The strongest in the flat terrain reign also in the mountains
28 de April de 2024“Believe it or not, I don’t like the mountains at all. It doesn’t suit my riding.” Who speaks is the winner of the first stage of the Škoda We Love Cycling stage and first leader of the Škoda Titan Desert Morocco 2024 GC: Josep Betalú.
Beta’ has had to insist that he is not into climbing. It is normal, considering that he has won in one of the most mountainous stages in the history of the race, with nearly 2,500 meters of accumulated positive altitude gain.
A day that, despite being on mountain terrain, with narrow passages, also allowed room for improvisation and strategy. And no one moves better in tactical fields than the KH7 rider.
A shortvut towards the middle of the race left the leading group very tight. Several frontrunners, including Konny Looser, Fran Herrero and Luis León Sánchez, among others, were left behind.
However, Betalú himself recognizes that he may have “burned too much energy” in the mountain passes of the race. This allowed Sergio Mantecón to link up with him. Luis León Sánchez, winner of the Škoda Challenge, also closed the gap.
The arrival at Boumalne Dades was a sprint between the Catalan rider and the Valencian rider. Finally it was Josep Betalú who took the victory, the leadership and the blow on the table that he also has strength in the mountain days.
On a day in which the riders that are good on flat terrain have emerged as kings and queens also in the climbing, the great favorite for the GC women, Tessa Kortekaas, has left no margin to her rivals. Triple victory for the Dutchwoman: stage, GC and Škoda Challenge.
And the Cannondale ISB Sport rider is also one of those who feel stronger on the flat than in the passes. A beast of nature when the race calls for brute force, Kortekaas will still try to consolidate the lead even before reaching the purest desert arrives at the third stage.
For the moment, Pilar Fernandez is second, first among the mortals. More than 17 minutes behind the Dutch is the KH7 rider, who is just over a minute ahead of Greete Steinburg.
