Race Report: Copa Andaluza Enduro 2024 - Villanueva del Rosario

Copa Andaluza Enduro Raceface 2024:

Words by Yaroslav Alpizar & Photography by Edu Moreno & Yaroslav Alpizar

This weekend we had the second stop of the Andalucia Enduro Series by Raceface 2024, in the small mountain village of Villanueva del Rosario. This town is located right under some massive walls and has been known in the world of climbing for more than 20 years as a must go destination if you are trying to climb (literally) in the world climbing rinkings.

Chilam Balam in Villanueva del Rosario by Bernabe, was the worlds first 9b+ nowdays downgraded to "only" 9a+b

During weeked all mediterranean regiones in Europe got hit by one of the first hot waves of the season, rising temperatures to about more than 30 celsius (86F) so it was a battle all day for participants to stay hydrated. Race route was not highly difficult on paper, about 26km with 1390 climb and same amount descending split in 6 stages. Longest stage of the day was the very first one, with a long 7km to gain near 650m at the top of the stage at 1300m.

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The region has not seen rain in almost a month so the ground was very dry and loose. Being also a very rocky area, the riders faced some very technical sections with steep slopes and rock gardens with lots of loose rocks that changed with every passing by participant. A true test to every rider stage 3 was the known downhill track Chamizo that gathered a vast amount of spectators and let the participants loose their brakes and enjoy some flowy sections.

Anna Glowinski and Frances Dreher were the only 2 women on normal bikes. Frances had a crash on the first stage that caused her to abandon on the second stage due to a big wrist pain. Anna finished a long day on the saddle with 24m41s. On men overall Alvaro Haro (LTM Racing) was dominant all day, winning all 6 stages finishing the day on top of the podium on both elite and overall with 37s advantage over his nearest competitor Jose Mario Garcia (Spain Downhill CD) that had his own battle with Victor Manuel (Asociacion La Herradura) to win second overall by 6s.

On ebikes category Jose Barrio Jimenez (M40) dominated on 4 of the 6 stages to win the overall with a comfortable margin of 1m36s Eduardo Cortes. On women ebike the italian rider Giuseppina di Natale, first time competing in Spain, had an all day battel with chilean Angela Camus and the overall was decided on the last stage where Angela was 4th and Giuseppina managed to grab some valuable seconds and end up on the top of the podium by just 5sec.

Daniela from Austria usually found on snowboard freeride circuit also enjoys mountainbikes

Starting the day at Trio Kalavera, the power stage for ebikes

Villanueva del Rosario is known by its climbing lines, the valley is surrounded by them

Mario Arjona, M50 winner, is a legend in Andalucia, racing for over 30 years and endless podiums at his name

Irish rider based in Malaga, Nathan "The Lizard" Mccomb, overall winner on the first race in Ojen, alwas has time to show some skills

An unforgiven terrain, rim protectors mandatory

Nathan showing how dusty and loose it was

The start of Escaladores trails was tricky to navegate. Although women were not timed on this stage Giuseppina choose to do it the only woman on race to do so.

Start of Escaladores trails was tricky to navegate. Although women were not timed on this stage, Giuseppina choose to do it, the only woman on race to do so.

Everything ready for a great day on the trails

There is always "paella" on any event in Spain

Emilio is the heart and sould of the event

Men elite podium

Overall Results

Pro Men

1st. Alvaro Martinez (Elite)
2nd. Jose Mario Garcia (M30)
3rd. Victor Manuel Pozo (M30)
4th. German Ferrer (Elite)
5th. Alvaro Garcia Martin (M40)

Pro Women

1st. Anna Glowinski
2nd. Frances Dreher

Overall ebikes Results

Men

1st. Jose Antonio Barrio (Elite)
2nd. Eduardo Cortes (M40)
3rd. Pedro Gonzalez (Elite)
4th. Nathan Mccomb (M30)
5th. Rafael Luis Bascon (Elite)

Women

1st. Giuseppina di Natale (M30)
2nd. Angelica Camus (M30)
3rd. Cecilia Sopeña
4th. Daniela Zwwerger (M40)
5th. Violeta Benitez (M40)

Full Results

Posted In:
Racing and Events Race Reports

Author Info:

elyari
Member since Apr 5, 2011
130 articles

3 Comments

PauRexs FL (May 13, 2024 at 12:42)

These rocky wild mountains breathe pure enduro!

elyari FL (May 14, 2024 at 1:59)

Indeed they do! Rocky, loose and dusty, and some pedaling too to make things bit more physical

PauRexs FL (May 14, 2024 at 2:40)

@elyari: for me pedaling keep it to the laisons and to gain as much attitude as possible (1500-2000m sweetspot...) then going down the mountain it has what it has... do stages as long as possible... this way is already superphysichal when you reach for every second so no need to add pedaling on purpose... this is my view