Stage victory and lead in the Vuelta a San Juan
MADRID, 26 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Colombian cyclist Fernando Gaviria took victory this Wednesday at the Barreal finish line, in the fourth stage of the Vuelta a San Juan 2023 (Argentina), to take the lead and give the Movistar Team the first victory of the year.
Gaviria, who makes his debut in the Argentine round as a rider for the Spanish team, took four days to get his first victory in blue telephone, a demanding stage of 196 kilometers and over 2,200 meters of altitude.
The Brazilian champion Vinícius Rangel, very prominent since Sunday, as well as Oier Lazkano, Albert Torres, Abner González and Einer Rubio supported Gaviria to the finish line, who was able to catch up with Ganna (IGD), in a ‘finisseur’ action by the Italian in the last meters, and beat three-time world champion Sagan (TEN) with his sprint.
“Enormous happiness. I prepared very well all winter and today it happened. The team really behaved up to par, as they have been doing all week. We knew that this block was not as purely for riders as other sprinters have, but that today’s profile favored our characteristics. The boys today were the best. The whole team worked for me,” Gavira said in statements provided by his team.
“The mountain pass became very difficult; the heat has intensified in recent days and it was hard for all of us, but we knew how to be patient, we were able to cross the pass together, we kept calm and we worked to the finish line to achieve this beautiful victory. Now seen as a leader, but it is anecdotal; surely on Friday in the Colorado I will be last almost all day and I will arrive losing half an hour (laughs)”, he added.