All day in a large breakaway for Andrea Montoli caught 300 metres from the finish line

The start of the 2023 edition of the Bidasoa Itzulia is the story of a large breakaway, up to seventeen riders, that takes up to eleven minutes of advantage over the main bunch at kilometre 40. Andrea Montoli is also present in this large vanguard, with multiple teams represented. And with the maximum margin, the battle between the head of the race and the chasers, which gradually swung to the side of the seconds as the kilometres went by and the approach to the climb to Jaizkibel approached.

With 30 kilometres to go, they are almost four minutes ahead. And on the climb to Jaizkibel, where the gap continues to narrow, the leading group is selected. Four riders, five at the summit, prolonged the pulse: Andrea Montoli, Daniel Cepa (Caja Rural), Miguel Rodríguez (Froiz), Kacper Krawiec (Telco’m) and Pablo Álvarez (Electro Alavesa) crowned Jaizkibel in the lead, managed the descent in front and practically reached the streets of Hondarribia, where they were swallowed up by a group that had been launched.

British rider Sutton won, with Sebastiano Minoia closing the top ten and Arnau Gilabert occupying eleventh place. Montoli was a little further back, but it was a great stage for him: “It was a particularly hard day”, said Montli, who finally finished eighteenth. “The day ended with the feeling of having been very close, we have tasted a little of the taste of being able to reach the finish line. Rafa was telling me on the radio that we could get there, but with 300 metres to go, they finally dropped us. It’s a pity. But this Friday is another day and we’ll go out again looking to do well”.

And this Friday, another tough stage in the Bidasoa Itzulia.

[? Álvaro García / Bidasoa Itzulia]