For José Luis López Cerón (67 years old), 2024 is a special year, Since it will be his departure from the presidency of the Royal Spanish Cycling Federation after twelve years. And in an Olympic year with Paris 2024, it could also add to the two bronzes in mountain bike, added by Carlos Coloma at Rio 2016 and David Valero at Tokyo 2020. Elections will be held on November 30, and candidates have already begun to emerge, although a sense of stability and continuity is what is being sought. Before that, there will be some “exciting games” in addition to other competitions.
Currently, there are 70,000 cycling licences in Spain, 4,000 of which are for girls, a number that has increased by more than 2,000 since Serón took office. The Valladolid native visited AS alongside Pascual Momparlar (42), a Valencian who settled in Úbeda for love. He made the jump to senior coach in late 2018, after working at RFEC for over a decade. For one reason or another, he has not yet been able to build a team with all the big stars available, whether for the Tokyo Games, or for the World Cup, but that will change for this edition in Paris.
in great shape
“For me, at that time, it was easier to stay with the U-23s. I knew I was going to take over in a transition after the best Spanish generation (Valverde, Purito, Contador, Freire…), but I took the risk. The only thing I know is to work. After a hard road we now have great cyclists and we can dream. I will never forget the Tokyo Games (He spent more than 15 days locked in a hotel due to Covid) And now there is an immense desire for visitors from Paris. I would like to be criticised for making good or bad strategies, but so far I have not been able to do that,” explains the coach.
“It is a matter of pride to host the Nationals again in our region”Unlike other countries, which will have four runners at the Games, Spain will only have three as it has not gained enough points in previous campaigns to justify keeping an extra man. One of those three will also have to do the time trial, a test in which our country only has one place. For women, there will be two participants with the same procedure (a doubling), although this option will be chosen by Gema Pascual. One of them appears with all certainty to be Mavi Garcia. The other, unknown.
in great shape
As for Momparlor, her list is on track too… But that also includes the Tour de France, and that could change everything. The men’s time trial is on July 27 and the long-distance test on August 3. The Tour de France ends on the 21st… and Pascual will have to submit the final list before the French race ends. Barring injury, some changes may be made in the last days, but the desire is not to reach that point, everything will be officially known in advance. Due to the characteristics of the circuit, more for classicomaniacs (The World Cup in Switzerland will have a great list of Spanish climbers like Landa, Mas, Carlos Rodriguez, Bilbao…), with a double pass from the cobbled area of MontmartreJuan Ayuso has all the ballots to double: time and distance. In addition, the initial idea is that when his first Tour de France ends in Nice, he will stay in the country to visit Paris and recognize before that (There’s not much margin) I give it time. It’s all on paper, that 21 days in the most important race in the world can change everything.
His two partners will be, at least, the ones who have the most options at the moment, Oier Lazcano and Alex Aranburu. Just like that, The trio claimed three podium finishes at the 2023 Nationalsthe assets of Pello Bilbao and Carlos Rodríguez are also available. The Tour will decide. In 2024, it will not be possible to take photos on the podium because Juan will not be present, a decision that was made Abandonment in the Dauphiné already before and after its fall. He is training normally. In short, youAn year, and some games, important for Momperler, for Juan (who until now has never been in the national team alongside Pascual) and for Spain that dreams of adding metal to different disciplines on two wheels. The delegation will be completed by Torres and Mora on the track, Valero and Culel in MTB, and Fernández-Miranda with the difficult prospect of an appearance in BMX. Whatever happens, Cerrone will leave his legacy.
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