High Cycling
A new edition of the begins Tour of Castile and LeónThis time, there will be just two stages between Soria and Segovia, featuring a series of cyclists who have a good snack to savor in this post-Tour era, which begins the race toward the World Championships and the Vuelta a España. A strong field is expected. The teams are top-notch: six World Tour teams (UAE, Astana, Jayco, EF, Arkea, and Movistar) with top-level riders who will, in principle, be the big favorites.
The problem is that on such an open course, you can expect any outcome. There are riders who will impose their superior level, like several of the riders who will be part of the World Tour teams. After the last-minute withdrawal of Juan AyusoCovi, Rui Oliveira, or the youth of Jan Christen, one of the great talents to come. The UAE is initially the favorite to win. Astana will have Luis León Sánchez, returning after his fall in the Tour, as a strong asset, with Javier Romo as his squire.
Another strong team will be Education First. Caicedo, Camargo, and Cepeda will form a high-quality Latin American trio. Simon Carr also has a chance of pulling off a surprise. We'll have to expect something from Movistar, as Iván García Cortina, Gonzalo Serrano, and José Joaquín Rojas will give the Spanish team a chance of victory. Jayco theoretically has Matthews, who retired in Ordizia the day before, and the youngsters Berhe and Peña as big names. Arkea presents Cristián Rodríguez and Elie Gisbert as strong contenders.
There are some good cyclists in the Pro Conti. Euskaltel is fielding the Carlos Canal-Juanjo Lobato duo, with Luis Ángel Maté in the running. Burgos will pin its hopes on Pelayo Mayo. Caja Rural is going all out, with Aular, Amezqueta, and Prades. Elosegui and García Pierna will lead Kern Pharma. Total Energies and Lotto Dstny are fielding smaller sevens, as is Q36.5. The team with a strong lineup is Israel Premier Tech, with Jakob Fuglsang, Daryl Impey, and Domenico Pozzovivo at the helm.
Eolo Kometa will be present, as will Híper Europa, a Castellón-based team that includes Xabier Cañellas, the third-place finisher at Ordizia 22. Human Powered Health and the Portuguese teams Tavfer and NSJBI complete the lineup. Complete and updated start list here.
Route
July 26, 2023 / Stage 1 / Soria – Soria … 169 km
Altimetry: Piqueras (south), Santa Inés (north)
This is a broken first stage, with the climbs concentrated in the first half and the decisive climbs in the second. The start from Soria is over tough terrain, with multiple climbs and few descents. In less than an hour, the ascent to Piqueras begins, a second-category climb designed to stabilize the breakaways. After this descent, the first-category Santa Inés begins. It's not excessively tough, but it will strengthen the gaps and the teams will begin to work for their leaders. Later, the mountains end, but not the steep slopes. The final section will feature significant climbs and an explosive uphill finish.
July 27, 2023 / 2nd stage / Coca – Segovia … 186 km
Altimetry: Navacerrada (north), Navafría (south)
The second and final stage in the mountains of Madrid and Segovia. The start is in the pretty town of Coca. The wind could be a factor in those first 60 kilometers, although everything seems to be decided on the mountain passes. Navacerrada on the Segovia side and Navafría on the Madrid side (the toughest) will be the decisive points. After the mountain pass, there is flat, slightly favorable terrain for the teams to work on. However, if the breakaway holds up and is organized well, they have a chance of winning.
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