Volta Ciclista Internacional a Lleida will return to the professional calendar next year and already appears as a UCI 2.2 race from June 2-5. It is organized Sergi Escobar who revived the race in 2014.
The Volta a Lleida stopped in 2009 due to financial problems. Escobar who is a coach and is a former Olympic medalist, rescued the event last year in the amateur category.
The portal Lleida.com reports that "the greatest challenge" is to be granted 2.2 status and to "increase the budget" of € 60,000 this year to 70,000 or 75,000. To do this, Escobar has the Council's commitment to maintain or increase their contributions from € 50,000 and is now seeking the support of the Provincial Government and private companies.
Lars Boom (2008), Francis de Greef (2007), Mikhail Ignatiev (2006) and Branislau Samoilau (2005) were the last winners. The 2008 edition was was the last after 56 years on the calendar, first as an amateur race and as a professional race fsince 2005.
The 2016 Volta a Lleida will have a time trial and the final will be on the Cerro de la Seu Vella climb. This year Artem Samolenkov, Dimitry Strakhov,both from Lokosphinx, and Jorge Arcas (Lizarte) made up the podium. Mikel Elorza, Strakhov and Peio Goikoetxea - twice - were the stage winners.
20.04: EPZ Omloop van Borsele |
17.04 - 21.04: Tour de Tunisie |
18.04 - 21.04: Eroica Juniores |
19.04 - 21.04: EPZ Omloop van Borsele |
20.04 - 21.04: Gipuzkoa Klasika |
21.04: Liège-Bastogne-Liège |
21.04: Giro della Romagna |
21.04: Gent-Wevelgem U23 |
21.04: Gent-Wevelgem Junior |
21.04: Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes |
Ronald MUTSAARS 45 years | today |
Xavier NIEVES 31 years | today |
Nikki Egyed BUTTERFIELD 42 years | today |
Emiliano DONADELLO 41 years | today |
Chanhyeok IM 23 years | today |
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