National Championships 2016 – Spain – [Road Race – LAST 10 KM]

June 26, 2016

National Championships 2016 – Spain – Alicante – 193 km

The Spanish National Road Race Championships are held annually to decide the Spanish cycling champions in the road race discipline, across various categories. The event was first held in 1897 and was won by a Portuguese rider, José Pesoa.

“Rojas has been unbeatable.” With the silver medal on his chest, Ángel Vicioso (Katusha) synthesized the feeling of all the riders who took part today in the road race at the Spanish National Championship. José Joaquín Rojas (Movistar) won the race for second time in his career from a successful breakaway, defeating his companions Vicioso and Jordi Simón (Verva-ActiveJet) with a final attack with five kilometres to go.

The race was held on Cocentaina, birthplace of the mastermind behind this edition of the Spanish National Championships, Vicente Belda. Soul of the once noteworthy Kelme-Costa Blanca team, Belda was pleased to see his son David, tiny climber now riding for the Roth-Skoda team, make the main breakaway of the day.

Six riders escaped along with David Belda. The two main Spanish teams, Movistar Team and Caja Rural, put two riders each in the group: Rubén Fernández and José Herrada for the blue team, Diego Rubio and Miguel Ángel Benito for the green. Two youngsters were there as well: Basque prospect Alex Aranburu (Euskadi-Murias) and Giro finisher Cristian Rodríguez (Willier-Southeast).

The breakaway wasn’t meant to succeed and was definitely doomed when Benito lost contact, therefore provoking a situation where Caja Rural wasn’t even with Movistar. The Professional Continental team took the reins of the peloton and almost neutralized the group. Only Fernández and Belda attacked in two to survive ahead of the pack.

There were two laps left over a hilly course that, without big climbs, accumulated almost 600 metres of elevation gain over 32 kilometres. On the toughest part of the circuit, Mikel Landa (Sky) and Purito Rodríguez (Katusha) made a move that didn’t break clear. The following attack by Jordi Simón did.

The Catalan rider, now racing for the Polish team Verva-ActiveJet, found good company for his willing to be offensive. Sergio Pardilla (Caja Rural), Rojas and Vicioso followed his wheel while he bridged across to the pair that still resisted as head of the race.

Despite some powerful attacks from the peloton, including a remarkable one with Iván García Cortina (Klein Constantia) and Luis Ángel Maté (Cofidis) and a couple of accelerations by Rubén Plaza (Orica-GreenEdge), the fight for the medals was a matter for the six-man group that had formed ahead. With 15 kilometres to go, Simón made a big attack to raise the bar and leave behind Fernández, Belda and Pardilla.

It was then when the Rojas show started. The rider from Murcia went on the offensive time and again. “I wanted to get rid of Vicioso,” he asserted on the press conference. And so he did with 5 kilometres to go. “He doubted for a bit and I took the chance to beat him.”

This victory is the first for Rojas this season, and the 30th for Movistar Team. “I’ve had a good season so far. Recently I had good performances at both Giro d’Italia and Route du Sud, so I was confident I could fight for this win,” he explained. “Maybe I’ve shifted my role a bit the last couple of years, from sprinter to domestique, but victory isn’t everything. Thanks to this new focus I’ve improved as a rider. Now I can win from afar and don’t have to wait for the sprint anymore.”

Asked about his plans for the rest of the season, Rojas explained he intended to participate on the Vuelta a España and was unsure of contesting the Qatar Worlds. “Frankly, I don’t know what to expect. I didn’t make the Spanish squad for Richmond last year despite of being in great shape. In fact, the Spanish coach [Javier Mínguez] has never called me nor talked to me. I don’t trust him.”

