Usually the first days of the Titan Desert are characterized by a tense calm before hitting the ax at key moments of the race. With the premiere of NEOM Titan Desert Saudi Arabia in 2023, we will forget this premise. In the first stage, a 78km loop, in both the men’s and women’s categories, differences have already been added that could be decisive. In the male section Enrique Morcillo and Haimar Zubeldia escaped in the middle of the stage and they brought out some of the big names. Regarding the women’s category there are no surprises and Tessa Kortekaas and Ariadna Ródenas came together in the sprint without giving their rivals a choice.
Morcillo and Zubeldia surprised everyone
From the start of the Titan Camp in the NEOM area, the group of favorites escaped with more than one trying to escape but as it was a flat start it was hard to make a difference. Because of this, the middle of the stage came with a unique group that exceeded ten runners.
However, in the first clearly unequal section of the stage is when Enrique Morcillo and Zubeldia mark a stark contrast. The Ibizan and the Gipuzkoan used their technique to escape a sandy place where many suffered more than expected. Finally they reached the stage 2h 50min, 10 minutes faster than the group of favorites that crossed the finish line with Luis León in the lead and closing the podium. The TOP5 was completed by Julen Zubero and Pablo Guerrero
“It’s not going to be a Titan of two,” warned Morcillo, from the Buff Megamo Team, after finishing despite the huge difference. “When the climb started I found my legs and went to the front with Haimar. Without him, I wouldn’t have run away because doing the stage just means having a lot of legs and I don’t have any.. In the end we made time but you never know what can happen tomorrow.”
It wasn’t the best start for ‘Luisle’ due to a drop in attack and that may reduce their options for general classification. The Murcian had to return in ten minutes although the following days were more prone to possible escapes. We’ll have to wait to find out if it’s a duel or if there’s another guest in the match.
Tessa falls but still wins
The winner of the editions of Morocco and Almería, could not miss his appointment to the victory in Arabia and started well but not without success. Tessa Kortekaas of Cannondale Vas Arabay fell in the sand area but she recovered quickly to continue with Ariadna Ródenas, last year’s champion and the Dutchwoman’s biggest rival, to cross the finish line in a tight sprint.
Finally Kortekaas beat the Spaniard to the finish line but both finished in the same time: 3 hours and 18 minutes. No one can match the speed of the two and barring a catastrophe, this rivalry will set the tone until the end.
“There was a lot of sand, it was a slower race than I thought. Also the fall takes you out of your rhythm a bit but I felt good and I’m looking forward to doing more tomorrow The fall was a bit silly, my front wheel got stuck in the sand. But the group of men I was with waited for me, as they should,” explained Tessa.
Source: La Verdad
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