It was a matter of time and hard-work – and it’s here. The continued effort of the team as a whole delivered Equipo Kern Pharma its first victory of the 2021 season. After many kilometres pulling at the front of the bunch in the pan-flat Volta ao Alentejo, Enrique Sanz managed to sprint for the win today at its last stage held in Évora. Sanz beat Angulo (EUS) and Leitão (TAV) to obtain a deserved, desired result.
“We needed this,” says Enrique Sanz. “We were confident that doing things right would get us a reward in the long run. Experience played in my favour today, as I already won on this very place and race two years ago and I knew exactly how to manage my sprint to reach the final meters with an edge over my opponents.”
“This victory goes to reward the great performances displayed by all the riders of the team during this first half of the season,” says Pablo Urtasun, Sports Director for Equipo Kern Pharma at the Volta ao Alentejo. “In this race, for instance, we have been in the mix every single day. It is not by chance that we placed three riders amongst the top11 of the GC. We are very happy and proud of our work all week long.”
“It is the icing of the cake after an exciting six months of 2021 season,” stresses Juanjo Oroz, Team Manager and Head Sports Director of Equipo Kern Pharma. “We are just making our debut as a UCI ProTeam – in fact, we are the world’s youngest UCI ProTeam. All the results and all the joy we are obtaining come from everyone’s commitment, patience and hard work.”
“Results are just numbers, but this particular one is very meaningful. It inspires us so much confidence and confirms how much we are improving. The whole team, both riders and staff, is developing at the same time. Thanks to its people and its sponsors, this sporting project is headed in the right direction.”
The Volta ao Alentejo (Portugal, UCI 2.2, 23-27/06) has been Equipo Kern Pharma’s final race of the first half of its season. The pharmaceutical team takes a now a well-deserved break and will hold a three-week training camp in altitude before heading to its next appointments, the Tour de Alsace (France, UCI 2.2, 21-25/07) and the Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia (Spain, UCI 1.1, 25/07).
Volta ao Alentejo (Portugal, UCI 2.2, 23-27/06)
23/06 – 10:45 – 15:50 (UTC +1). Stage 1: Reguengos de Monsaraz – Beja, 194,5 km
24/06 – 10:50 – 15:55 (UTC +1). Stage 2: Almodôvar – Sines, 195,5 km
25/06 – 11:30 – 15:45 (UTC +1). Stage 3: Alcácer do sal – Mora, 173,1 km
26/06 – 10:15 – 12:30 (UTC +1). Stage 4: Monforte – Castelo de Vide, 85 km
26/06 – 16:00 – 18:30 (UTC +1). Stage 5: Castelo de Vide, 8,4 km CRI
27/06 – 11:20 – 15:30 (UTC +1). Stage 6: Portalegre – Évora, 162,9 km
1. Enrique Sanz (Equipo Kern Pharma) 3h54’30”
2. Antonio Angulo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) s.t.
3. Iúri Leitão (Tavira) s.t.
…
9. Kiko Galván (Equipo Kern Pharma) s.t.
13. Jordi López (Equipo Kern Pharma) s.t.
18. Álex Jaime (Equipo Kern Pharma) s.t.
71. Jaime Castrillo (Equipo Kern Pharma) +48”
77. Sergio Araiz (Equipo Kern Pharma) +1’01”
95. Iván Moreno (Equipo Kern Pharma) s.t.
Overall classification
1. Mauricio Moreira (Efapel) 20h23’40”
2. José Fernandes (W52/FC Porto) +3”
3. Rafael Reis (Efapel) +10”
4. Kiko Galván (Equipo Kern Pharma) +29”
…
7. Jordi López (Equipo Kern Pharma) +36”
11. Álex Jaime (Equipo Kern Pharma) +43”
34. Jaime Castrillo (Equipo Kern Pharma) +2’37”
53. Enrique Sanz (Equipo Kern Pharma) +9’49”
77. Iván Moreno (Equipo Kern Pharma) +15’23”
90. Sergio Araiz (Equipo Kern Pharma) +22’46”
