Another Podium for Bahrain Victorious: Pau Miquel Second at GP Castellón
# Bahrain Victorious Celebrates another Podium as Pau Miquel Finishes Second at GP Castellón
Bahrain Victorious continues to impress in Spain, with Pau Miquel claiming a commendable second place at the 3rd Ruta de la Cerámica – GP Castellón (UCI 1.1), marking another podium finish in succession for the team. This race was notable for Miquel as it was his debut in the team’s TBV jersey.
The challenging 171.7 km route from Castellón to Onda (Valencia) featured a hilly parcours, including an elevation gain of 2,374 meters and three categorized climbs: Alto de la Coma, Alto de la Serratella, and Collado de Ayódar. While the course was tough, it ultimately set the stage for a thrilling sprint finish suitable for fast riders.
As expected, a six-man breakaway initially broke away from the peloton but was caught after their first passage through the finish line. The final 20 kilometers saw increased action, with the last climb further thinning the group. Near the summit of Collado de Ayódar, four aggressive riders formed a leading group: António Morgado (UAE Team Emirates), Christian Scaroni, and teammate Guillermo Thomas Silva (XDS Astana), along with Héctor Álvarez from the Spanish National Team. However, the gap they created was not enough to deter a sprint finish among a stretched peloton.
Michael Matthews of Jayco AlUla showcased his speed, winning the race in a powerful finale. Miquel crossed the line just behind him in second place, with Lukas Kubiš (Unibet Rose Rockets) taking third.
Commenting on the team’s performance, Bahrain Victorious Sports Director Gorazd Štangelj stated, “As last year, we knew the race would be decided on the last climb, so our focus was on that section of the course and on protecting our key riders: Pau Miquel, Vlad Van Mechelen, and Alec Segaert. Their task was to get over the climb and be present in the finale to support Pau. Everything went as planned. Only Vlad had to close a gap; otherwise, he could have achieved a good result as well. The team worked perfectly, allowing the three key riders to save energy and perform excellently in the finale, especially Pau. He was slightly hindered by a crash in the last corner, but he still managed to finish second, beaten only by a specialist like Matthews.”
Reflecting on his performance, the 25-year-old Miquel shared, “It’s a good start to the season. It’s not a win, but it’s a close one. This result is all thanks to my teammates; the work they did to close the dangerous gap just before the finish was amazing. My feelings during the race were really good, and I’m very happy. Above all, I’m grateful for the trust the team has put in me. I’m happy with the whole day and already looking forward to the next races. Now I’m aiming for a win.”
Looking ahead, Pau Miquel is set to compete in the 42nd Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana 1969, where he will once again be eyeing another podium finish in what is anticipated to be a bunch sprint.
