He Madrid municipality of Gapalagar starts this friday Spanish Elite and Sub23 Road Cycling Championship 2024, which kicks off a colorful day that puts the titles against the clock at stake. Galapagar will bring together some of the best specialists against the clock in the UCI’s elite category, with the modality’s 2022 champion standing out, Raúl García Pierna (Arkea Hotels-B&B) and the runner-up in the last two editions, Oier Lazkano (Movistar Team)who after his fantastic year and his last goat debut (5th in the CRI of the Dauphiné) stands as a great favourite.
The men’s elite time trial will be held last on Friday, with the first runner starting at 12:30 pm All time trials on Friday will take place over the same 33.4 km route and 380 meters of accumulated elevation gain, beginning and ending in the town of Galapagar; an ideal route for specialists and high-powered cyclists, who after a few favorable first kilometers where they reach Colmenarejo and Valdemorillo, will arrive at San Lorenzo de El Escorial to face a section that continues to climb up and may be key to the final outcome. The last kilometers of the time trial, already inside the municipality of Galapagar, will include two slopes that, with punishment on the legs, can be decisive.
Hey Lazkano, one of the great sensations of the season in the international peloton after his excellent performances in many different events, he emerged as the top favorite for the title after touching the national title in the last two editions, where he finished in second place. Only three seconds separated Lazkano in 2023 from national record holder Jonathan Castroviejo, who is absent this year. Fifth just over ten days ago in the Dauphiné time trial, just one kilometer ahead of Galapagar, the Basque showed that he has a world-class pedal stroke in his legs, surpassed only by some of the best specialists in the world such as Remco Evenepoel, Joshua Tarling or Primoz Roglic.
Another great candidate for victory will be the champion of Spain again in 2022 Raúl García Pierna (Arkea Hotels-B&B), who last year could not fight for the podium due to a mechanical problem. The Madrid native has had good performances this year with the goat in tests such as O Gran Camiño, where he was seventh in the CRI, or more recently in the time trial of the Tour of Switzerland, where he finished 20th . Another of the great favorites is the very young Iván Romeo, who at just 20 has already established himself as one of the best riders in the national peloton, capable of being 4th in the sub- 23 time trial of the last European Championship. or 15th in the World Championship. The native of Valladolid was also 13th in his last appointment on the time trial bike in the first stage back in Belgium.
The Q36.5 cyclists, Xabier Mikel Azparren and David de la Cruz, They also appear as two of the men to follow in the set modality. Azparren, 5th in 2023, has already shown his ability to roll against the clock in recent years; and David de la Cruz goes to Galapagar after showing good legs at the Tour of Switzerland, where he was eighth in the final stage’s time trial.
It is also worth highlighting the presence of Urko Berrade (Kern Pharma), sixth last year at nationals or his teammate Pablo Castrillowith a very good course and in 2023 will be the 9th. Albert Torres (Movistar), Víctor de la Parte and Enekoitz Azparren (Euskaltel Euskadi), Abel Balderstone (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)the 18 year old talent Markel Beloki (Education First)or the brand new third classed Giro Next Gen, Pau Martí (Israel Premier tech), They should be other cyclists to follow.
Eloy Teruel, great favorite in the elite category
As every year, those belonging to the Elite category – over 23 years old, but not playing in professional teams – will compete alongside UCI Elite runners. The Murcian Eloy Teruel (Esetec-Salazones Ricardo Fuentes) He will once again compete as a strong favorite in his category and will try to add to his seventh elite win. Jorge Gálvez (Zamora Enamora), Fran García Rus (Vigo-Rías Baixas), Joan Martí Bennassar (High Level-Gsport), Javier Ibáñez (Caja Rural-Alea) or Noel Martín (Lasal Cocinas-Craega), among others, they will also look to enter the podium.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.
