Great performance in Murcia
Mallorca native from Movistar Team improves over warm 39km course in Yecla, comes just short for podium in Nationals as Soler takes 6th.
Jonathan Castroviejo (INS) claimed his fifth Spanish individual time trial title in Yecla, Murcia on Friday, The 39km course, full of long straights and intense heat, also saw two of the Movistar Team’s strongest rouleurs -Lluís Mas and Marc Soler- seeking for a place on the podium.
Mas completed a fantastic effort, making up terrain on the downhill section after setting the fifth quickest time over the top to take 4º, 1’42” behind Castroviejo and just 14” after Gorka Izagirre (AST), bronze after his team-mate Pello Bilbao.
In turn, Marc Soler struggled after stomach problems overnight and had to stay content with 6th place, 2’38” behind the winner. The José Luis Jaimerena / Pablo Lastras-led group will now focus on Sunday’s 194km road race, featuring four final climbs to the La Fuensanta hill.
Sütterlin once again on podium at German ITT Championships
Over at the last of five ITT national title contests the Movistar Team was facing across Europe this week, Jasha Sütterlin conquered the fifth medal -first one from the men’s team- with a bronze achieved by Jasha Sütterlin at the 35km German race in Spremberg. The ‘Bull of Freiburg’ finished exactly one minute after gold medalist Tony Martin (TJV), with Nils Politt (TKA) in silver, just 18″ behind the nine-time champion following an early mechanical for Martin. Sütterlin will also race on Sunday at the road race, in and around the famous Sachsenring circuit.