David Valero, world number one, debuts in the Picota Bike Race of Jerte

The Granada cyclist David Valero, Olympic bronze in the Tokyo 2020 Games and number one of the world ranking of mountain bike in the modality marathon, participate this weekend for the first time in the WEST Picota Bike Race by Orquin, which celebrates its tenth edition in the Jerte Valley cacereño.

Valero arrives at the event after a season in which he has proclaimed himself European champion of the specialty, has won the general of the World Cup and has added his eleventh national title cross country, in addition to finishing room in the Cape Epic, as the runner recalled.

“Without a doubt it has been a great season,” said the cyclist, who faces the Extremadura test as the closing of a year marked by the results and the job.

Your participation also means settling a pending account with the race, since Valero received the invitation to compete in the edition of 2025, but he had to resign due to a commitment in Brazil.

“The references that everyone gives me are excellent: it’s wonderful, you have to come, you can’t miss it, you’re going to be amazed by the atmosphere, the routes, and well, this year we’re finally going to experience it in first person”, has stated.

He corridor has explained that his objective in the Jerte goes beyond the competition, after a demanding season.

“For me it will be the closing of a very long season, an opportunity to breathe and enjoy the cycling environment and a different test,” he indicated.

Although this will be your first participation in the Pillory Bike Race, Valero you already know Estremadura for his first competitive experiences on the road.

In 2011 he played the Guadiana Circuit, in Don Benito, in the category elite, and participated that same year in the Cycling Tour of Extremadura, with five stages.

The programming of the tenth edition starts this Friday in Navaconcejo with a day of reception for participants and a round table, in which Joaquim ‘Purito’ Rodríguez, José Antonio Hermida and Rubén Tanco, among others, will participate.

The competition will start tomorrow with a time trial semi-urban six kilometers, with departure and arrival in Cabezuela del Valle.

The organization has established a special prize for the best times, male and female, in the controlled section of The Reventón, a slope with more than 20% of unevenness.