¡ CAMPEÓN DE ESPAÑA CONTRARRELOJ 2015 MH3 !

On the weekend of May 16-17, the Spanish Adapted Cycling Championship was held in the Castellano Manchega city of Ciudad Real. I attended as a member of the Aragonese National Team to participate in the MH3 handbike category. In my mind I had the goal of getting on the podium and consolidating the work of these years. After two championships occupying 4th place, it was time for the podium.

Helped by my friend José Manuel Carcasona, we loaded the motorhome and went down to Ciudad Real. Two accidents are the basis of our friendship, that of José Manuel, at the Bodega Pirineos BTT, where he almost ended up in a wheelchair and which caused him to have a cervical fixation without loss of mobility, and my accident, a month after his accident. . . He came to see me at the hospital and since then we have been neck and neck.

On Saturday, May 16, at 4:00 p.m., the time trial began, 18.2 km against the clock, where I had my highest expectations. The circuit adapted very well to my characteristics, a long test, with a certain slope where I could maintain a constant and high pace. In addition, there was a day of complicated side wind and headwind in the final part of the time trial. Ideal for me.

After an intense winter of training, I found myself in the best moment of the season but gastroenteritis 4 weeks before the championship made me have my doubts. I had barely competed this year and the rivals were very strong, I didn’t know if I was going to lack rhythm or intensity, it was a doubt in a wheelchair.

After a roller warm-up of more than 45 minutes, I went to the starting line. I started fast but without going full speed, high cadence and controlling the watts I had to move. Following my coach’s instructions, I had to save my strength for the uphill part and finish the last kilometers at full strength. I rode the first 5 km at more than 40 km/h, the next 5 km I exceeded 42 km/h and the remaining 5 km, with the steep sections, I passed at 25 km/h, I needed the last effort but my energy I was on my last legs, 3.4 km from the finish line, the wind was against me, so I tried to move my arms without thinking about the pain I was in. I rode them at more than 35 km/h, finishing the time in 32:20 minutes at a higher average of 34 km/h. I was relatively disappointed, I estimated that the first ones would have achieved times close to 30-31 minutes, the podium seemed complicated to me.

At the end of the time trial I got on a roller to release and try to eliminate some of the lactic acid generated. Several colleagues came up to ask about my times, comparing them with them, since it wasn’t that bad but I should have had the official times. After a while José Manuel arrived and told me that he had placed 3rd, goal achieved, he was happy… but a little smile appeared on his face, YOU HAVE WON! He yelled at me, I couldn’t believe it. We hugged each other while tears fell from our eyes. He knows the effort he makes, the nerves he goes through and what it costs to win a Spanish Time Trial Championship. He was floating, on a cloud.

Many colleagues came to congratulate me, without a doubt, they have also worked hard, they train almost every day and strive to achieve the same goals as me, they know what this victory costs. This has been the time trial of my life, without a doubt, they will also have the time trial of their lives, with their effort, they will surely achieve their dreams.

After the awards ceremony, wearing the Spanish Champion jersey, biting the medal and receiving a multitude of calls, messages, etc… I was still in my cloud, with my emotions on the surface, so it seemed difficult for me to sleep at night . and the next morning, at 9 a.m., I had to be taking the online test.

Sunday, May 17, 9:00 a.m., I had gotten up at 6:00 a.m. to have breakfast and I had to travel a 36.4 km route, two laps of the time trial circuit. Personally, I prefer longer tests, 50-60 km, where the aerobic base is more important but there I was, after a good warm-up on a roller, on the first starting line.

I started the sport of handbike at the end of 2011, during these years I have been adapting my muscles to the intense exercise that this activity requires, I progressed steadily and I still believe that I have a lot of room to continue growing. Achieving the Spanish Time Trial Championship was making a dream come true, it was feeling that my work was accomplished and I took on the road test without any pressure.

The start of the road test was not quick and after passing the first roundabout a group of 7 handbikers formed. Nobody wanted to take the lead of the group so as not to waste energy. After the first 10 km and in view of the approaching slope, the first movements of the companions began. After passing the curve that led to the first slope, I changed the pace and began to pull the group trying to measure the strength of the rivals. Everyone held on except for one runner who dropped out. I felt quite controlled by my classmates, any initiative was controlled, so I decided to go to the back of the group to save energy and find my moment.

We passed the first step through the finish line and I remained relaxed at the back of the group but just before passing through a roundabout with views of a slope, the rivals changed their pace, an area where it was impossible to overtake since we entered single file. I didn’t see the attack until I left the roundabout, then 3 handbikers had opened a gap of more than 50 meters, I had to overtake those who were blocking my progress and before I realized it, the head of the race was more than 100 meters away.

Since then I watched them as a huge hole, more than 400 meters, would open. I increased the intensity and tried to reach his height. Very slowly, I saw how the distance was reduced, I hoped that there would be no agreement to shoot at the head and that it would allow me to re-enter the group. After more than 7 km pedaling alone, almost over the first slope, I reached its height. I was expecting a new change of pace that would leave me stranded since I was exhausted from the effort, but I tried to arrive with some result to face it. It didn’t happen and I took the lead of the group, I didn’t want any more confusion.

When I caught my breath, I tried again on another slope, but the 3 runners who accompanied me responded reliably. There were 4 km to go. From this moment hostilities opened. A sharp attack from a teammate on the flat part, we all respond. Instantly, another powerful change of pace before a roundabout, we all respond. The final would be a sprint. There was less than 1 km to the finish line, he was in second place and was watching his teammates in the rearview mirror, when there was a sharp attack before a roundabout. Whoever enters that roundabout first has a good chance of winning, since then comes a 200-meter descent that ends in a curve and countercurve to face the finish line. I entered 4 positions in the countercurve, the group had stretched and did not even attempt the sprint. As we entered the final corner, it was the podium position for the road test.

My assessment of the 2015 Spanish Championships is more than positive. As I always say, I learn from victories but more from defeats, the road test of this Spanish Championship has taught me a lot. Achieving the title of Spanish Time Trial Champion keeps alive my dream of being able to reach the Paralympics, the road is long and to do so I must demonstrate it at an international level. This is where my next steps will be directed and I hope to continue making my motto “WANTING IS POWER” a reality.

This victory is dedicated to many people. First of all, to Ana, my companion in fatigue who endures my nerves and oddities every day. Later for my parents and family, my mother tells me “win but don’t try hard”, words that come from the heart. To José Manuel for being a fellow soldier in this battle. To all my sponsors JCV Shipping&Solutions, QUICKIE, Spiuk, PowerBar, Clinica Sant Jordi, Trangoworld, Tinkervan, COANFI, …..etc….without them this dream would not be possible. To my coach Ralf, to my physical trainer Heko, to the masseuse who recovers me, Guillermo. And finally, to all those people who show me their love every day on the street, on social networks, wherever, thanks to their drive, I feel safe and ready to face what is to come. THANK YOU FROM THE HEART TO ALL.