- The mythical climb with the highest finish line in Europe, hardened by the strong wind, closes a weekend of high altitude cyclotourism in the Sierra Nevada environment.
Manuel Maestra (Dr. Bike) and María Medina (CC Torrox) from Málaga have won the Subida Cicloturista al Veleta 2025, a cyclotourism race converted for the fastest of the 350 participants in a 38-kilometer time trial with 2,250 meters of positive vertical drop between Cenes de la Vega and the vicinity of the mythical peak of Sierra Nevada.
The Subida Cicloturista al Veleta closed this Sunday a program that, along with the Sierra Nevada Límite Gran Fondo yesterday, make up the most important cycling event in southern Spain, with a total of 1,000 cyclists between the two marches.
The climb to the Veleta started out stronger than expected. “The intention was to start softer”, Manuel Maestra would later admit at the finish line located at the top of the Stadium chairlift, but from the first ramps, the cyclists who would later make up the men’s podium imposed a pace so fast that no one else could follow them. The first three riders reached the Dornajo detour, where the attacks began.
Jorge Núñez, who on Saturday was third in the 146 km Limit, gave some time in Las Sabinas and left the duel for the victory between Manuel Maestra and Víctor Fernández who went together until the junction of the Veleta road with the Borreguiles road. There the pace imposed by the cyclist from Bastetano of Dr Bike took him to the finish line alone.
“We understood each other quite well until we reached Pradollano; from there we attacked each other until, when we got close to 3,000 meters, I felt I had enough legs and I made a couple of changes of pace that gave me the victory,” said the winner at the Stadium finish line, a few meters below the usual finish line at Las Posiciones del Veleta, where the wind was blowing very hard.
In the women’s category, the triumph was a matter of two. Maria Medina from Malaga was two minutes ahead of Inma Castillo, thanks to the “constant pace” imposed by the winner from the start in Cenes de la Vega and the “good legs” in the final part. “It has been a beautiful race, for the natural environment and a luxury organization. I had a good feeling, I was able to control the pace well and get to the top with a good feeling,” added Medina.
CLASSIFICATIONS OF THE VELETA 2025 CYCLOTOURIST CLIMB
MEN
1. Manuel Maestra Agudo. 01:57:20h
2. Víctor Manuel Fernández Grande. 01:59:03h.
3. Jorge Núñez Entrena. 01:59:10h.
WOMEN
1. Maria Medina Gonzalez. 02:28:25h
2 Inma Castillo Pozo. 02:30:56h
3 Ana Isabel Morales Visera. 02:35:53h
