Pedro Romero and Luis Leao Pinto are showing they are stronger than ever. They both took part in previous editions of Andalucia Bike Race, but this is their first performance as a pair and results can´t be better having won the first two stages of this years event. Todays winner didn’t have it easy having only won the stage after sprinting with Serralheiro and Oliveira, from Portuguese Selection. Swiss team Stöckli, were third.
In females the green leader’s jersey changed hands after stage 2 with Milena Landtwing and Ester Süss winning the stage. Their strategy consists on “not beginning too hard”, and “save strength to attack at the end”. After them Belgium Githa Michiels and Alice Pirard were second; and Polar Team with Claudia Galicia and Tanja Zakelj, third.
The Mountain Trax – Vauxhall Cycling Team finished 28th after a sprint to the line with the Danish National Team. Dylan was very strong again today but I just didn’t have the legs to follow at that pace on the climbs. The stage was very short at 2 hour 30 for the winners, more of a XC speed day than a marathon. I’m already looking forward to the flatter days of stage 5 and 6! The bikes performed faultlessly today, every gear on the Sram XX1 10-42t cassette was used.
Today there were some great singletrack and much drier conditions compared to the previous day, hopefully we have more of the same tomorrow on stage 3.
Stage 3 covers 75 kilometres and 3071 metres of climbing, hopefully I can find my climbing legs!