Lorena Llamas takes well-deserved victory at Spanish Series’ Eibar opener

Maiden win in Movistar Team colours

Loyal Catalan climber raises her arms victorious at last in second year as Blue after tactical masterpiece from Pablo Lastras's squad, sweeping the podium with Patiño (2nd), Oyarbide (3rd).

Always committed at so many races to make possible her team-mates’ success, Lorena Llamas (Movistar Team) had a well-deserved prize for her courage at Sunday’s 2nd GP Ciudad de Eibar, opening round of the 2019 Spanish women’s National Series. The Igualada, Barcelona native had no opposition into the 78km race, comprising a crucial ascent to the Alto de San Miguel (5km, 4.7% avg.) which the Pablo Lastras-led squad got to in a favourable position, having used their strengths perfectly.

Llamas on the slopes of the Alto de San Miguel. (c) **Lander López**

Lourdes Oyarbide, Alba Teruel and Gloria Rodríguez worked diligently from the start to pick up the pace inside the peloton and keep the attacks coming while remaining under control of the situation before reaching Etxabarri, the village leading to the final climb. As Rodríguez -named Most Aggressive rider of the day- rode a few seconds ahead of the field, Llamas launched a strong attack which allowed her creating a gap of nearly 40″ over a 12-woman pursuit, including Teruel, Oyarbide and Paula Patiño.

Patiño, Llamas and Oyarbide on the podium. (c) Movistar Team

The Colombian (2nd) attacked from the G2 into the false flat after the descent, and secured a one-two for the Blues, which ended up sweeping the podium as Oyarbide -winner of the Intermediate Sprints classification; Llamas took the QOM jersey- won the sprint for 3rd place. An excellent start to the Spanish Racing Series, which will resume in seven days’ time (Sunday 31st) with the Trofeo Bajo Andarax in Almería.

REACTION / Lorena Llamas:

“It’s been a brilliant day for us. It was quite tense in the beginning, with pretty much every team going on the attack, yet my team-mates controlled things perfectly, and made sure that I could remain ‘hidden’ and not show up before the last climb. Our plan was having Gloria a bit ahead at the front before the San Miguel climb, to have an edge on the other teams before the final, but the peloton was so close and I had to take full responsibility from the foot of the ascent – just as we had planned. I just put on a strong acceleration and tried to keep that gup until the end. I was so happy to see Paula and Lourdes finishing it off (laughs)”.

Cover picture (c): Elena Alcalde / Spanish Cycling Federation