I went to Bilbao to participate on July 18 and 19 in the XIX Paracycling Bira de Bilbao, 19 editions of the best national adapted cycling, with great international participation in addition to being a UCI test that gives points to Spain to be able to bring more athletes to the Games Paralympics.
We arrived on Friday afternoon, July 17, and the first thing was to recognize the time trial route. I cycled for more than 1 hour on the circuit but my impressions were not good; very tight curves, high speed in specific sections and constant changes of pace, a ratty and dangerous circuit where great care would have to be taken to avoid an accident.
I stayed at the Bilbao Hostel where you could breathe cycling everywhere. Living with different disabilities makes you see things differently, there are many examples of improvement, many people who fight to normalize their lives and thanks to sport they achieve it.
On Saturday, July 18, we went to Belako to participate in the time trial. After 40 minutes of warming up in the Bkool, I will prepare for the test. I arrived at the exit very quickly, when they were counting down the 10 seconds. I had to do 3 laps of the 3.7km circuit.
I approached the first lap calmly but I was worried since there were powerful rivals coming out from behind who could catch up with me. I took the curves with caution and pushed on the climbs. The heat was intense and the feeling of humidity was high, we pedaled at midday. The second lap I increased the intensity and started to lap several teammates, I cornered too fast and got on two wheels so I slowed down, my mind was set on Germany a week later. I went hard the last two kilometers but my watts were low so I didn’t expect to have a great result. My surprise was achieving second place in the time trial, 46 seconds behind the winner. My colleagues told me that the heat had affected them, there were beginnings of heat stroke and many abandonments by accident. I saved the day, which was my intention.
I wanted to push on the route. He knew the circuit from previous years and knew that it was very fast, a good start was essential to be in the group of the best.
On Sunday, July 19, we went to Andoain to participate in the online test. 4 laps of 10 km to pedal a total of 40km. We left early in the morning but the heat was intense. The full exit. 100 flat meters, 90-degree left curve and 80-meter slope with a slope that hurts.
An Irishman started to pull the leading group and stretched them a lot during the first kilometers. A group of 6 handbikers was formed in the lead. There was no collaboration to pedal relays. Nobody wanted to waste their strength and be prepared for the attacks that were going to occur. We worked in fits and starts. Whoever took the lead changed pace on the climbs. If one got lost, the intensity was increased to leave them behind. It was a slow route until reaching the last lap. We were 5 handbikers and there were several attacks on the slopes but no one lost fuel. I thought about the best time to attack. Last hill, 1.5 km from the finish line.
The tension was palpable and the group opened up at the beginning of the slope. We all had the same idea, to attack there. I entered the slope last, and even though I tried to get in position, I had to change pace on the dirty side of the road, overtaking on the right. I knew that as we reached the top of the slope, we would reach the finish line. I used all my strength but he crested the slope in third position, just 10 meters from the first. An unbridgeable distance. As we began the descent, I already saw them 100 meters away. I pedaled hard until the end and finished in third position, 18 seconds behind the winner.
The general classification was positive, I achieved a second place that gave me 13 UCI points. I had never reached so many points before. My feelings were not too good since I was coming from training at altitude, my peak form was planned for the World Cup in Elzach (Germany) a week later and I felt tired. In general, I end up very happy for achieving second place, if I compare it with last year, the progression has been enormous. Tomorrow he leaves for German lands.
