Miguel Induraín returns to the competition in the Titan Desert
He will do it within the structure of the KH-7 team, led by Melcior Mauri, with whom he already shared a squad just a quarter of a century ago.
The edition number 15 of the Garmin Titan Desert, which will be played between the 19 and the April 24, will have a very special protagonist. Miguel Indurain, the best Spanish cyclist in history and one of the best in the world, will be at the start with the KH-7 team.
"Vand try to finish it, to spend the 6 days. It will be like one more race but with the intention of finishing”, Miguelón said in a recent visit to the KH-7 facilities in Canovelles (Barcelona).
The pentacampeón of the Tour de France will change the Tourmalet or Alpe d'Huez for the dunes of Merzouga. He barely has experience in mountain biking, but he doesn't see it as a major obstacle. “The Titan is more than rolling.
The one that comes from the road has it a little easier. Although there are always technical points, dunes and navigation, and for that I hope they teach me how to do it. ” One of his main mentors will be Melcior Mauri, who will act as director and partner in the KH-7.
Melcior Mauri has convinced him
There is a circumstance that both will share equipment again, a quarter of a century after doing so at Banesto. “I had been with the idea for several years, Melcior always told me. I replied that it was not the time, but this year has convinced me. It will be a new experience. ”
Its dorsal will be the 15, in honor of the 15 editions of the Titan
In addition to honoring the 15 editions of the Titan, this dorsal has another special meaning: the Navarrese has been first in five Tours of France and is the only cyclist in all history who has won five Tours consecutively (1 + 5).
By the way, a curious point. He won his first Tour with the '35', his first Tour with the '25' and will face his first North African adventure with the '15'.
Miguel Indurain Larraya (Villava, Navarra. 16-7-1964), on the podium of the best Spanish athletes of all time, will leave in April of 2020 the environment of the Irati forest - his usual training area - to enter the Sahara desert.
It has always been good for him to pedal with heat, so he already has something in his favor. “I have never been in the desert. This year I wanted to change the chip and do new things. ”
“Olano and other cyclists had told me very well about the Titan”
Other great cyclists of his time already dared with the Titan, such as Abraham Olano, Laurent Jalabert and Claudio Chiapucci, the latter, one of his great rivals in the mountain stages in the Tour.
“Olano and others have told me about the race. They had a great time. It is hard and you have to arrive in good condition because difficult times are passed. It's a challenge, like when I was doing a big test. ”
The Navarrese, who has not stopped riding a bike since he left professional road cycling in 1996, has a stratospheric track record.
Apart from the aforementioned five French rounds, the Tour of Italy was awarded twice. He has also been Olympic and world time trial champion. And he even pulverized the time record, among many other achievements.
Melcior got excited with the yes, by Miguel Indurain
Melcior Mauri, on the other hand, recognizes that when Miguel confirmed that he would come to the Titan, he "got excited", since he had been trying to convince him for several years.
The KH-7 team will have a luxury training. Josep Betalú, winner of the last four editions, and Anna Ramirez, three times winner, will be the two spearheads.
Will also repeat Sylvain Chavanel (record holder of disputed Tours, with 18 participations), in addition to cyclists and fans whose objective will be to finish the race. "VMasters with a very important and good corridor structure. We will be one of the most numerous teams, even passing the 50 racers”Says Mauri.
Juan Porcar, CEO of Titan World Series, admits that “he could not imagine that after so many years he was motivated to come to this race. Only the fact that it comes is a sign of the consolidation of the Garmin Titan Desert. ”
Finally, Josep Maria Lloreda, president of KH Lloreda, concludes that “for the company, cycling is one of the sports that allow us to get closer to the consumer, and having a multi-champion in the team like Miguel Indurain is undoubtedly a success. We can't ask for more. ”
There are no previous results.
