Luis Ángel Maté, the Marbella cyclist who has stepped away from elite road cycling, continues to showcase his impressive fitness level, recently clinching the overall victory at the Škoda Titan Desert in Morocco. This achievement follows his earlier success in the Almería race held in Cabo de Gata. From the outset, Maté established himself as a leader, maintaining his position through a combination of individual strength and outstanding teamwork within the KH7 team, which is managed by former cyclist Melcior Mauri.
Maté not only displayed remarkable consistency across the challenging terrains of Morocco, but he also navigated the race with strategic acumen, consistently supported by critical teammates. Dani Moreno, who emerged victorious in the fifth stage, and Vicente Quiles, who secured third place overall, played pivotal roles in controlling the race, setting the pace when necessary, and safeguarding Maté's leadership during the most challenging moments.
Upon crossing the finish line, Maté expressed his desire to honor Andrey Amador, the Costa Rican cyclist who won the event the previous year but could not join them this time. 'This victory is for him. Regarding the race, it is an extreme competition that pushes you to your limits in every sense, both physically and mentally, as well as in terms of equipment. Until you cross the final finish line, you cannot say you have finished,' Maté declared.
Reflecting on the final stage, the Marbella native described it as 'a grueling stage, fraught with falls, wind, stones, descents, and ascents...' He praised his team, stating, 'The KH-7 team did an extraordinary job. When you're part of such a group that makes things so easy for you, it really alleviates the pressures.'
The competition also featured notable participants during the last three stages, including cycling legend Miguel Indurain, alongside Luis León Sánchez and Jonnathan Castroviejo. In the women's category, the top Spanish competitor was Pilar Fernández from KH7, who finished second, trailing behind Dutch cyclist Tessa Kortekaas. Kortekaas achieved a historic performance, finishing seventh overall and third in one stage, marking a groundbreaking milestone for the Titan Desert.
As reported by diariosur.es.
