Konny y Vera Looser, on the hunt for glory

Over 280 participants will take the start of the prologue to be held this Friday, October 7, starting and finishing in El Toyo. The ŠKODA Titan Desert Almería heats up engines for an edition that promises to be tremendously exciting for its route, its adventure, its camp and, of course, by the excellent participation.

On the male side, Oscar Pujol is the current winner of the ŠKODA Titan Desert Almería. The Catalan rider has to start as a favorite in the pools, as he is the only one in the peloton who knows what it is to dominate the Tabernas desert under his bike. Although it won’t be easy for him to repeat the feat in 2022.

Konny Looser doesn’t know what it’s like to lose in a Titan World Series race. In his two participations in the ŠKODA Titan Desert Morocco, the Swiss has come out with two red winner’s jerseys. In 2022 he will make his debut in Almería, a race that seems to suit his qualities even better: no navigation and more elevation gain.

One of the big appearances is that of Moto GP rider Maverick Viñales. The 2013 Moto3 world champion will participate representing ŠKODA, of which he has recently been named ambassador, in what will be his debut in the ŠKODA Titan Desert Almería.

Along with them, a plethora of riders of the highest level that will seek to emerge victorious from El Toyo. There are those who are already historical and good connoisseurs of the Titan universe, as the quadruple champion of the Titan Desert, Josep Betalú; the former professional rider and a Titan Legend Platinum, Manuel ‘Triki’ Beltrán; or the European MTB champion, Tomi Misser, who, also as ambassador of SKODA, will accompany Maverick in his first participation.

A little more mysterious, but without losing sight of his participation, we will have to follow very closely Fran Herrero, the stunning runner-up of the ŠKODA Titan Desert Morocco. A wonderful surprise is that of a road veteran who is trying his hand at mountain biking, such as the Euskaltel rider Luis Ángel Maté.

In the absence of the reigning champion, Naima Madlen, Vera Looser may be facing her biggest chance of victory. She already did everything she could to triumph in the ŠKODA Titan Desert Morocco, but she constantly came up against the wall that was Anna Ramirez. Without the Catalan in the peloton, the Namibian rider starts as a favorite to succeed Madlen in the Almeria’s list of winners.

Outside both Loosers, the eyes have to be on another star of the road cycling who has already proven herself in cyclocross races. Eider Merino, top 10 of the Giro and former Movistar Team rider, will be part of the ŠKODA WeLoveCycling team, representing Menabi, ŠKODA dealer in Donosti.

Without options in the women’s Elite because of their presence in the Mixed Duo category, we must not lose sight of two other great riders who will ride in Tabernas. The winner of the ŠKODA Titan Desert Morocco 2021, Ariadna Ródenas, and the recent winner of the Sea Otter and national champion of Colombia, Mónica Calderón.

Also in the mixed duo category will participate two well-known ambassadors of the race: ‘Tungui’ Cuenco and ‘Chamba’ Castilla. They are part of the team ANDALUCÍA REGIÓN EUROPEA DEL DEPORTE 2021, one of the groups coordinated by Junta de Andalucía and Diputación de Almería, composed of ambassadors from the different Andalusian provinces.