Today was the final race in the prestigious Copa de Espana, the XVIII GP Macario – Ayto de Alcalá de Henares el Domingo, which was a fast 155Km race with four category 3 mountain climbs and one category 2 climb. The weather was really warm, and we headed over to Alcala de Henares on the east of Madrid, a 55Km road journey from our team meeting point.
There was a lot at stake for the major players, who were fighting for the overall, but for our team, we were simply fighting for a team point, which was also a big task with the ultimate battles that were going on around us.
As soon as the race was de-neutralised, already there was a big breakaway group, as the protagonists of the race immediately went into battle for the final time in the series. With some GC (General Classification) contenders already in in the break, the GC contenders left behind in the Peloton were chasing them down, and this very fast pace combined with the winds created a lot of mess in the peloton.
I managed to hold a good position in the peloton over the first two climbs, but as we went up the third climb, which was the King of the Mountain (K.O.M) climb, the accelerations went into overdrive and the pace of the bunch went up, causing a lot of damage. I hung on to my team mate’s wheel, but eventually I cracked and I was dropped from the peloton at this point. Meanwhile my team mate Ignacio Zamanillo surged ahead on the climbs and put in a great performance to finish in the main group in 77th place, just 2.06 down on the leader.
I finished the race really disappointed that I couldn’t stay with the main group on the K.O.M. climb, but also thankful that I have had the opportunity to race in most of the races in the amazing Copa de Espana over the last 3 months. It’s been a great experience racing against some of the best climbers and teams in Spain, in some of the best organised races. For this I have to thank everyone who has supported me and given me this opportunity, including my team and team staff who put in a lot of work and commitment to the Pizzeria Espanola project.
Now I get back to training and aim my sights on the upcoming important stage races, and next Sunday I will be racing closer to base at the Trofeo Paloma in Fuenlabrada.
Photos: Alvaro Garcia/Pizzeria Espanola
Antonio Angulo tiene a tiro revalidar la Copa de España en el #GPMacario2016 https://t.co/wJWkeEmA4p @RFECiclismo pic.twitter.com/xOoTL60nj9
— AS Ciclismo (@AS_Ciclismo) May 14, 2016
Photos: Alvaro Garcia/Pizzeria Espanola
Corte de cinta de lujo en el #GPMacario pic.twitter.com/haxVjJRuLq
— FMCICLISMO (@FMCICLISMO) May 15, 2016
Salida neutralizada de #GPMacario suerte a todos. pic.twitter.com/L9tnoEdl3v
— Joan Llaneras (@joan_llaneras) May 15, 2016
Un placer acompañar a @FundContaTeam en el #GPMacario y enhorabuena por la victoria como equipo. #jóvenes #futuro pic.twitter.com/LFbF3i4Sft
— Luis Pasamontes (@pasamontesluis) May 15, 2016
Km 41 Primera hora de carrera. 20" para los nueve escapados #GPMacario pic.twitter.com/4lwk7zJlPb
— FMCICLISMO (@FMCICLISMO) May 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/c_sureda/status/731808727653863424
#GPMacario. Km75. Cabeza carrera: 1,12,31,33,62,65,71,75,81,82,97,105, 114,137,167,261 y 257 @lobitoburmann Gap:57" pic.twitter.com/8EUgiwUJR3
— PCM Team Kuota (@SpcaTeam) May 15, 2016
Irisarri por delante de Angulo #GPMacario pic.twitter.com/WiWweUAiya
— FMCICLISMO (@FMCICLISMO) May 15, 2016