Beltran and Carrasco Gamiz win penultimate stage

Image 1 of 7

Local riders Manuel "Triki" Beltran Martinez and Jose Luis Carrasco Gamiz (Sport-Bike) took victory of penultimate stage in Jaén at the Andalucia Bike Race. The Czechs Kristian Hynek and Pavel Boudny from Ceska Sporitelna-Specialized were second and consolidated their overall advantage by gaining 11 minutes over their closest contenders. Barring any unforseen circumstances, they look well positioned to win the Andalucía Bike Race's first edition

Thursday provided the shortest stage of the race. It started from Jaén's city centre, where dozens of fans and neighbours attended to encourage the bunch of cyclists.

Riders stuck together in a large group at the beginning of the stage, but then the local team, which included ex-professional road riders Beltrán and Carrasco slipped away from the others, taking advantage of familiar trails they know well. The former roadies went on to win the stage ahead of Hynek and Boudny, who finished comfortably in a group behind the leaders.

With objective of winning the overall in mind, the Czech duo took a conservative, safe approach to the day's stage, declining the opportunity to do any attacking or take any risks.

"We have clear options to win the race, something we'd love to achieve," said Hynek and Boudny.

Another Czech team of Martin Horák and Tomás Vokrouhlík (BMC - Factor) was third, ahead of Alejandro Diaz De La Peña & Luis Leao Pinto (Hispano-Luso). Casper Saltoft & Thomas Bundgaard (Team T-Bikes/Apfosss Racing) were fifth on the day.

Mads Boedker and Henrik Cohen (Danish Masters), who have won every stage so far in the master's category, were once again first in their category. They sit 15th overall in the general classification, ahead of most of the elite men's teams.

In the mixed race, Cait Elliot and Josh Ibbett (Torq Performance MTB Team) continue to lead. Their nearest contenders are the women's team of Kristine Nørgaard & Sally Bigham (Topeak-Ergon Hansens Floedeis). Since Ibbett and Elliot are so far ahead (more than four hours) of the other mixed team, they have set the goal of trying to beat the elite women's leaders. Today, they finished approximately three minutes behind Noergaard and Bigham.

Tomorrow's final stage will determine all category winners. Racers will pass landmarks such as the Quiebrajano Lake. The stage starts and finishes in Jaén´s city center.

Full Results