Tactical bet from afar with Álex Martín and presence in the fight of Fernando Tercero
X Volta a la Provincia de Valencia
Stage 3: Benagéber – Ermita del Remedio/Chelva (143,4 km)
Fernando Tercero, from La Mancha, jumped to sixth place in the provisional general classification of this Volta in the Province of Valencia, which this Saturday faced its queen stage. A day of great exigency in the region of the Alto Turia that, for the first time since the creation of this race nine years ago, counted on a mountain finish. In the hard ramps that climb to the hermitage of the Remedio de Chelva the Uruguayan Mauricio Moreira won alone, while the rider of Valdepeñas signed an outstanding fourth position, after Raúl García (Lizarte) and Javier Romo (Baqué) two seconds away from the yellow jersey.
In the very hard geography of the Alto Turia Lands, up to eleven riders opened the race for a good part of the day, with more than two minutes of margin during many kilometres, and only in the last moments of the final ascent could their adventure be finished. A very interesting escape in terms of its composition. In that break was the Catalan Álex Martín, first leader of the race and who was riding with Eugenio Sánchez (Lizarte), Asier Etxeberria (Laboral Kutxa), Thomas Gloag and Miguel Ángel Ballesteros (Caja Rural), Miguel Briz (La Tova), Sergio Jiménez (Bicicletas Rodríguez), Beñat Onaindia (Baqué), Eloy Teruel (Valverde Team), Romain Campistrous and Axel Narbonne (Provence).
With their hunting, a new stage. Eight riders would stand out on the climb, among them the young Fernando Tercero. But the leader Moreira showed his strength. Yago Segovia, exceptionally guarded by his companions throughout the day, also put in a great performance in the mountains (17th today) and was able to retain a place in the top ten of the provisional classification. Segovia is now eighth, at 2:01 from Moreira. The Catalan Álex Martín, for his part, is eleventh at 3:42.
Rafa Díaz Justo, director of the Kometa-Xstra Cycling Team: “We have tried to play the options of Álex Martín with a far breakaway. It was very risky, but we thought that in a stage with a high finish like this one he could have his options to go far in the general classification. And to reach the final climb with a view to recovering two minutes was an impossible task because the leaders in the general standings are also very far behind. Yago’s option, realistically, was more complicated because he is an excellent roller, but this was a very hard climb, for pure climbers, although he did very well and stayed in the top ten. That first part of the plan, to form the escape, has gone well. We have also left the leader without a team, but the Russian Lokophinx has taken the baton and has ended up hunting at the entrance to Chelva. Fernando’s fourth place has been a pleasant surprise, because it is his first year, but it is very motivating for the future. In general, although there is still one day left to play, I think we can make a pretty good balance of the team’s performance in this Volta”.
The Volta a Valencia ends this Sunday with a morning stage that will take place in a complicated circuit with start and finish in the town of Moncada. A stage already traditional in the race and in which, a year ago, the Italian Alessio Acco finished in the third position.
📷 José Sauri Olmos / Federación de Ciclismo de la Comunitat Valenciana
(automatic translation, sorry for mistakes)
