Ibiza, April 7, 2023. At 10:00 a.m., the monument to the corsairs in the port area of Ibiza witnessed the starting signal for a new edition of this sporting event, the one with the highest participation on the island, with 1,000 inscribed. The riders, who come from different corners of the peninsula and from different countries on the continent, have competed in a first stage marked by those iconic sections of the Ibizan mountain bike, the one that makes everyone who tries and repeats fall in love. Today the victory was taken by the Ibizan Morcillo and his partner Da Silva, and the female couple formed by Fernández and Ródenas.

 

The challenge of the day was to complete the 64 km of the route and 1,500 meters of unevenness in a context marked by good weather conditions and the absence of rain from the previous days, which has left the ground excessively dry and loose, causing some minor falls during the day.

 

A very demanding start to the stage has set the pace for the riders from the beginning; the ascents to “el Infierno” and Sa Capelleta, before the first refreshment station in Can Jordi located 20 km from the start, have revealed the first three couples who have remained practically at the wheel of each other. Led at all times by the winners of the stage, Enrique Morcillo and his partner José Pedro Da Silva, followed by the Italians -winners of the last edition- Andrea Righettini and Stefano Dal Grande and another of the favorite couples, Sergio Mantecón and Francesc Guerra.

 

Morcillo and Da Silva, the fastest of the day, broke the lead in the race in Es Cubells, where the Shimano timed section began (11.9 km of leg breakers), crowned by the Puig d'en Serra peak, Scott peak, and that has finished in Sa Talaia. One of the most technical points of the route where the leaders got off the hook to enter the finish line with a good distance from the Italians, second to arrive.

 

“We knew it was going to be a very fast stage, arriving at Es Cubells we have opened a small gap and thus we have endured until the finish line. We didn't know how we were going to find ourselves after the Cape Epic, but José had some legs today that we had to take advantage of”, explained the Ibizan as soon as he crossed the finish line. “We are very happy with the second position, we have felt very strong; although I fell in a curve because the ground was very dry, the wheel slipped and I fell, but it was not important”, Dal Grande and Righettini explained as soon as they arrived at Sant Antoni de Portmany.

 

Pilar Fernández and Ariadna Ródenas, winners of the stage, were very happy when they reached the finish line: “it was a pretty tough race, because the climbs are very intense, and the descents have to be very careful. We went almost all the time with the second and halfway through the stage, we were able to escape. Tomorrow we will try to hold the position and fight until the end”, explained Fernández and Ródenas.

 

Juan José Planells, head of the event, has been very excited about the participation in this edition and did not want to miss the opportunity to influence the importance of waste collection and care for the environment in the organization: " We are very proud of the work they do from Herbusa, the end of the race collects all the marking tapes and waste that can be generated during the stage, for us it is essential to take care of this aspect to which we are especially committed”.

Tomorrow the queen stage of La Vuelta a Ibiza MTB Scott by Shimano will take place, 79 km, starting at 9:00 am in Santa Eulalia and finishing in Sant Antoni de Portmany. A special route that runs through the coves in the north of the island and that leaves no one indifferent.

 

 RESULTS STAGE 1 (Male Category)

1st Enrique Morcillo and José Pedro Da Silva (2:30:21)

2nd Stefano Dal Grande and Andrea Righettini (2:32:40)

3rd Pau Marza and Sergio Gutiérrez (2:35:14)

 

RESULTS STAGE 1 (Female Category)

1st Pilar Fernández and Ariadna Ródenas (3:09:43)

2nd Lucía González and Sofía Rodríguez (3:14:36)

3rd Anna Jördens and Naima Madlen (3:22:21)

 

 

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