Nicolás reigns again in Alhamilla

Nicolás Mercader is not the name of a professional mountainbiker. His bib number, 18, does place him among the contenders and he had a more than meritorious participation in the ŠKODA Titan Series Almería 2021. He finished 14th overall and won the ŠKODA Challenge, which was also held in Huebro. He did it with the same team with which he won this year, which responds to the simple name of: Legion

This 34-year-old man from Almeria is a simple man who gets on his bike when he can and is not doing maneuvers at the Álvarez de Sotomayor Military Base. A barracks that is well known by the race and that will be protagonist in stage 4 of the ŠKODA Titan Desert Almería, the Legion Stage Spirit of March.

Nothing foreshadowed Nicolas’ triumph. Names better known than his had shined earlier in this stage. Among the white houses of Níjar, Tomi Misser stood out, escaped two minutes behind the rest of the favorites. Crowning Huebro all the contenders linked and began to appear other illustrious: Konny Looser or Luis Angel Maté, who tried several times. Although the Marbella rider was weighed down by his lack of experience following the track, the Swiss rider finished fourth and gained another 15 seconds in the general classification to Miquel Faus, who remains second.

But the leading group was splitting up by the narrow streets and the technical trails that descended from Turrillas. Finally, in small groups, all the big names of the edition were arriving in Tabernas. They all did it, however, after a more unknown name, Nicolás Mercader. A non-professional rider who is already part of the history of this race.

There were fewer surprises in the women’s GC. Vera Looser won the stage and widened her margin. The Namibian rider knows that she has a big gap and that from now until the end of the race it will be enough for her to control her rivals.

However, she did not let her guard down against Pilar Fernandez who lost time, but who remained neck and neck with her until the climb to Huebro. Then, on the descent down the trails, Looser showed her superiority.

The rider from Madrid has shown that she can climb with the best and that she can be a rival to beat tomorrow in the ŠKODA We Love Cycling stage.

Tomorrow awaits a big day, of pure mountain and with a climb to the stunning Alto de Velefique. A day that can be full of surprises, as long as it is allowed by a rider and a rider who share a surname and dominate with an iron fist their respective generals.