ANE SANTESTEBAN IS BACK TO CYCLING AT EMAKUMEEN BIRA

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The positive experience in China at Tour of Chongming Island is over and the season of the Alè - Cipollini - Galassia goes on in Spain, from Durango (Basque Country). The week of great cycling in the Iberian Peninsula starts on Tuesday with the Durango - Durango Emakumeen Saria, a one-day race of 113 kms which anticipates of one day the Emakumeen Bira, planned between 17th and 21st May. Ane Santesteban Gonzalez is back racing at her home event: the Spanish rider is finally ready since the bad crash where she was involved during training and now she is part of the team line-up with Marta Bastianelli, Martina Alzini, Anisha Vekemans, Soraya Paladin and Daiva Tuslaite. Fabiana Luperini will guide the team as Sports Director.

The Durango - Durango has a tough route, which suites to the climbers: there are 5 passages on the climb of Miota Gaina and two on Goiuria Gaina, the hard mountain in the final part of the race.

The Emakumeen Euskal Bira reaches its 30th edition and it start with a very short stage of 50 kms in Iurreta. The following day will be tougher, with the 86 kms and two cathegorized climbs in Markina/Xemein. The attackers wil have their day on stage 3 (Antzuola - Antzuola, 77 km) but the big day is on Saturday, 20th May when there will be the uphill finish in San Miguel de Aralar, after only 58 kms. The last trouble is the Alto de Jaizkibel, 11 kms from the last stage finish (Errenteria - Errenteria, 95 kms).

“We restart our season in Spain with a high mood” - commented Fabiana Luperini - “We are very happy that Ane is ready to race in her home race. There is a very tough parcour in both races and we will try to obtain the best result possible.”

THE 30TH EMAKUMEEN EUSKAL BIRA STAGES:

STAGE 1: IURRETA - IURRETA 50 KM
STAGE 2: MARKINA/XEMEIN - MARKINA/XEMEIN 86 KM
STAGE 3: ANTZUOLA - ANTZUOLA 77 KM
STAGE 4: ETXARRI/ARANATZ - SAN MIGUEL DE ARALAR 58 KM
STAGE 5: ERRENTERIA - ERRENTERIA 95 KM

THE LINE-UP FOR DURANGO - DURANGO & EMAKUMEEN BIRA (16TH, 17TH-21ST MAY 2017):

MARTA BASTIANELLI (ITALY)
ANE SANTESTEBAN (SPAIN)
ANISHA VEKEMANS (BELGIUM)
MARTINA ALZINI (ITALY)
SORAYA PALADIN (ITALY)
DAIVA TUSLAITE (LITHUANIA)

SPORTS DIRECTOR: FABIANA LUPERINI