While Sagi Sagiv is on his way to making history at the prestigious Giro d'Italia, another Israeli start-up rider, Omar Goldstein, will try to "leave a mark" on Valletta Espanya, which opens today • And also: Chris Fromm fights for his status
Goldstein.
The industry is gaining momentum
Photography:
Bettini Photo
The Israel Startup Nation cycling group will today, for the first time in its history, perform in Valletta Spain - the third most important Grand Tour race in the cycling industry.
Although the Sun Group's permanent venue is in Girona, Spain, it has never participated in Valletta, but only in a few smaller races across the country.
While Sagi Sagiv is nearing the end of his second appearance at the Giro d'Italia, in the squad for Valletta, Sun will present Omar Goldstein, who for his part will record a private history when he competes in a prestigious 18-segment column.
For him, the performance at Valletta will be an opportunity to do what Sagiv failed at the Giro and Gibb Niv in the Tour de France - to be part of the escape team, which may also reach the finish line first.
"I am aware that it is easier said than done. This is my first Grand Tour, so I do not have many receipts," Goldstein said yesterday. "Although it is clear to me that I have never faced such a physical challenge, I still say clearly - finishing the Valletta is not a goal. "For me, I want to try and leave a mark. I want to prove that the Israelis on the map are right. If I succeed in this? I will do everything to make it happen."
Godlstein and his friends. "I will do everything to make a mark" // Photo: Bettini Photo
Omar (24), Roi Goldstein's brother (riding in an Israeli cycling cycling uniform and retired at the beginning of the current season), is heading for a huge challenge.
The Valletta is expected to include only four flat sections and no less than 13 mountain sections - eight relatively calm and five that will cause each rider's feet to develop a love-hate relationship with the Pyrenees mountain range.
The first section today, which will leave Iron in the Basque Country and end at Iber after 173 km, will already include two types in category 2. If the climbs are not enough, the weather will surely contribute to the drama and intensity of risk. The riders enjoyed warm Spanish weather, this time quite a few winds and rains are expected for the riders on the way.
And we also have Fromm
Unlike Goldstein, who will have to prove abilities mostly to himself since the ax of expectations really does not rest on his neck, there are two riders worth noting: the first is Dan Martin, who disappointed in the Tour de France when he failed to show his abilities after being involved in an accident.
The other is none other than Chris Fromm.
"Valletta has been sitting firmly in my head since the last week of the column," Martin said, "I believe it's my race. I got my first Grand Tour victory here, and on paper, with all these ups, it's just right for me. There are guys around me. "Inexperienced, but committed and hungry. I believe we can achieve victory here."
Alongside Martin, at least part of the time, will pedal Fromm, the legendary rider of the Inaus team.
He has won twice at Valletta (2011 and 2017), but he is here for a completely different task - to prove to everyone that he is still part of the world top.
At the age of 35, after not being selected for the French Tour and with a new contract with the Israeli team next season, Fromm knows that despite his past seven wins at the Grand Tour - in the current Valletta we will find out if he still has something to give up.
Fromm. Still part of the world top? // Photo: AFP
Above the sport will float - as usual - the corona cloud.
The Valletta will jump in time, but under heavy fear of rising morbidity in Europe and especially in Spain.
The teams participating in the race have long been put in a bubble, and all involved are committed to frequent checks.
Yesterday everyone went through another round of testing, the second in total before the jump to the first section.
The organizers of the column announced that they would hermetically close the entrances to all the mountain passes and the main peaks, so as not to endanger the riders by being infected by an enthusiastic crowd.