Vuelta a Extremadura, a race for climbers
The Vuelta a Extremadura will be the first stage race that the under-23 team will have to face this season. From Friday 15 to Sunday 17, the seven riders of Team Polti Kometa will face three very different stages.
The first day will start and finish in the city of Badajoz with a route of 155km that will cross the province with a profile that predicts a possible sprint finish. Although it is true that a good part of the stage crosses undulating terrain that will make the stage exceed 1300 metres of positive elevation, the final part will be practically flat.
The second day will have the first of the top finishes of this race. Starting in Guareña and finishing in Herrera del Duque, the cyclists will face 141 flat kilometres except for some little climbs in the middle of the stage and, finally, they will finish in the castle of Herrera del Duque (2nd), a climb with very demanding slopes.
The third and final stage will cover 147 kilometres with a new summit finish. The start will be in Garrovillas de Alconétar and the finish in Piornal. The stage will have a very similar profile at the start to the previous day, until the last 30 kilometres where the cyclists will have two very demanding climbs. El Torno (2nd) will be the contact climb before the finish in Piornal (1st).
Antonio Gonzalez: “I think that compared to last week I’m much better, with more racing rhythm and more rested. We can do a very good job, we have a good group of climbers and several assets for those two hard days. I like Sunday’s stage a lot, with two long climbs without big percentages. I already know Saturday’s finish from the 2022 edition and it’s very tough”.
Gerard Cano: “I don’t think I’m at the best moment of the season yet, but what is certain is that we are going with the maximum desire to do this Vuelta Extremadura that since the preseason was in my head. I think that the two mountaintop finishes could be a good opportunity for the team, which is in a good moment”.
Rafael Diaz Justo, sports team director: “This year’s route is very attractive with a first stage that can lead to a sprint if the wind doesn’t affect it. In our line-up the climbers stand out, so in the next two stages we will have to be with the best. Sunday’s stage, with a long pass, will be conditioned by the result of the previous day. We will put the team’s trust above all in Pablo and Luca.”
Line-up: Luca Bagnara, Martín Barrero, Gerard Cano, Alex García, Pablo García, Antonio González and Daniel Tenorio.
Stage 1: Badajoz – Badajoz (155km)
Stage 2: Guareña – Castillo Herrera del Duque (141km)
Stage 3: Garrovillas de Alconétar – Piornal (147km)
