Andalucía Bike Race 2023: Fabian Rabensteiner and Wout Alleman attack and win stage 2

Fabian Rabensteiner and Wout Alleman change strategy, attack and win stage 2. In the women's race, the victory went to Katazina Sosna and Irina Luetzelschwab in a day with no change of leaders.

Rabensteiner-Alleman and Sosna-Luetzelschwab win stage 2 of the Andalucía Bike Race 2023 by Garmin

Jaén has hosted the second stage of Andalucía Bike Race by GARMIN, on a day that coincided with the Day of Andalusia and has received a large number of public to see how was the first arrival in the city of Jaén.

The start from the Cathedral of Jaén led the runners to a continuous up and down route through the Jabalcuz slope to finish at El Pincho at 1,367 meters of altitude, and the subsequent descent to the Olivo Arena of Jaén, where the finish line was located. The day has been marked by the snow that resisted in the highest point of the stage in one of the most emblematic peaks of Jaén, El Pincho, unusual images in the last editions.

In the first kilometers of the stage, the pair formed by the European champion Fabian Rabensteiner and Wout Alleman (Wilier Pirelli Factory) has taken the lead and managed to open a gap that has not been reduced until the finish line, and has served them to get the victory after trying in the previous stage, so that their change in strategy has worked from the very beginning: "Today we decided to attack from the start because yesterday we had bad luck with the weather conditions, and we lost time. We both felt very good and we managed to get a good advantage."

Behind him, a chasing group formed and rode together throughout the stage. The snow and ice accumulated on the summit of El Pincho caused the riders to be careful on the descent. Tiago Ferreira and Andreas Miltiadis (DMT-Blackjack), who took second place, led the group to the finish, more than 2 minutes behind the stage winners, followed by the Italians Francesco Failli and Riccardo Chiarini (Taddei Factory Team), who completed the podium. Michal Paluta and Pawel Bernas (JBG2 Team), winners of the first stage and current leaders, keep the overall leader's jersey.

In the women's category, the leaders, Janina Wüst and Txell Figueras (BUFF®-Megamo Team) started with the objective of maintaining the overall lead, but on the climb to El Pincho, Lithuanian Katazina Sosna and Swiss Irina Luetzelschwab (Team Torpado BULLS Swiss) took advantage of the climb to overtake them and gain enough distance to reach the finish line and win the stage.

"It was a fast stage. After the first 20 kilometers we got in front and led the whole race. It was very nice because it was snowy at the top and the temperature was low, but the terrain was good, and no risk on the descent."

Despite not winning the stage, Janina Wüst and Txell Figueras (BUFF®-Megamo Team), maintain the overall lead. The podium of the Elite UCI Women's stage was completed with Lejla Njemcevic and Stefanie Dohrn (Canyon-Allebike) in second position, and the current overall leaders in third position.

The day has served to celebrate the festivity of the Day of Andalusia. In this stage 2 has included a special category for riders who have disputed only one stage. In addition, at the finish line in Jaén there were inflatables and DJs to liven up the party.

Tomorrow, Jaén will host the third stage in an unprecedented route so far in Andalucía Bike Race by GARMIN. The start will be again from the Cathedral of Jaén, but this time it will go in the direction of Los Villares, where the sea of olive trees typical of Jaén will stand out. Then, the stage will pass through Las Cimbras, Cañada de las Hazadillas and the slope of Cerro de San Cristobal before returning to the Olivo Arena of Jaén.

STAGE CLASSIFICATION - UCI ELITE MEN CATEGORY

1. Fabian Rabensteiner - Wout Alleman WILIER PIRELLI FACTORY 02:12:50
2. Tiago Ferreira - Andreas Miltiadis DMT-BLACKJACK 02:16:39
3. Francesco Failli – Riccardo Chiarini TADDEI FACTORY TEAM 02:16:40

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION – UCI ELITE MEN CATEGORY

1. Michal Paluta – Pawel Bernas JBG2 TEAM 04:44:28
2. Fabian Rabensteiner – Wout Alleman WILIER PIRELLI FACTORY 04:44:47
3. Francesco Failli – Riccardo Chiarini TADDEI FACTORY TEAM 04:45:37

STAGE CLASSIFICATION – UCI ELITE WOMEN CATEGORY

1. Katazina Sosna – Irina Luetzelschwab TEAM TORPADO BULLS SWISS 02:45:25
2. Lejla Njemcevic - Stefanie Dohrn CANYON ALLEBIKE 02:47:28
3. Txell Figueras – Janina Wüst BUFF®-MEGAMO TEAM 02:48:04

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION – UCI ELITE WOMEN CATEGORY

1. Txell Figueras – Janina Wüst BUFF®-MEGAMO TEAM 05:48:01
2. Katazina Sosna – Irina Luetzelschwab TEAM TORPADO BULLS SWISS 005:48:19
3. Lejla Njemcevic - Stefanie Dohrn CANYON ALLEBIKE 05:49:38