Principado de Asturias: young event, exciting objective
Challenge Montaña Central
Asturias, from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 May
Intense moment of the cycling season for the junior category, which this weekend has ahead of it one of its most interesting events in the national calendar: the Challenge Montaña Central de Asturias. A young race, not in vain the one in 2018 will be its fourth edition, but already with great notoriety within the category. Such is the good work that the Figaredo, Monte Llosorio and Puerta de Asturias clubs, their promoters and co-organisers have been doing. For this year the list of participating teams is growing, with 22 squads that will feed 150 riders. They will not miss the Polartec-Kometa.
The Fundacion Contador is a regular participant in this test in the Principado, where it has obtained good results in the past. The final victory has been resisted, but José Félix Parra (then Flex-Fundación Contador) fought the 2015 edition and on the final podium of the 2016 edition was Carlos García (RH+-Polartec-Fundación Contador). There have also been several successes in general secondary (José Antonio García 2016) or in stages (Marc Brustenga, 2017). In short, it is an event in which the team likes, competes well and is comfortable. Álex Martín, Iván Oliver, Manuel Jesús Carrellán, Manuel Garrido, the Portuguese Daniel Lopes are the designated racers to face this Challenge, to which are added the Belgian Nathan Decuypere and the British Harrison Wood who arrive, within the agreements of the foundation with the Belgian cycling team CT Soenens-Booom, yielded for this race.
Ahead, a four-stage route that seeks to give prominence to climbers, riders and even time trialists. This year’s competition against the clock will begin with a team time trial for the morning of the second day. The Alto de Coxal, on the first day, and Alto de Carabanzo, on the second and third days, will be decisive in the evolution of the general classification given their proximity to the finish line.
The stages.
Friday 4: Mieres-Valdecuna (79 km).
Saturday 5 (a): Lugones-Lugones (12 km CRE).
Sábado 5 (b): Felechosa-Figaredo (79 km).
Domingo 7: Pola de Lena-Pola de Lena (81 km).
