On January 14-15, “La Invernal” was held at Motorland, the Alcañiz speed circuit, an open-door solidarity day to practice other sports not linked to motorsport.
Skaters, athletes and cyclists gathered to enjoy the speed and curves of the Moto GP circuit.
Motorland has been betting on ADAPTED CYCLING for 5 years, becoming a national and international benchmark in the sport of handbike.
In 2017, the “Motorland 100 minutes of handbike” event brought together participants from different countries (Spain, Holland, Portugal…), 5 of the current champions of Spain in 2016 (Martín Berchesi (Mh4 road), Israel Rider (Mh3 road), Luis Miguel García Marquina (Mh4 Time Trial), Sergio Garrote (Mh2 road and time trial) and Frank Tamarit (Road and time trial), in addition to the Paralympic athlete and paratriathlete Vicente Arzo.
The day begins on Saturday, January 14 at 3 p.m. with the TIME TRIAL. Handbikers have 1 hour to take the fastest possible lap of the circuit
Motorland aims to maintain the essence of adaptive and hanbdike cycling events with a touch of the motor world. A free practice time trial where the winner will achieve pole position on Sunday, and a 100-minute race starting in a typical Moto GP grid formation. Some differentiating elements that give a touch of originality to the adapted Cycling test without losing the essence of handbike races.
The pole winner was the Catalan Israel Rider, current Spanish road champion in the Mh3 category.
On Sunday at 3pm, the training grid was ready for the green light to start. Despite the cold and intense wind, more than 20 adapted cyclists waited for the start of THE 100 MINUTES OF HANDBIKE. Quickly, a group of 9 handbikers formed a leading platoon that lost strength as the laps passed.
The fast pace meant that only three handbikers reached the last minutes of the race together.
A change of pace in the last laps of the paratriathlete Vicente Arzo, unseated the Portuguese Joao Pinto and Luis Miguel García, reaching the checkered flag alone. Arzo achieved victory on a tough day for the practice of adapted cycling since the wind did not let up at any time.
The awards ceremony took place in the boxes of the Motorland Paddock. The winner’s satisfaction was evident and even more so after receiving a magnificent Teruel ham as a trophy.
The sport of handbike is a stimulus for people with disabilities, it allows them to maintain an active and healthy life. A few years ago it was unthinkable and now every day we see more people pedaling with their arms.
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Adapted cycling is a sport that requires great effort and sacrifice, therefore it is appreciated that entities such as Motorland, Spiuk or Bodega Pirineos collaborate so that this sport has more followers and facilitates the inclusion of people with disabilities in all types of events. . sports, an example that we hope many sports entities, clubs and associations will take.
THANK YOU FRIENDS OF MOTORLAND
