Geoffray and Santamaría, winners of the Gorbeia Suzien 2023 mountain race
Euskaraz irakurri: Santamaria eta Geoffray, 2023ko Gorbeia Suzien mendi-lasterketako irabazleak
Clémentine Geoffray and Alain Santamaría are the winners of the Gorbeia Suzien 2023 mountain race which was held this Saturday, September 23 in Zeanuri (Bizkaia). Furthermore, both have set test records.
In the men’s category, Santamaría has completed the record with a time of 2 hours, 57 minutes and 8 seconds. Antonio Martínez was second at 56 seconds and Frédéric Tranchand third at 1’33”. The best Basque runner has been Markel Urigoitia (3:08.28); The one from Otxandio (Bizkaia) was eighth and finished 11 minutes and 20 seconds behind the winner.
The men’s race has started at a very high pace. At the beginning Tranchand has been in the lead; Santamaría, however, followed him closely, at a safe distance, but without letting the Frenchman take too much advantage. So, At the Cruz de Gorbea Santamaría has already overtaken Tranchand, in addition to the fact that the Riojan has given 16 seconds to the Frenchman. Antonio Martínez was the third to reach the emblematic cross with a disadvantage of 3 minutes and 15 seconds over the leader of the test.
However, there was still a long descent ahead and Gorbeia Suzien has decided on the descents on several occasions. Alain Santamaría remained at the head of the race and was the first to cross the finish line located in Zeanuri Square with a time of 2:57.08. Behind the man from Ezcaray (La Rioja) came Antonio Martínez from Alicante, 56 seconds behind, while Frenchman Frédéric Tranchand was third (2:58.30) 1’33” behind the winner.
On the other hand, The women’s race has also been vibrant. The winner Clémentine Geoffray has set the Suzien record at 3 hours, 34 minutes and 25 seconds. Iris Pessey was second at one minute and 25 seconds and Anastasia Rubtsova third at 5 minutes and 30 seconds.
The women have also started with a lot of speed in the test. The French Iris Pessey was at the head of the race in the first kilometers, along with the Basque Onditz Iturbe. own Pessey has arrived first at the Gorbea Crosswith an advantage of one minute and 28 seconds over Anastasia Rubtsova, one minute and 47 seconds over Onditz Iturbe and two minutes and 53 seconds over Clémentine Geoffray.
In that qualifying situation they faced the loss, and in the relegation the positions changed. On the way down, Clémentine Geoffray came back, until they are in the lead. Besides, Geoffray has increased his advantage with respect to his opponents and has claimed victory. Second place went to Iris Pessey (3:35.50) who needed one minute and 25 seconds more than the winner to complete the course. Anastasia Rubtosva was third (3:39.55) five minutes and 30 seconds from Geoffray. The first Basque to cross the finish line was Onditz Iturbe; that of Igorre (Bizkaia) has taken fourth place with a record of 3 hours, 43 minutes and 6 seconds (3:43.06).
Source: Eitb
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