Vuelta a Asturias (st. 2)

Andalusian climber triumphs in the slopes of the Naranco -13th Movistar Team win in 2013-, climbs into overall podium of the Spanish race after big work from Blues

Just eight days after conquering La Morcuera, Javi Moreno has added another success to his brilliant 2013 season in a favourite place for him: the Vuelta a Asturias, which came to an end on Sunday with the overall victory by Amets Txurruka (CJR) after the 157-kilometer Subida al Naranco, featuring six categorized climbs. The fight for the stage saw Moreno beating Landa (EUS) and Cardoso (CJR) to snatch the win and his third GC podium in the race -winner in 2011, 3rd in 2009- after great work from the telephone squad’s riders.

A seven-man breakaway jumped off through the downhill of the Cordal (Cat. 2, 30km) and led most of the race, with Jesús Herrada and Jonathan Castroviejo fighting against the bunch until the latter tried to keep the Blues’ hopes alive attacking again, with only Russian Arkimedes Arguelyes (LOK) able to follow. The duo was ultimately reached into the slopes of the El Violeo (Cat. 2), the penultimate climb, by Rubén Plaza, a few seconds ahead of the favourites’ group, with Moreno featuring prominently. Back together at the foot of the Naranco, Moreno made all moves through the climb and repeated his move from last Saturday at La Morcuera to win the short field’s sprint.

It’s Moreno’s 6th victory as pro cyclist -after stage success in Madrid ’07 and Asturias ’11, the overall classifications of Asturias ’11 and Castilla y León ’12 and the recent Vuelta a Madrid- and Movistar Team’s 13th in the 2013 season, where they still keep alive their winning streak in all Spanish stageraces this year –Mallorca, Andalucía, Catalunya, País Vasco, Castilla y León and Asturias-, a challenge to be completed in August with the Vuelta a Burgos and the Vuelta a España.