Bangert and Zubeldia, duel of titans in the first stage of the EPIC Gran Canaria

                   

                         TODE THE IMAGES OF THE VI EPIC GRAN CANARIA IN THIS LINK

 

 

The German cyclist, in his debut in the Gran Canaria event, broke the group with a brave pull just a few minutes after starting, skyrocketing the level and taking cycling to its maximum expression. With the number 68, this promise of the sport has made history with a climb that has left everyone speechless and with the privilege of having a champion at his side, Haimar Zubeldia, in a tireless and unbeatable tandem from start to finish. A hard, cold and rainy day added several challenges to the climb to the summits of Gran Canaria, with a stage 115 kilometers and two timed sections. 

 

He stopped the stopwatch in first position Nick Bangert with a sum of the two times of 1 hour, 59 minutes and 50 seconds (1h59'50”), followed by the national Haimar Zubeldia with a total of 1 hour 59 minutes and 59 seconds (1h59'59”) and the canary Blas Arturo Rivero with a time of 2 hours 8 minutes and 1 second (2h08'01”).

 

Nick Bangert was very happy with his role today, in a stage that he described as "very hard" due to "the rain and the cold" but at the same time "very fun." As he has pointed out, the weather has complicated the race but that has raised the level and the demand. “We had a great time,” he said, something that Haimar Zubeldia agreed with, who has enjoyed the routes of Gran Canaria in a rhythm shared with the champion who has demonstrated his good form and his love for this sport.

 

 

In women, the historical leader of the EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels&Resorts, the Romanian cyclist, was placed as the favorite to win the title. Manuela Muresan with a cumulative time of 2 hours, 32 minutes, and 29 seconds (2h32'29”), consolidating itself as the rival to beat in each edition. The second to cross the arch was the Dutch cyclist Chantal Marielle Boer with a cumulative time of 2 hours, 37 minutes and 35 seconds, followed by the Polish athlete Marta Keller-Kurach with 2 hours, 45 minutes and 56 seconds (2h45'56”) 

 

Departing at 8.30:XNUMX a.m. from Maspalomas Dunes Viewpoint at the RIU Palace Maspalomas, the star event of the competition covered one of the most popular cycling routes on the island, which ran through Arteara, Fataga, Tirajana and El Pajar to Pasito Blanco. In the first timed section, Bangert and Zubeldia as the leader of the race increased the pace from Aqualand to Ayagaures, to break expectations when they reached the finish line at the Pedro González summit in a time trial of 12,3 kilometers at 470 meters of altitude, with a slope of 460 and average inclination of 4,4%. Defining themselves as clear winners, they did not falter at any time, together in the second time trial from Pasito Blanco on their climb to Ayacata, en 45 kilometers and 1.304 meters high, which they solved without even showing fatigue. 

 

A 8,5 degree temperature In Ayacata, a very cold first stage at the EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels&Resorts tested the speed, endurance and skill of the more than 420 participants. 

 

 

The cyclists experienced a Saturday of cycling and the great challenge of the EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels&Resorts with its explosive climb and unique landscapes. The island of Gran Canaria shows its best version of cycling in the midlands, to which hundreds of athletes are loyal and many have joined for the first time. At the start, nerves and excitement, and a parade of stars with Iban Mayo, Joseba Beloki, Haimar Zubeldia and the two-time Italian champion and record holder Mario Cipollini to cut the tape.

 

Tomorrow, the final stage

 

The second of the stages is the one that will close the podium with a single timed section, fast and powerful in 75 kilometers of route, with a time trial of 22 kilometers, uphill from the Mirador, with a route that passes through Fataga to Tirajana, with 925 meters of altitude, a slope of 810 meters and average slopes of 4%. 

 

You will arrive at the town of Tunte, where this annual cycling festival will take place with live music, entertainment and the best atmosphere. In this mountain town, a common meeting point to recharge your batteries, the descent began on one of the most popular cycle routes on the island, which passes through Santa Lucía, La Era, Vecindario, Doctoral and Bahía Feliz along the GC-65 and GC-500, to meet again at the hotel where the great sports festival will begin.