica Valladolid – Memorial Angel Lozano y Jesus Nieto
