Romero and Carrascosa dominate in the Queen Stage

Pedro Romero from Extremadura (Extremadura-Ecopilas) has been the fastest to overcome the 73 km of today's stage. Mónica Carrascosa (Bikezona) and Rocío Gamonal (RG) both from Asturias have repeated victory in Elite and Master Women category, respectively.

The second stage of MMR Asturias Bike Race has been characterized by being the Queen, most important with its distance, unevenness and variety in its route, with about 74 kilometers and 2,520 meters of accumulated altitude.

The mud has again been protagonist of the day today, a stage with lots of rhythm, faster than the previous one and with many contrasts. It has combined technical descents, rocky singletracks and drier areas, in a very diversified terrain. The intensity of the stage has made the riders arrive exhausted at the finish line.

The queen stage began climbing the Monco mountain pass, and then reaching the Fumarea summit, to continue along the Peón range, alternating forests and meadows. They climbed to Cima peak and see the magnificent Cantabrian coast from the Rioseca valley.

After almost fifty kilometres, the riders enjoyed Deva park, to then ascend to Baldornon and reach the Gavio hill along its incredible forest, before returning to Pola de Siero.

Hard-fought victory

In the Elite Men category, Pedro Romero from Extremadura (Extremadura-Ecopilas) took the win, fighting at all times, and after an intense duel with Victor Manuel Fernandez (Wolfbike). "The stage has been very tough and demanding, but I’m very satisfied. I have always managed a podium or win in Andalusia Bike Race, in La Rioja Bike Race, or any event of the Bike Race label, so I’m very happy ", said Romero.

Stage 1 results - Elite Men

1. Pedro Romero 03:17:12

2. Víctor Manuel Fernández 03:17:13

3. David Ovin 03:19:03

In the Elite Women category, Mónica Carrascosa (Bikezona) has dominated the queen stage and keeps her leadership in the overall standings. “I've had an intense duel with Diana Fernández. She dropped me on the climbs, which is her strength, and I did so on the downhills. It has been an exhausting day, but I’m very happy to have riden so well at my land and to have strengthened my leadership a bit more” she said, feeling very happy about today's stage.

Diana Fernández from La Rioja has managed to step onto the podium, highlighting the thrill of having achieved the second position. "The stage was very demanding, but the mud we found today, allowed us to ride better than yesterday's. We started with some climbs, which were my terrain, in fact, I was first, but broke the derailleur. Thanks to the mechanical service offered by the race, I was able to get back to the finish line".

Rocío Gamonal, of the Master Women category, has again been the first woman to reach the finish line. “At the beginning a few of the girls rode together, then at the forest, the group has broken little by little and I have gone alone. The route has been very demanding, although with less mud than yesterday. At eight kilometres to the finish line, there was a very muddy area and I had a bad time because I was very tired and weaker", said the Master Women leader.

Stage 2 results – Elite Women

1. Mónica Carrascosa 04:34:07

2. Diana Fernández 04:37:13

3. Marta Tora 04:37:57

Tomorrow, the last stage

The third and last stage will be the shortest and with less elevation. A rural and historic route, since it goes along the GR105, where according to the legend, Pelayo moved his troops in the Reconquest battles, and a pilgrimage route to Covadonga. A stage of 51 kilometres and 1.484 metres of climbing with two feed stations (Km 11,4 & 33,2), that will go through woods with fun singletracks and will finish with the Castiello descent.