Omar Fraile took his first pro victory in the Giro dell'Apennino. The Basque rider also achieved the second team win in 2015 for Caja Rural after Pello Bilbao in Castilla y León, confirming his great star. Amets Txurruka finished 5th and Angel Madrazo was present in the day's break.
Omar Fraile was euphoric after the victory. "It is amazing, a dream, something very big that it looked like I was close to getting". Fraile said after a very hard race in which "Madrazo was very attentive to eot into the 8-rider break. After the attack, the gap came down. Cunego attacked and I realized I had good legs and so I joined him before Zardini caught us. With Amets Txurruka trying to join us, I could follow wheels. Near the top Damiano went and I was left a little in no man's land. With 15 kilometers to go I was joined by the chasers. With 500m to go, Pirazzi attacked and I took off. I caught him with 300m to go and was able to pass him. I realized that I would win and had time to enjoy it.
For Fraile, it is "a first professional win. It pays me back for all the efforts and sacrifices. Italy breathes cycling and it was a tough race and beautiful scenery. Winning is a very good feeling, I've had a good day after a few race in which I felt very good."
The Basque riders wants to dedicate the win to "my family and my girlfriend who are always there to help, and also to the whole team. We hope that this will continue. It's amazing to compete and learn in a team like Caja Rural-Seguros RGA where people feel at home and where we are not required to win, but we are always competitive. Pello achieved the first, and from there everything changed. The days have given a better environment. The team had got morale after so much bad news with diseases and crashes. Now the dynamic has changed and we hope it lasts."
"Wveryone is happy and that's good. Now we will try to win again and keep working," concluded Fraile.
Juanma Hernández, team manager, said: "Omar's win is a great joy. Pello opened the account and now Omar takes over. Fraile has improved all year. He has responded well and is proving to be a very good rider, as demonstrated foryears. For a team like ours it is something to appreciate. Now we have a nice schedule in the coming weeks to see if we can maintain the level in races like Asturias. It is important for us to win in Italy, for the expansion and growth of the team and sponsors such as Fuji and Ale."
Lluis Mas gave the team presence the team in the first stage of the Tour of Turkey and is second in the sprints competition. Meanwhile, Carlos Barbero tried to do the sprint. "He did well, but inside the final kilometre he lost position and he could not react," commented Josemi Fernandez, director of the team.
Lluis Mas was pleased: "To join the break was one of our goals. I was ahead but I did not have great legs. There are 7 more stages and I hope to be better."
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