INTENSE! With this word we begin to draw the lines of our particular portrait Criterium Gijón this year. A simple chronicle of the race would be reduced to a few words what has actually been a late July afternoon emotionally charged, beer, music, adrenaline, screaming and sweating. We expect much of this great event in the Asturian city and we have to recognize that the 2014 Criterium Gijón was a pleasant surprise.
Saturday afternoon was presented very hot. The euphoria of the impending start of the competition mixed with impatience riders to enter the circuit to let the skin in spectacular curves proposed by this fourth edition of the circuit.
Finished off preparations, rollers, stretching, photographers, etc.. slowly next to the tent of the organization they arrive all riders and as rarely happens, you could find David Trimble shooting some photos with the public.
It was very hot and was about to the big time. It was 16:30 and 9 participants in the women you were in the line of hungry glory output. Twelve laps full of curves, while the sweat and the heat did not stop or breathe. The showdown between Fleur Faure (POLO & BIKE) and Stefania Baldi (DESGËNA) was secured after the defeat of Italy in the NMC held in Dijon few months ago. From the start of the race the main group consisting Stefania Baldi, Fleur Faure, Carla Nafria (FIXEDLAND) and Mariela Farabello (Hint Moreno BCN x 112) stands out from the rest by imposing a ferocious pace.
As the laps went by, Baldi and Faure, managed to create a gap to their opponents by making the last steps in a new target face to face between the young Italian and French.
Despite attempts to drain both got no distance from each other and it came down to a sprint in the final meters before the goal, this time, was to Stefania Baldi. Congratulations to Stefania for their deserved victory and, of course, to all the runners who participated. Thanks to them, the women are increasingly taking more strength and presence in competitions.
A little pause after this brilliant race that offered the women and soon filled again with bike circuit, this time for the most demanding category.
The almost nonexistent space between the riders in the peloton rolling promised much excitement during the race.
Came the moment of truth. Riders left positioning on the starting line, the first 20 as the organization had assigned (something that did not please everyone). The track temperature was increased by nerves and eager to start.
In the early stages there were just incidents despite the volume of the riders and the frantic pace they wore. Carlos Barredo and Pablo Rodríguez group get off hook and venture to the leak that continued until the end of the race. Larz WOLVH headed the chasing pack, along with it, some of the companions of Dosnoventa, Mario Paz and Tommaso Nolli of Iride team, Pablo Aitor, Emilio Lopez and several components of 8bar as Stefan Shot, Max Faschina and Tim Ceresa. A man hunting party that, despite the great job they did throughout the race, failed to reach the two leaders.
The lonely struggle between Barredo and Rodríguez hard over many turns and remains balanced even in small times we have the impression that the ex-professional, Carlos Barredo, has control of the race. So much so that on the last lap gets to get away and cross the finish line alone.
We all live this race in the space of a breath, a flashback of curves, heat, sweat, sprints, leaks, falls, etc … The great expectations that had been generated for this event has been surpassed by far for an event actually par with other major internationally.
Congratulations to the organization to prove, once again, an excellent job.
What was the post-race through the streets and bars of Gijón know only those who have lived. It was something legendary! Increasingly, behind which is the atmosphere of criteriums, people, projects, petty rivalries and friendships of people living and traveling in Europe and the world following his passion meet.
