This year the Castellón Gravel Race (3rd round of the Spanish Gravel Cup) has launched in style with more than 200 participants, including big names such as Alejandro Valverde, Samuel Sánchez, Lucía González, Felipe Orts or Sofía Rodríguez.
All of them faced a demanding route of 94 kilometers with more than 2,500 meters of elevation gain, which we already told you about in POLVU in previous news.
Alejandro Valverde has won with authority in the men's event, while Sofía Rodíguez has been the first to cross the finish line in the women's category.
Alejandro Valverde – photography by Cxcling
In the first section of the test, Alejandro Valverde, who was the clear favorite of the test, managed to open the gap along with the cyclist Axel Badia.
It has been a really tough test, two thousand eight hundred meters of positive slope. Yes, it is true that there were no paths and the terrain was very well trodden, but it was irregular, and with the unevenness it has become even harder. We had a good race and we enjoyed it, which is also the important thing.
Alejandro Valverde
Women's Podium – photography by Cxcling
Finally, the first runner to cross the finish line, a convincing 8 minutes behind the second, was Alejandro Valverde after putting in a brilliant performance and winning alone thanks to an attack at kilometer 10 of the race. Nobody doubts Alejandro's quality, but the authority he shows wherever he goes never ceases to surprise us and let's not forget that winning races is never easy. Second place in the box went to Fran Rus while Axel Badia came in third place.
MEN'S PODIUM
- ALEJANDRO VALVERDE BELMONTE (VALVERDE TEAM-RICARDO FUENTES) – 03:32:16
- FRANCISCO RUS GARCIA (VIGO – RIAS BAIXAS) – 03:40:29
- AXEL BADIA CELMA (QUALITY RIDE) – 03:41:46
Women's Podium – photography by Cxcling
In the women's dispute, Sofía Rodríguez has clearly won with a time of 04:35:01. Marta Torá, with a solid performance, has come in second place that makes her rise to the leadership of the cup, and Lucía González, has completed the podium, happy for the victory of her NESTA teammate.
We have already finished this third test of the Spanish Gravel Open. Personally, I was very happy because the route did not favor me at all, I arrived a little tired and with full desire, but I knew that fatigue could be noticed at some point. Against all odds I placed second on the podium today, adding very useful points to finish the Open in Albacete in September. Personally, very happy because, not only was I leading with Patry, my partner, but now I gain a little more confidence with the leadership and I took the jersey, which was what I wanted and I was very excited. A dream day with how little everything was in my favor and I managed to defend a bit of a second position that tastes like glory to me, really.
Marta Tora
WOMEN'S PODIUM
- SOFIA RODRIGUEZ REVERT (NESTA – MMR CX TEAM) – 04:35:01
- MARTA TORA MILA (PROTOUR) – 04:39:39
- LUCIA GONZALEZ BLANCO (NESTA – MMR CX TEAM) – 04:41:28
Below we leave you the winners of the rest of the categories:
- Sub23: Pablo Alpiste
- Master 30: Andrés Fernández and Mónica Belda
- Master 40: Samuel Sánchez and Olga Manrique
- Master 50: Juan Sebastián Horrach and Silvia Hurtado
- Master 60: Ashley Holdingç
We share with you the statements we took during the race from Juan Horrach, the Master 50 winner, Samuel Sánchez and Alberto Losada, first and second respectively in the Master 40 category, and Pablo Bassas, second in the under-23 category.
It has gone much better than the indomitable one, it was quite staggered. It has been hard, a lot of dust but we have enjoyed it. In the end, age does not forgive and there we are, we do what we can.
Juan Sebastian Horrach
Second master's degree 40 and the truth is that I am very happy, riding in the lead with my former teammates: with “el bala” with Samu and really enjoying the race. A very hard race, the first day of real heat. I was riding with Samu almost the entire race. In the last subject I lost a little bit and I couldn't follow it anymore. I went to the finish line making sure they didn't catch me from behind.
Alberto Losada
We made our debut in the Castellón Gravel Race, a qualifying event for the Spanish Cup, and the third race on the national calendar, with the world champion's jersey, a better debut that couldn't have been better. A very tough race, luxury participation, the weather has been spectacular and sailing as best as possible. Alejandro set the pace, the rest of us behind were little by little in relays, but hey, the race has put us in our place. To repeat and congratulate the organization because everything has been spectacular, everything well marked, all the stations with the supplies, water and the track have been perfect, so next year we will see you.
Samuel Sanchez
Third Spanish Cup in Castellón. Probably the hardest thing I've ever run so far. I arrived on the seventeenth and I felt pretty good, but I couldn't follow the first U-23, so second.
Pablo Bassas
The Spanish Gravel Cup will culminate in September, where the Sierra de Alcaraz will dictate the first edition of this Spanish Open. We will inform you of the news.