Farewell from the podium
23 October 2016

Chrono des Nations / Abu Dhabi Tour (finale)

Jonathan Castroviejo ends 2nd in Les Herbiers, just 5” off Kiryienka’s (SKY) pace to close a spectacular 2016 late season; Winner Anacona takes 9th overall in Abu Dhabi

The Movistar Team put an end into its sixth season under Telefónica’s sponsorship in the only way they know: battling for victories until the very end. Jonathan Castroviejo came incredibly close to what would have been the 37th success of the 2016 season for the Eusebio Unzué-led squad -an all-time record that will eventually be a tied one, the same victories from the 1998 season- as he finished 2nd in the Chrono des Nations, a 51.5km individual time trial in and around Les Herbiers in French Vendée.

‘Castro’ made one of his usual performances, clocking negative splits as he approached to the finish line, in order to slowly reduce a 15-second deficit against Vasil Kiryienka (SKY) over the first half of the race (29km) and finish just five seconds behind the former World TT champion, new holder of the course record. A ‘just’ finish for one of the telephone squad’s biggest sensations of 2016, a season that also came to a close in the Abu Dhabi Tour as Winner Anacona confirmed his 9th spot overall. Mark Cavendish (DDD) took the day’s honours at the Yas Marina F1 raceway.

REACTION:

Jonathan Castroviejo: It’s always sad not to win, but I leave this race happy with what I did. It’s a good way to end a season for me. I rode strong and I’m satisfied with my performance. Sometimes it’s your turn to win, other times a rival’s stronger – that’s cycling. ‘Kiry’ and I really brought some good spectacle to the fans cheering on us here in France and also the organisers. That’s an end to the year for me; it’s interesting, because there are some team-mates already training for next season while I haven’t really finished the current one till now (laughs). Now it’s time to rest up, enjoy myself I little bit off the bike and tackling the 2017 season, where I hope that everything bad I had to go through vanishes and some of the good remains.”

Results: Chrono des Nations | Abu Dhabi Tour