On April 22, a test of the Spanish Adapted Cycling Cup was held at the Jerez Speed Circuit. Handbikes, bicycles and tandems met in one of the most important tests of national adapted cycling. The weather was uncertain, accustomed to the high temperatures of the province of Cádiz, in previous days the easterly wind had brought gusts of wind exceeding 100 km/h.
At 11:30 a.m. the start of the road test for the handbikes took place. The wind had died down. Among the participants, the Italian Vittorio Podesta stood out, recent Paralympic time trial champion in Rio de Janeiro, Mh3 category and World Champion on several occasions.
I positioned myself on the third starting line, after the MH4 runners (higher category with less disability). The Jerez speed circuit is characterized by a 200-meter start in a straight line to turn right 90 degrees and climb a small slope of 4 -5% about 180 meters. Getting to the top of the slope with the first runners left me in an optimal position to ride with the leading group.
The national flag gave the start. I started hard trying to follow the strong wheels. I ran the first 200 meters among the first 4 runners and started the slope in 3rd position. The start of the races is one of my weak points so I try to work to improve and here I achieved it. After cresting the slope, a group of about 8-10 handbikers formed who rode hard, maintaining 3rd position controlling possible changes. If you ride in a group queue, the changes of pace in the first positions are very hard to maintain, and could cause me to drop.
I kept my pace on the first lap, the fastest one he went through. The second round caused a loss of cash in the leading group. My pulse was high. As Mh3 only the World Champion and I remained in the lead, all the others were Mh4 runners. Little by little I gave up positions until I was at the back of the group. The strength was waning and that was when the Mh4 made several changes of pace that put me over the edge. It was the third lap of the ten we had to take. The first attack was on the downhill, hard but I managed to contact the group on the way up, shortly after, another stretch on another descent opened a gap of 3 meters that widened to 5, making it impossible for me to contact the head.
I was pedaling alone. I had to make a decision, let them catch me from behind or try to maintain a competition pace and continue alone. It was my first race of the season, I was definitely lacking pace and decided on the second option. Keep a high pace and pedal alone to see how you hold up.
I walked 4 laps in absolute solitude. I maintained a high pulse and constant watts but I noticed that it was becoming more and more difficult for me to maintain it, I was losing the average watts. Suddenly I saw a group approaching in the rearview mirror. They were white helmets, from my mh3 category. They reached my height and surpassed me with force. Surprised at the speed they were going, I kept the wheel and positioned myself comfortably in the group. My pulse was low, my watts too and I took a gel waiting for the next movements, someone should attack to win the Spanish Cup race. There were 2 laps left to finish the test. Several weak changes of pace suggested that the dispute was going to be big.
After passing through the finish arch, the last lap began. 200 meters, right turn and 180 meter slope. It was there that the first serious attack occurred. He was pedaling with 2 Mh3 of the same team and decided not to respond to the attack, he feared that jumping into everything would cause the cartridges he had to burn. I decided to keep the wheel going and see what happened. There were 4 km left until the end of the race. The group’s nerves were notable and when they saw that the escapee was increasing his distance, they tried to try several attacks by accelerating their march. I was comfortable. I decided to play the card in the 1 km race, a slope with a headwind, the hardest part of the circuit. With luck, he could try to get to the head.
No sooner said than done. I will wait for my moment and change pace between two handbikers. Hard attack for the strength he had. I opened a gap and positioned myself just 5 meters from the head, but there were 300 meters left to go and the lactic acid told me that my arms couldn’t take it anymore. I tried to get there but it was not possible. I finished second in the Spanish Cup, 3 seconds behind the winner.
My satisfaction was moderate since I had the aftertaste of being second and I didn’t know what would have happened if I had responded to the attacks. Maybe he came with more strength than the rest or maybe not, but they are decisions that are made in the race and without a doubt the head takes precedence over ambition. Maybe it was a test to be ambitious and I wasn’t. It was the first race of the season, form is acquired with competition and I hope to be at my best in 1 month in the most important events of the season.
I would like to thank Sunrise Medical for making my participation in the Jerez Grand Prix possible, congratulate the organization for its magnificent work and I hope to repeat it in future editions. Thank you and see you soon.
