Tessa Kortekaas continues to lead the race in the women’s category after reaching the finish line at the same time as Pilar Fernández
MADRID, 30 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish Sergio Mantecón (Scott Cala Bandida) has won this Tuesday the third stage of the Skoda Titan Desert Morocco 2024 and has risen to the lead of the race, on a day marked by the abandonment of Josep Betalú (KH-7), who aspired to get her fifth Titan, and in which the Dutch Tessa Kortekaas (Cannondale ISB Sport) continues as a firm leader after reaching the finish line at the same time as Pilar Fernández (KH-7).
The Valencian was the strongest in the very tight final sprint that gave him the stage victory over the Swiss Konny Looser (Kosner-Saltoki Home) and that allowed him to unseat the Murcian Luis León Sánchez (Kosner-Saltoki Home) for the lead in the general classification Home), which rose to the top on Monday.
Meanwhile, the negative news of the day in the marathon stage, contested between Tourza and M’ssici over 91 kilometers, was given by the four-time Titan Desert champion, Josep Betalú, who began to feel unwell after finishing the second stage and who After several tests, he followed the medical recommendation to abandon the race.
The day started calmly and with a very large group of runners leading the peloton, and it wasn’t until halfway through the stage when it began to break down. Three runners came to fight the sprint: the former leader, Luis León Sánchez; double race champion Konny Looser; and Sergio Mantecón, who beat both to claim victory.
“I have been through three stages in which I have always thought that I was going to be the leader and in the end I wasn’t. I think I was this time, but the sprint was so tight that I still don’t know if I believe it,” Mantecón said after the stage.
In the women’s category, the two overall leaders, Pilar Fernández and Tessa Kortekaas, reached the halfway point mixed in the group that led the peloton. From there, the race broke down and the Dutchwoman managed to open a gap with the KH7 cyclist.
The Spanish woman managed to join a group of several runners, among whom was Miguel Induráin, and the two cyclists were grouped in the same group. Finally, Kortekaas opened a few meters inside everyone and added seven seconds to the already wide gap she has over her pursuers.
“The stage started fast from the beginning. We were in a large group and then we were able to open up a gap. Unfortunately, in the end he was able to link up with me,” said Kortekaas.
2024-04-30 16:32:42
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