the corridor of BH Coloma Team, David Valerowill face an important weekend in Switzerland, where he will play in the second round of World Cup with the obligation to improve on his first performance to continue leading the mountain bike world ranking.
The Andalusian cyclist did not have a good debut in the World Cup (he finished the race in the Czech Republic in 27th place) and then chose to dedicate the next three weeks to training, knowing that an important moment in the calendar was about to begin now the important tests will happen for him in succession.
During this time he was already “focused” on his preparation. “The truth is that I feel good”, explained the cyclist from Granada to EFE, who decided to “stop competing for three weeks to raise the level of training”
He emphasized that in the first World Cup race “he had the legs to go further forward” but he made “a technical mistake”. “I made a mistake in choosing some tires and I paid for it”, explained.
“Now, I’m recovering and I hope I don’t have any setbacks,” Valero stressed to EFE, shortly before traveling to the Swiss town of Lenzerheide, where the race will be held starting tomorrow, first in the short race and on Sunday if where the long field race is over.
In less than a month he has to face three races in the World Cup and the European Championship. “It’s important to get to the top of this season well and that’s what I’m looking for” because “in addition, the reality is that from now until October we are almost going to stop and I want to do it well”, explained the BH cyclist.
Valero has been at the top of the world rankings for his specialty for eight months, but has recently seen his main rivals close the gap; now Italian Luca Braidot is his main opponent, as he is only 69 points behind him, while Swiss veteran Nino Schurter is third, on 242.
The Baza cyclist is not “obsessed” with maintaining his position “because that is not the goal of my season” but what he is looking for are good results in the main international competitions and, if he achieves them, that will take him to be at the top of the world ranking.
“He’s been in that position for 8 months and I’m happier here, also because of how important it is for the team, but we’re in a year where the most important thing is to work well and be ready for. 2024”, when he will play the Olympic Games in Paris.
A FORMAT THAT DOESN’T BENEFIT YOU
In addition, Valero has shown in his career that he is a “diesel” runner, winning because of his ability to maintain a strong speed, and in the current World Cup format, he has difficulty facing a “sprint” race of twenty minutes, which not only determines the starting line on Sunday but also awards points.
“It’s a format that punishes me for not being as explosive as other teammatesbut I tried to perfect my races in that discipline and I think I can choose to be among those who come out in front, which will be very good”, explained Valero.
In addition, the Swiss circuit is “tougher than the others” and “I hope it can be used” and “I hope the body responds as I want so that the results are good”, concluded Valero.
After the first test, the Spanish cyclist from the BH Coloma Team ranked 24th in the World Cup, led by the British Thomas Pidcok; The next Spaniard is David Campos, from Orbea, at the age of 36.
The BH Templo Cafés team from Rioja will go to Switzerland with all its runners (Jofré Cullel, Pablo Rodríguez, the Argentine Catriel Soto and Rocío del Alba García) and this weekend they will also focus on the French town of Laissac, if where their runner Natalia Fischer will try to reaffirm the European title of the marathon modality.
Source: La Verdad
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