The mountain bike race is a fascinating sport for sports enthusiasts who enjoy adventure sports. MMR Factory Racing stands out during the last stage at Jaén zone
Valero and Ferreira battled for the stage until the last kilometer. The two pros raced together throughout the day they until they faced off on the final climb where the racer from Granada launched an attack that allowed him to solo the descent to Andújar and defend his lead. In the women's category, Fischer went for the stage win at kilometer 20; Hovdenak couldn’t sustain the chase. In this manner, the racer from Málaga became the winner of the day and the leader in the general classification.
The day began with a tight group in the men’s race who would go on to fight for the stage. Both Tiago Ferreira (DMT Racing Team by Marconi) and David Valero (MMR Factory Racing) controlled the group to make sure there would be no upsets. After a brief urban tour through the town of Andújar, the climbs soon began. It was a classic but hard stage that served as a transition day between the provinces of Jaén and Córdoba, with a new starting stretch along the fertile plain of the Guadalquivir River that crosses Marmolejo to connect with the La Centenera climb at which point they will have raced 70.1 km with 1,791 meters of elevation gain.
The men’s peloton was tightly grouped and commanded by the race leaders during the first several kilometers. Well aware of the technical roads and trails leading up to the Santuario de la Virgen de la Cabeza, nobody made any bold moves. In the women’s category, the fight for the top spot was exciting. The Norwegian Hildegunn Hovdenak (Nessetck) rode alone at the beginning. Chasing her at a razor-thin distance of 200 meters was the Málagan, Natalia Fischer (MMR Factory Racing), who didn’t want to yield any advantages. After a brilliant attack by Fischer at kilometer 20 she escaped alone, finishing the La Centenera climb solo and defending first place on the descent. Yesterday’s third place, Lisette Rosenbeck (Holte MTB), rode comfortably in third in today’s stage and repeated her third place finish.
At mid-stage and same as yesterday, Ferreira and Valero were riding alone and in the lead. The pursuit group of Miguel Muñoz (BUFF®-Scott MTB), Luis Leao Pinto (BUFF®- Scott MTB), Víctor M. Fernández (Wolfbike), and Hans Becking (DMT Racing Team by Marconi) rode in chase with a gap of a little more than a minute.
The stage’s second half, which is one of the most memorable sections of the Andalucía Bike Race presented by Caja Rural Jaén showcased the Caracolillos descent, the El Madroño climb, and the final descent via Camino Viejo. The pursuit group tried to catch Valero and Ferreira on the sinuous, technical Los Caracolillos descent to do battle at the stage’s end. But both the Granadan and Portuguese racers went tirelessly for the stage win, followed only by José María Sánchez (BUFF®-Scott MTB). With only a few kilometers to go to the finish by way of technical terrain and favorable conditions, Valero punched the gas and managed to break free of Ferreira to arrive solo in Andújar and claim the lead in the general once more.
In the women's category Fischer was forced to maintain an intense pace. The Norwegian was right behind her and taking aim at the general classification. Same as in the previous edition, Fischer claimed the stage and took over the lead in the women's general.
Stage 3 Results Elite Men
1 David Valero (MMR Factory Racing) 02:49:07
2 Tiago Ferreira (DMT Racing Team by Marconi) 02:51:23
3 José María Sánchez (BUFF®- Scott MTB) 02:53:31
Stage 3 Results Elite Women
1 Natalia Fischer (MMR Factory Racing) 03:34:59
2 Hildegunn Hovdenak (Nessetck) 03:38:59
3 Lisette Rosenbeck (Holte MTB) 03:47:14
General ranking Elite Men
1 David Valero 07:00:28
2 Tiago Ferreira 07:04:24
3 Víctor Manuel Fernández 07:11:30
4José María Sánchez 07:11:58
5 Hans Becking 07:16:07
General ranking Elite Women
1 Natalia Fischer 08:51:23
2 Hildegunn Hovdenak 08:53:31
3 Lisette Rosenbeck 09:08:35
4 Emmy Thelperg 09:19:22
5 Sandra Backman 09: 39:30
0 Comments