Malaga conquers the Škoda Titan Desert Almería

Just over 200 kilometers separate Almería and Málaga. 200 kilometers that today, in the Škoda Titan Desert, seemed much shorter. Because Luis Ángel Maté and Natalia Fischer have made Cabo del Gata their home. The two Málaga natives, one from Marbella and the other from Estepona, have become the first leaders of the race.

For ‘El Lince’, it’s starting to become routine. The KH7 rider achieved the same feat last year. He won the stage and was the first to wear the red jersey in the race. Maté celebrated a year ago with great affection: “I don’t think I’ve been the leader of a race since I was a junior.” This time, the memory of being first in the GC was more recent.

The men’s race was led by a compact group of over 10 riders until the final kilometers. A group of mountainbikers and former professionals road riders climbed the Vela Blanca pass together, descended the mountain together, and rode closely together throughout the entire stretch that runs along Cabo de Gata.

The final wadis, with their fine sand and loose rocks, made all the difference. Two names stood out there, both from the present or recent past of Spanish cycling, two former World Tour riders who also admit to being good friends: Maté and Luis León Sánchez.

Luisle let Lince win the stage and take the early lead, aware that he may be able to open up a gap on more favorable terrain. For now, the red jersey remains in Andalusia.

The women’s GC seemed more decided from the start. Natalia Fischer, Spanish XCM champion and big favorite for the overall title, lived up to expectations and won the stage and the blue leader’s jersey.

The Estepona native, making her debut in a Titan World Series event, opened up a gap and rode solo from the start. She didn’t give her main rival in the overall standings, Pilar Fernández from Madrid, much of a chance.

Fischer admitted yesterday that she was nervous about what she would encounter in her debut, but there is no doubt that her legs belong to a European runner-up. There are no nerves to slow her down. Her lead after just over 100 kilometers is close to 20 minutes ahead of ‘Pili’.

The race has its first two leaders, and both are from Malaga. A Škoda Titan Desert Almería that starts with a strong Andalusian accent.