Results :
1 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar Team 4:45:22
2 Angel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Team Katusha 0:00:07
3 Jordi Simon Casulleras (Spa) Verva ActiveJet Pro Cycling Team
4 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:13
5 Jesus Herrada Lopez (Spa) Movistar Team
6 Vicente Garcia De Mateos Rubio (Spa) Louletano – Hospital de Loule
7 Carlos Barbero Cuesta (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
8 Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Spa) Movistar Team
9 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Astana Pro Team
10 Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
11 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Movistar Team
12 Luis Angel Mate Mardones (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
13 Oscar Pujol Munoz (Spa) Team Ukyo
14 Benjamin Prades (Spa) Team Ukyo
15 Garikoitz Bravo Oiarbide (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country – Murias
16 Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Team Sky
17 Alberto Losada Alguacil (Spa) Team Katusha
18 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
19 Julio Alberto Amores Palacios (Spa)
20 Jonathan Lastra Martinez (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
21 Egoitz Fernández (Spa)
22 Jesus Ezquerra Muela (Spa) Sporting/Tavira
23 Sergio Casanova (Spa)
24 Víctor De La Parte (Spa) CCC Sprandi Polkowice
25 Mikel Bizkarra (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country – Murias
26 Jesus Del Pino Corrochano (Spa) Burgos BH
27 Jose Antonio De Segovia Botella (Spa) Louletano – Hospital de Loule 0:00:26
28 Diego Rubio (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
29 Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Orica-GreenEdge
30 Ivan Martinez Jimenez (Spa) 0:00:30
31 Imanol Erviti (Spa) Movistar Team
32 Victor Etxebarria Carrasco (Spa) Radio Popular – Boavista
33 Ruben Fernandez (Spa) Movistar Team
34 Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas (Spa) Movistar Team
35 Mikel Iturria Segurola (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country – Murias
36 Manuel Sola (Spa) 0:00:35
37 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Team Katusha 0:00:41
38 Luis Mas Bonet (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
39 Antonio Angulo Sampedro (Spa) 0:00:46
40 Sergio Pardilla Bellon (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0:00:49
41 Benat Txoperena Matxikote (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country – Murias 0:00:51
42 David Belda Garcia (Spa) Team Roth 0:00:52
43 Igor Merino Cortazar (Spa) Burgos BH 0:01:28
44 Ivan Garcia Cortina (Spa) Klein Constantia 0:01:38
45 Imanol Estevez (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country – Murias 0:02:48
46 Eduard Prades Reverte (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0:04:12
47 Martin Lestido Rey (Spa) Tusnad Cycling Team 0:08:40
48 Pablo Torres Muino (Spa) Burgos BH
49 Marcos Jurado Rodriguez (Spa)
50 Jon Izaguirre Insausti (Spa) Movistar Team
51 Daniel Sánchez (Spa) 0:11:01
52 Aser Estevez Cividanes (Spa)
53 Pedro Merino Criado (Spa)
54 Sergio Pérez (Spa) 0:11:03
55 Jose Miralles (Spa) Tusnad Cycling Team 0:11:04
56 Raúl Martínez De M. (Spa)
57 Iker Esquibel (Spa)
58 Victor Martinez Garcia (Spa)
59 Jesús Alberto Rubio (Spa) Nasr Dubai 0:11:07
60 Gabriel Reguero Corral (Spa) Team Differdange – Losch 0:11:15
61 Alexander Unzueta (Spa)
62 Juan Ignacio Perez Martin (Spa) W52/FC Porto
63 Javier Francisco Aramendia Lorente (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
64 Arnau Soe Vall (Spa) Burgos BH 0:11:21
65 Alex Aranburu (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country – Murias
66 Pedro Gregori (Spa)
67 Enrique Sanz (Spa) Wilier Triestina-Southeast
68 Cristian Carralero (Spa) Louletano – Hospital de Loule
69 Carlos Jimenez Lozano (Spa) Radio Popular – Boavista
70 Salvador Guardiola Tora (Spa) Team Ukyo
71 Sergio Rodríguez (Spa)
