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Mexicans and Venezuelans brighten
up Vuelta a Cuba
• Cuban Pedro Pablo Pérez moves in
front after three stages
dominated by foreign riders
BY ANNE-MARIE GARCIA —Special for Granma
International—
VENEZUELAN Anthony Brea was overjoyed to receive the
yellow shirt in the Vuelta a Cuba cycle race but is
keeping his feet on the ground and hoping to finish
in the top five and contribute to the team victory.
“The
Vuelta tour was good for me on the flat in order to
win stages; I did well in the first three,” said
Brea, winner of the second stage which helped carry
him to the front of the general qualification for
individuals.
“I’m going to give everything I’ve got to finish in
the top five and help Venezuela qualify for the team
event just like last year,” added the Venezuelan
cyclist.
It
is the first time that Brea has competed in the tour
because, as a professional cyclist, he rides for the
Selle team in Italy.
Speeding up on the faster stages in search of
victory for general qualification on points is
another of Brea’s challenges, just as he did in the
Vuelta al Táchira in his country last January.
On
the mountain stages, Brea will support the work of
Carlos Ochoa and José Contreras, the team’s
specialists during these stages.
Ochoa, who finished in 14th position in Táchira,
explained: “We try to remain in the group until the
mountain stage and we like to get a good result in
the against-the-clock stage. These two sections will
be decisive for the final position.”
The
Vuelta a Cuba is a total of 1,800 kilometers in 13
stages and lasts until February 25. Cyclists from
Germany, Austria, Canada, Spain, Mexico, Panama, San
Marino and Venezuela are taking part, as well as
athletes from the host country.
MEXICAN ESPARZA HOPING FOR A WIN
Mexican Fausto Esparza, Central American and
Caribbean road champion, doesn’t want to feel any
pressure during the Vuelta a Cuba; he says that he
is hoping to put on a good show, especially during
the against-the-clock stage.
“You
look for the lead day by day; not everything is
played out during one stage. I’m hoping to win the
against-the-clock stage which is my specialty and do
the best I can for the team,” said Esparza.
The
Mexican is currently lying in 13th place after three
stages, 14 seconds slower than Venezuelan Anthony
Brea.
“The
race has a good level; I can see the Cuba A team
taking care of their leader Pedro Pablo Pérez who is
one of my biggest rivals. The Spaniards and
Canadians are also racing well,” commented Esparza.
Mexico is represented in the Vuelta by the national
squad and also by the Tecos team from the state of
Jalisco.
Esparza is looking to “break up the group so that
one of the Mexicans can make a break and give us a
good show.”
Bernado Colex from the Tecos team was fifth in the
general qualification after three stages, eight
seconds slower than the leader Venezuelan Anthony
Brea.
“My
goal is to finish in the top five but if the group
is strong, why not try to go for gold?” said the
23-year old cyclist.
Colex added that “up to now the race has been very
hard. The heat is intense and there are strong
rivals, but I’m hoping to do the best I can.”
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