Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux returns to the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana (2.Pro, 2-6/02) for the first time since 2016 this Wednesday. In this five day event the region is crossed from north to south in four stages, before a short closing stage in capital Valencia.
The Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana starts immediately with an intense stage. After the start in Les Alqueries, the riders will gain altitude before reaching the top of El Remolcador (10km at 4.2%) which is positioned halfway though the 166.7 kilometer stage. A long valley brings them to two climbs in the final 15 kilometer: the Collado de Ayodar (3.9km at 5.4%) and Torralba del Pinar (4.6km at 6.9%).
Also in the second stage a lot of climbing has to be done, but as most of the climbs in this transition stage are concentrated in the middle. Then, a mountain top finish at 1188 meter is waiting for the riders on Friday, on the top of Alto de las Antenas del Maigmo Tibi (9.9km at 7.5%). After a flat beginning next to the coast from start city Alicante, the parcours heads inlands towards the Aitana mountains with the famous Col de Rates (6,9km aan 5,4%) and the steep final climb with some unpaved sections.
The peloton will ride from Orihuela to Torrevieja on the fourth day following a parcours of 193 kilometer with only one categorized climb in the beginning of the stage. The shirt closing race of 92 kilometer around capital Valencia will probably end in a bunch sprint.
Alexander Kristoff, Andrea Pasqualon, Barnabás Peák, Adrien Petit and Loïc Vliegen continue their race Programme in Spain after the Mallorca Challenge. Under the direction of Aike Visbeek and Steven De Neef, they will be joined by Norwegian rider Sven Erik Bystrøm, who will represent the World Team for the first time and Dimitri Claeys, who returns to the team since he first defended the colors of Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux in 2016.
« I started the season alongside Biniam and he immediately offered us the victory in Alcudia. Winning early in the season always has a positive effect on the team, it makes everyone more relaxed. You can immediately notice the harmony in our group, so it was not a surprise that good performances followed on different terrains. Concerning myself, I prepared well for the start of the season. I feel well physically and I feel ready to concretize the work we have done with the sprint train. I’m looking forward to start this race as we will have several opportunities. We have a lot of quality in our line up, so we need to show confidence and grab these three chances. »
