Dani Moreno won the opening stage of “Vuelta a Burgos” 34th edition, 135 kilometers long from Miranda de Ebro to Ojo Guarena: Katusha Team’s rider from Madrid was the fastest in the little uphill final rush, very suitable to his characteristics, defeating with a powerful sprint Sergio Luis Henao (Sky) and Matti Breschel (Rabobank), respectevely in second and third position. The stage was characterized by an early breakaway, made by 16 riders: Angel Madrazo (Movistar), Ricardo Garcia (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Maciej Paterski (Liquigas-Cannondale), Christian Meier (Orica-GreenEdge), Arnaud Gerard (FDJ-BigMat), Ian Stannard, Juan Antonio Flecha, Danny Pate (Sky), Aitor Galdos (Caja Rural), Jose Toribio (Andalucia), Tobias Ludvigsson (Argos Shimano), Jonathan Monsalve (Androni Venezuela)…
Paul Poux (Saur Sojasun), Francesco Meda (Acqua&Sapone), Luis Mas (Burgos Castilla y Leon) and the Spanish rider from Katusha Team Xavier Florencio. The chasing group was able to keep the gap under 2’30”: between the 16 riders ahead there was no cooperation, and some riders gave up to the chase. With 21 kilometers to go, with just 11 men ahead, Madrazo tried the solo attack, but after a few kilometers the Spanish rider was caught. With 15 kilometers to go Ian Stannard tried his luck: the British rider managed to take a good gap over the chase, while the main group reached the other riders in the escape. Stannard was caught with just 1 kilometer to go, thanks also to the work of Katusha Team which as the leader of the chase. Then, in the finishing line, Angel Vicioso and Joaquim Rodriguez leaded the group and worked for Moreno, which attacked with 300 meters to go: his rush was powerful and nobody could keep his pace. The Spanish rider of Katusha Team is now the first leader of “Vuelta a Burgos”.
“It was a very fast stage – said Moreno – we were quite calm and still because we had Florencio in the breakaway, a rider who could win if the chase turned to be useless. In the last kilometer and 500 meters started the final uphill, and when the group neutralized the breakaway we decided to take the lead: first Vicioso, then Rodriguez imposed their pace for me, then I started my rush with 300 meters to go. I want to thank my teammates: I won quite easily also thanks to their work, even if during the sprint a motorbike was in the middle of the route and I had to slow down. Anyways, I’m very happy of my performance and my shape: I was surprised I felt so good after some time without any competition, but we worked hard during the training camps and this result is the proof we’re in the right way. Maybe I’ll suffer a little more in longer, steeper climbing, but until now I’m very satisfied”.
“One of the greatest satisfaction for us is to study the strategy which, in the end, proves to be the most effective – said Mario Chiesa, Sport Director – and the tactic we decided during the morning meeting was perfect. Dani was our leader for today’s stage, because in this period he’s in a best shape than Rodriguez: Purito, anyways, worked great for his teammate, that in the end made one of his usual, great sprint which had no rivals Moreover, we had Florencio in the breakaway: he’s a very fast rider, so if the chasing group couldn’t neutralize the escape we could fight for win with him. That allowed us to slipstream the other teams who leaded the group almost until the end. We’re very happy about this victory, it’s a great start for us”.
KATUSHA MEDIA SERVICE