SECOND PLACE FOR JANINA WÜST IN THE MEDITERRANEAN EPIC 2023
MEDITERRANEAN EPIC BIKE RACE
23 / 02 / 2023
Last February 9th, the popular and mythical Mediterranean Epic took place in Castellón. One of the most important MTB stage races that maintains the maximum UCI SHC category.
On this occasion, Hans Becking, Hugo Drechou, Peeter Pruus, Txell Figueras and Janina Wüst defended the colours of the BUFF-Megamo Team, completing a total of 250km spread over 4 stages. The 1st stage of the Mediterranean Epic was nothing more and nothing less than a time trial with a total of 29kms and 600m D+, a short but very technical route due to the cold and the conditions of the terrain.
The BUFF-Megamo Team started pushing hard and the two girls finally ended up into the Top10. Janina got a second position and Txell a seventh position, both with very good feelings and eager to keep pushing in the following days.
Hans went from less to more and finished the stage in fifth position. Hugo finished in ninth position. They both made it into the top 10, as did the girls. Peeter had a good race, saving his strength for the next stages and placed in the top 20.
Stage 2 covered 80 kms with 2150m D+. Janina repeated podium in a row keeping the second position. Txell did her best to be in the Top5 overall and finished the stage in sixth position.
As for the men's category, the second stage did not go very well and although the boys started in the first group, the difficulties of the technical course made them lose positions and finish the day in the following positions: Hans 16th, Peeter 26th and Hugo 30th.
The 3rd day was crowned by the Queen Stage of the race with a total of 104km and 2200m D+.
Janina was once again on the podium, although this time in first position. Txell continued to fight for the Top 5 and finished in seventh position.
As for the boys, they had good feelings again and Hugo got a ninth position, Peeter a twelfth and Hans the nineteenth. The team was able to obtain very good results in the longest day of the Mediterranean Epic 2023.
The race ended with a stage of 52km and 1150m D+, with a well deserved second place overall for Janina who showed great physical and mental strength throughout the race. Txell, finished the race in seventh place overall, after crossing the finish line ninth in the stage. A great job also from the Catalan rider who kept regular and showed a great competitive attitude during all the race.
As for the boys, Hans went out looking for the victory, but finally came in seventh place, placing eighth overall.
Hugo, after suffering a puncture, could not place among the first positions and finally consolidated a sixteenth place overall.
Finally, Peeter, after crossing the finish line in sixteenth position, achieved a fourteenth position overall. Although this was Peeter's first race of the season, he was able to stay consistent between the Top10 and Top20 overall.
BUFF-Megamo Team went home very satisfied with Janina's second place and the good feeling of the team with the new bike Megamo Track.
Congratulations on a great race, team!
Now it's time to look forward to the next race, the Andalucía Bike Race, which is one of the main objectives of this season.
Fotos: @mediterraneanepic
