Guipuzcoan Alex Aranburu (Movistar) was declared the new Spanish Elite UCI Road Champion after winning the 201.6 kilometre test solo and with full honours. Disputed start and finish in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, where his team’s dominance was confirmed with Oier Lazcano’s second place.
The king at El Escorial was Alex Aranburu (Ezkio Itsaú, 28 years old), who won the bronze medal in the same stage last year and is now the national champion after a breakaway 20 km from the finish line, allowing him to arrive alone in time to enjoy his success, with a time of 4:39:59, average of 42.3 km/h.
Aranburu, the recent Belgian Tour stage winner, added sparkle to the Movistar celebrations with his eighth professional victory, as, 52 seconds behind, Oier Lazcano, also a standout, entered the fray, handing the flag jersey to his teammate. Jesús Herrada is third on 58th, followed by Carlos Canales (Movistar) and Mikel Landa (Soudal).
Myriad escapes, Movistar control
Pogacar, optimistic for the Tour: ‘I’ve never felt so good on the bike’A tough test in the mountains of Madrid, without respite, with an accumulated difference of 3,200 meters in the passage of 5 laps of a long circuit with the climb of Fresnedilla de la Oliva and 3 laps of a difficult final loop that included climbing the slopes of Mount Abantos in El Escorial. Despite the rigors of the journey, many were encouraged to take the adventure at the start.
With 44km to go, with the leak neutralised, the first serious movement occurred on the first climb in the Abantos sector. On the descent a group of 4 was formed with Pelayo and Romo (Movistar), Landa (Soudal) and Aparicio (Burgos BH).. Landa’s presence was inconvenient for the telephone team, which led to the arrival of his main assets Oier Lazcano and Aranburu’s group. Meanwhile, Pelayo launched himself alone 36 laps from the finish line, a move that was supposed to demand a reaction from Landa.
Aranburu is declared the champion
He tried to go over Landa, but Movistar stopped him. The chasing group, which also included Roger Adrià and Jesús Herrada, caught up with Pelayo Sánchez 23 minutes before the finish line. Now it was the turn of another movistar, Alex Aranburu, who barged into a group of nine people where there was no immediate reaction.
The Bora sprinter showed his face, setting the pace for Landa and Lazcano, Pau Martí, Herrada and Castrillo, even letting the rest of the chasers go. A huge effort that reduced Aranburu’s lead, but without reducing the minute handicap.
La Vuelta 2024, in the rhythm of ‘When the summer ends’there was no wayA, Aranburu advanced with strength and courage, and with the title secured, he entered the pleasant goal, The whole team is celebrating their achievement from the design work. As if that wasn’t enough, Lazcano also attacked to reach the podium. Herrada proudly took third place. The party stopped at Movistar’s house.
