Australian cyclist Michael Matthews has taken victory in the first edition of the Gran Premio Castellón – Ruta de la Cerámica. With a powerful final sprint, he was able to overcome Pierre Gautherat (Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale) and Alex Aramburu (Movistar Team).
A great cycling atmosphere, with fans strolling around the sponsor tents and the team area, marked the start of the Gran Premio Castellón – Ruta de la Cerámica. The surroundings of the Ribalta Park were filled with action from 11am, with the stars of world cycling taking photos and signing autographs to the delight of the entire public.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by the President of the Castellón Provincial Council, Marta Barrachina; the Councillor for Wellbeing and Sports of the Castellón City Council, Maica Hurtado; the Delegate of the Generalitat Valenciana, Susana Fabregat; and José Cabedo, Director of Organisation of the Castellón Grand Prix – Ruta de la Cerámica.
After the neutralised start, through the streets of Castellón, the president Marta Barrachina gave the real start from the race direction vehicle. Hostilities began very early, although it was not until the first mountain pass of the day was overcome, which was crowned by the Spanish champion Oier Lazkano (Movistar Team), when the breakaway of the day was formed in which the Frenchman Paul Hennequin (Nice Metropole) and the Belgian Jelle Vermoote (Bingoal WB) quickly gained an advantage of more than a minute over the peloton. After them, the also Belgian Duarte Marivoet (UAE Team Emirates) jumped in, managing to link up several kilometres later. Once grouped together, the leading trio had the approval of the large group, gaining an advantage of more than 6 minutes.
Hennequin took advantage of the breakaway to win the three intermediate sprints of the day, taking the ATC Colores jersey as the winner of the classification, while Jelle Vermoote won at the top of the Serra d'Engarcerán pass. With 41 kilometres to go to the finish in Onda they were neutralised, although the Belgian Vermoote managed to stay at the head of the race alone for almost 20 more kilometres, always controlled by the group.
The last 25 kilometres were faced by the already compact peloton with a tough fight for control of the first positions to enter the first pass through Onda. The first pass through the finish line showed the huge number of spectators already waiting for the cyclists, applauding their passage through the ramp in front of the Museo de la Cerámica. Already in the first ramps of the Collado de Ayódar, the Movistar Team took responsibility by increasing the pace and stretching the peloton, avoiding attacks and seeking to increase Alex Aranburu's options. Alex Baudin (Decathlon Ag2r) was the first to try to break the dominance of the telephone squad, managing to crown the qualifying mountain in the lead, followed by Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates). Just after finishing the descent, the Frenchman saw how the peloton overtook him and it was on the final slope where the Australian Michael Matthews imposed his power. He thus achieved a clear victory, inscribing his name as the first winner of the Gran Premio Castellón-Ruta de la Cerámica.
Baudin had to settle for the Mountain classification prize sponsored by Sprint, the best young rider sponsored by Irier was second at the finish line Pierre Gautherat (Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale), the prize for the first rider from the Comunitat Valenciana Comunitat de l'Esport was won by Joan Bou, the best Señalplast team was Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale while the most combative Lithosport cyclist was Jelle Vermoote (Bingoal WB).
Michel Matthews: “It is always special for me to race in Spain where I have achieved great victories and it is also very special to be the first winner of this race. The first time through the finish line it served as a way of recognition although it was very stressful because everyone was trying to be well positioned facing the mountain. I am very grateful to all my teammates who have lived up to what was expected of us and have thus managed to complete a fantastic weekend for the whole team.”
Present at the awards ceremony were Marta Barrachina, President of the Castellón Provincial Council; Susana Fabregat, Delegate of the Generalitat Valenciana; José Vicente Iserte, Councillor for Sports of Onda; Maica Hurtado, Councillor for Wellbeing and Sports of Castellón; Toni Tortajada, Manager of Sprint; Victor Sabio, Manager of IRIER; Irene Bort, Manager of Señalplast; Toni Alsuara, Manager of Lithosport and José Cabedo, Director of Organisation of the Castellón – Ruta de la Cerámica Grand Prix.
The sponsors and brands that have supported this Grand Prix Castellón – Ruta de la Cerámica include the brand MMR bikes; the sportswear and cycling brand IRIER, based in Castellón; and companies from the region such as Blumaq, Signplast, Cabedo Bicycles, ATC Ceramic Colors, Lithosport and Mobikorea, the official vehicle of the Castellón Grand Prix – Ceramics Route.
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