DNF Jorge Arcas Pena (Spa) Movistar Team
DNF José Herrada Lopez (Spa) Movistar Team
DNF Gorka Izaguirre Insausti (Spa) Movistar Team
DNF Javier Moreno Bazan (Spa) Movistar Team
DNF Antonio Pedrero Lopez (Spa) Movistar Team
DNF Marc Soler (Spa) Movistar Team
DNF Miguel Angel Benito Diez (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
DNF Pello Bilbao Lopez De Armentia (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
DNF Jaime Roson Garcia (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
DNF Hector Saez Benito (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
DNF Jorge Cubero Galvez (Spa) Burgos BH
DNF Daniel Lopez Parada (Spa) Burgos BH
DNF Alvaro Robredo Crespo (Spa) Burgos BH
DNF Ibai Salas (Spa) Burgos BH
DNF Peio Olaberria (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country – Murias
DNF Aritz Bagües (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country – Murias
DNF Adrian Gonzalez (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country – Murias
DNF Eneko Lizarralde (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country – Murias
DNF Aitor Gonzalez (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country – Murias
DNF Gotzon Udondo (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country – Murias
DNF Antonio Piedra Perez (Spa) Funvic Soul Cycles – Carrefour
DNF Pablo Urtasun Perez (Spa) Funvic Soul Cycles – Carrefour
DNF Rafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Lotto Soudal
DNF Jesus Hernandez Blazquez (Spa) Tinkoff Team
DNF Cristian Rodriguez Martin (Spa) Wilier Triestina-Southeast
DNF Daniel Gines Martin (Spa) d’Amico Bottecchia
DNF Antonio Domene Soriano (Spa) Dare Gobik
DNF Juan Jesus Martinez Antolin (Spa) Dare Gobik
DNF Javier Valero Amat (Spa) Dare Gobik
DNF José Alberto Marquez Moreno (Spa) GM Europa Ovini
DNF Rafael Marquez Raigon (Spa) Inteja-MMR Dominican Cycling Team
DNF Israel Nuno Arguelles (Spa) Inteja-MMR Dominican Cycling Team
DNF Joaquin Sobrino Martinez (Spa) Inteja-MMR Dominican Cycling Team
DNF Ricardo Garcia Ambroa (Spa) Kinan Cycling Team
DNF Marcos Garcia (Spa) Kinan Cycling Team
DNF Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Klein Constantia
DNF Ruben Caseny Catala (Spa) Massi – Kuwait Cycling Project
DNF Axel Costa Soria (Spa) Massi – Kuwait Cycling Project
DNF Marc Vilanova Marsa (Spa) Massi – Kuwait Cycling Project
DNF Eloy Teruel Rovira (Spa) Louletano – Hospital de Loule
DNF Peio Goikoetxea (Spa) Manzana Postobon Team
DNF Pablo Guerrero Bonilla (Spa) Radio Popular – Boavista
DNF Óscar González (Spa) Sporting/Tavira
DNF Sebastia Mascaro Rigo (Spa) Tusnad Cycling Team
DNF Rodrigo Lorente Araque (Spa) Team Ukyo
DNF Francesc Zurita (Spa) Team Vorarlberg
DNF Artur Martí (Spa)
DNF Mario Arranz (Spa)
DNF Daniel Estévez (Spa)
DNF Llorenç García (Spa)
DNF Illart Zuazubiskar Gallastegi (Spa)
DNF Gonzalo Andrés (Spa)
DNF Jesús Montero (Spa)
DNF Josu Zabala (Spa)
DNF Adrián García (Spa)
DNF Cristian Astals Fernandez (Spa)
DNF Marc Cayuela (Spa)
DNF Ismael López Valle (Spa)
DNF Genís Soriano (Spa)
DNF Joaquín Badia (Spa)
DNF Miquel Carrió (Spa)
DNF José Luis Cobo (Spa)
DNF Manuel Jiménez (Spa)
DNF Óscar Panisello (Spa)
DNF Adrián Merino (Spa)
DNF Marcos Altur Boronat (Spa)
DNF Jose Manuel Cayuela Lopez (Spa)
DNF Francisco Del Rincón (Spa)
DNF Óscar Hernández (Spa)
DNF Fernando Márquez (Spa)
DNF Ricardo Márquez (Spa)
DNF Abraham Carneado (Spa)
DNF Diego Fernández (Spa)
DNF David Francisco Delgado (Spa)
DNF Miguel Llaneza (Spa)
DNF Alberto Lucas (Spa)
DNF Noel Martin Infante (Spa)
DNF Marcos Rojo (Spa)
DNF Aitor Escobar (Spa)
DNF Javier Chacon (Spa)
DNF Ángel Gutiérrez (Spa)
DNF Angel De Julian Vazquez (Spa)
DNF José Manuel Gutierrez Revuelta (Spa)
DNF Miguel Gomez Crespo (Spa)
DNF José Luis Mariño (Spa)
DNF Sergio Míguez (Spa)
DNF Erik Altuna (Spa)
DNF Iñigo Ojeda (Spa)
DNF Jorge Ferrer (Spa)
DNF Jesús Ortiz (Spa)
DNF Juan Carlos Ramirez (Spa)
DNF Francisco Santana (Spa)
DNF David Santillana (Spa)
DNF Eric Valiente (Spa)