"The level of racing will be very high and mistakes will be costly."

Francesc Guerra (BUFF®-Scott) is the current champion of La Rioja Bike Race presented by Shimano and is returning with a desire to defend and renew his number one spot in an edition that promises to be very intense.

How will you approach this fifth edition of La Roja Bike Race presented by Shimano after winning the last edition?

Whenever I prepare for a race like La Rioja Bike Race presented by Shimano, it is with the intention of showing up in good form and being able to give my best. After having achieved victory in the last edition, it’s clear that it would be nice to repeat the win but the level of racing will be very high and first place will be heavily contested. Any mistake will exact a price.

What would you highlight about the race, both at a sporting level, as well as its surroundings?

The race is spectacular both for the number of talented mountain bikers that come every year, and for the race route, which passes through places that make us think that we’re no longer in La Rioja, which is to say, that we aren’t only among vineyards.

La Rioja Bike Race presented by Shimano has broken all participation statistics, why do you think this is?

In part this is due to the quality of its race routes, which feature beautiful and varied settings. The three stages are well rounded without being extreme. Add to this the fact that the race is hosted from a city like Logroño, which participants can enjoy in a variety of ways once each stage is finished.

What do you think is the benefit to having both amateur and professional mountain bikers?

This combination is essential for the success of this type of competition. Amateur participation is what gives life to these races, and the fact that they can participate and be seen together with the best mountain bikers is a motivating factor for any participant.

What would you recommend to someone doing his first stage race?

I would recommend that you control your efforts despite the fact that the first day you’ll feel great. If you are unused to making a big effort several days in a row, you’ll end up paying for it. For this, it is essential to manage food and hydration, both during the race and in the hours after it.