Date: February 05, 2012
Time: 11:30
Distance: 32 kms
The MTB Madrid Open began in Tres Cantos (Madrid) and GARVÍA
BIKE – CENTRO TIR racing team would go over there.
The race was made up of 4 laps of 8 kilometers, with a
few not very difficult parts and several fast paths.
More than 100 bikers were ready to run in Master 30
category. We knew beforehand that the beginning was going to be really hard.
The first positions of the starting line were taken by
the first 10 classified from the last year MTB Madrid Open. After them, the
rest of the riders. Since it was my first time in the Open, I would have to start
in the second line of the starting grid, after 40 bikers approximately.
The race begins … the bikers in front of me do not start
fast enough and the head of the race goes away. I am placed in the middle of
108 bikers. Definitely, the race has not started well for me and I look for
small spaces to try to gain positions. Fortunately, the first paths are wide
enough and I overtake several riders.
I ride very fast, but the head of the race is far away. In
the middle of the first lap, my manager informs me about my bad race position.
30 bikers are riding hard in front of me and I am continuously blocked by
slower riders that could start better than me.
Despite being discouraged, with an amazing energy, I ride
fast and furious overtaking a lot of bikers. However, the head of the race is
still far away. My race is based in a constant “final sprint”. Each curve, each
up and down hill, each fast track is another step towards I do know where. My
only aim is to overcome my bad beginning.
My overtakings are unbelievable and a lot of riders
encourage me when I pass them. My pace is high, but other bikers block me once
and more time in narrow paths. But, this is a race.
At the beginning of the second lap, I have improved my
position and I am placed between the first 15 riders. My manager is encouraging
himself and he is transferring all his courage to me. In the middle of the
second lap, I gain 5 more positions. The head of the race is not so far now and
my pace is better than before.
I start the third lap with a very good feeling. I am
fighting hard for the 6th and 5th position with Raúl
Moreno (Salchi MTB Team). However, this situation will change pretty soon and I
start fighting for the 4th place with Raúl Moreno. Additionally,
another colleague (Julián Mendoza from CDEC El Pinchazo) informs me that the
third classified is riding 25 seconds in front of me.
During the third and fourth lap, I would interchange the
4th and 5th place with Raúl Moreno. Despite of my efforts
to gain positions from the beginning of the race, my feelings were very good
and I could keep the hard fight until the last race meters. Finally, I pass
through the finish line in a well-crafted 5th position in my first
participation in the MTB Madrid Open.
Is in this kind of races and difficult situations, it is so
valuable and appreciated the support and indications of my father (manager) who
provided me instructions about how to gain seconds in every phase of the track.
It bears mentioning the encouragement of the audience and
bikers that cheer me when I overtook them.
