Felipe Orts and Txell Figueras, first leaders overall

Both riders have made clear their favoritism and have been the fastest in the initial time trial with start and finish in Logroño.

La Rioja Bike Race presented by Pirelli has started this Friday in Logroño with an individual time trial in which Felipe Orts (Vila Joiosa Neteo), in elite men, and Txell Figueras (Cannondale ISB Sport Team), in elite women, have been the winners.

The riders rode through the surroundings of Logroño, going around the 4-5 km XCO circuit of La Grajera, premiering a new format in La Rioja Bike Race in its 10th anniversary, the XCT individual time trial.

The stage started at 15:00 from the Parque de los Enamorados. The Master categories were the first to start, and the Elite category were the last to do so. The cyclists had to overcome a route of about 20 kilometers and 500 meters of elevation gain, with short but explosive climbs.

In them, Orts and Figueras have made the differences to set the best time at the finish, located in the area of Prado Viejo, then arriving at the Palacio de Deportes de Logroño.

Raul Villar (La Nucia BH Coloma Academy) registered the 2nd best time, and Mario Sinués (Amunt TBIKES BH) the 3rd in men, and in the women's category, Cristina Morán (BTB Sport -Scott Team) and Cristina Santamaría (CC Single Track Ezcaray) completed the podium.

At the finish line, Orts explained that "I loved the course, it rained at the top but I really enjoyed it, I felt comfortable and I managed to open a gap in the general classification, so I'm happy".

On the other hand, Figueras indicated that "I had a lot of fun and I have been encouraged, starting last in girls and arriving first, and tomorrow if it rains I would like to push again and achieve another victory".

And this Saturday, turn for the Škoda Super Stage, with start and finish at the Palacio de los Deportes de Logroño, in a stage characterized by old roads recovered technical, and finishing on trails in which the riders will go down very smoothly to make their delights.

STAGE 1 CLASSIFICATION