The UCI HC race in Banyoles is a true early-season classic. Located near Girona and more accessible than Chelva, it traditionally attracts an even deeper field. This year, the race also marked the official season kick-off for my new team. The week included several sponsor commitments, notably with UNNO, whose headquarters are based in Barcelona, just one hour from the venue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following the positive feelings from Chelva, my objective was clear: confirm that I can compete for a top 30 position at this level. However, the challenge remained significant on a course I already knew from 2025 (71st place), and one that suits my climbing abilities a bit less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Right from the start, I had a strong opening and quickly moved up to 18th position (starting from 34th). The high pace took its toll in the second lap, where I dropped back beyond 35th place. Fortunately, my legs came back in the third lap, allowing me to settle into a more consistent rhythm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From there, I managed the race well, gradually moving up the standings thanks to solid pace and improving sensations. I eventually finished 26th out of 107 starters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond the result itself, looking at the names around me and their World Cup performances highlights the quality of this result. It clearly confirms the positive momentum from Chelva and validates the work done over the winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This performance gives me confidence heading into the next challenge, as I travel to Portugal for the first European Cup round of the season in Melga\u00e7o.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the team side, the strong start to the season continues. In the U23 category, Sivert Ekroll secured 3rd place, while L\u00e9o Lounela finished 5th. In the women\u2019s race, Sara Cortinovis claimed an excellent 5th place and Noelle Buri finished 20th. In elite men, Riki Kitabayashi placed 35th. These collective results earned the team 2nd place in the team classification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thanks to my partners for their support and to everyone following and supporting me!<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The UCI HC race in Banyoles is a true early-season classic. Located near Girona and more accessible than Chelva, it traditionally attracts an even deeper field. This year, the race also marked the official season kick-off for my new team. The week included several sponsor commitments, notably with UNNO, whose headquarters are based in Barcelona, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":411,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-410","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-27"],"yoast_head":"\n