Alejandro Valverde He is the latest cycling figure to confirm his participation in this first edition of the Castellón Gravel Race. The Murcian, who has an amazing track record and is considered one of the best cyclists in the history of our country, will compete against other cycling figures such as Samuel Sanchez, Luis Leon Sanchez, Felipe Orts or Lucia Gonzalez. Along with these stars, hundreds of runners from the national and international territory will be lucky enough to share a unique experience on a tour of 97 kilometers.
Valverde will be the special guest at the opening of a race that is here to stay. After leaving professional cycling two seasons ago, Alejandro Valverde He quickly adapted to the bike gravel Today he is one of the great names in this discipline. “El Bala” will reach Castellon in a spectacular state of form after winning last weekend for the second year The Indomitable (Almería), a UCI Gravel World Series event. He also has other great recent achievements such as a fourth place at the Gravel World Championships held last October in Italy and a victory at the Hutchinson Ranxo Gravel 2023.
Alejandro Valverde wins in Llucena / Mas de la Costa. Photo: La Vuelta.
The Murcian star also has an amazing track record as a professional cyclist. Among his 133 victories, highlights the triumph in the 2018 World Road Championship, twelve stages in total and the general classification of the Vuelta a España (2009), four stages of the Tour de France, five times champion of the Fleche Wallonne and four victories in the Liège – Bastogne – Liège. For his part, Valverde keep good Memories of Castellón, where he achieved one of his great victories in the Llucena / Mas de la Costa stage of La Vuelta 2019.
It is also worth remembering the presence of Other stars who will participate in the premiere of the Castellón Gravel Race: Samuel Sanchez, ambassador of the event and who has an Olympic gold and numerous victories in the professional field; Luis Leon Sanchez, current leader of the Spanish Gravel Cup and former professional cyclist with an impressive record of achievements; Felipe Orts (FORTS Team) and Lucia Gonzalez (Nesta MMR), current Champions of Spain of cyclocross and Sofia Rodriguez (Nesta MMR), one of the great cyclists who stands out in the gravel field.
The competition will take place on Saturday, May 11 at 9:00 h in the morning in the Spain Square in Llucena (Castellón) and will feature 97 kilometers long. The race will have 5 intermediate checkpoints with mechanical assistance (three of them) and refreshments, so support is guaranteed for the participating cyclists.
He Provincial Deputy for Sports, Ivan Sanchez, has highlighted that "it is very important that athletes of the stature of Alejandro Valverde, Samuel Sánchez, Luis León Sánchez, Felip Orts or Lucía González, among others, come to participate in sporting events in Castellón because they help promote the province as a sports venue. Castellón Gravel Race It promises to be a highlight on the cycling calendar and, at the same time, will help our province to advance as a great venue for outdoor sports," added the Provincial Deputy for Sports.
The Registrations for the Castellón Gravel Race 2024 will remain open until Tuesday, May 7th. The quota is 500 participants. The different sections (men, women, juniors and cycle tourists) will start arriving at the finish line from approximately 12:30 p.m. The bibs can be collected from Friday at 5 p.m. and on the day of the race from 7 a.m. at the Llucena Town Hall.
