Finding Small Wins During a Difficult Week in the Vuelta Valenciana

The 76 th Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana proved to be one of the most challenging tests Project Echelon Racing (PER) has ever faced. The race featured incredibly demanding courses, highlighted by three consecutive climbing stages. The event kicked off with a Team Time Trial (TTT), where our team started strong, riding a clean and smooth race despite having only one practice run the day before. This impressive performance allowed us to outpace several respectable teams.

The following three days presented even more challenging courses, reminding us of the high standards in the sport and where we need to push ourselves to reach the top. We fought hard to make it to the final stage, aiming for a shot at the sprint finish. However, in bike racing, sometimes luck plays a crucial role. An untimely flat tire and a few crashes left all our riders, except Hugo Salas Jr. out of contention for the final stage. Despite these setbacks, Hugo managed to secure a strong top 15 finish in a very fast race.

“We leave Valencia hungry and determined to come back stronger,” PER Performance Director Isaiah Newkirk said. “Its time to get to work and prepare for the next challenge.”
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Next up, the boys continue their trek of Spain with the Vuelta a la Region de Murcia (Costa Calida) beginning on Saturday, February 15.

You can watch all of the action in the United States on HBO MAX and on FloBikes.