[dat] – Rally Cycling jumps the pond for the second time this season, heading to Spain to contest the GP Miguel Indurain and Klasika Primavera de Amorebieta. It is the second time the team has competed in these races, but the first time they bring a seasoned roster with several weeks of European racing already under their belts.

A trip to Spain in late January that saw the team battle winter weather, crashes, and illness at the Tours of Valencia and Andalucia. Team Director Pat McCarty saw the hard knocks as building blocks for a successful season.

“The riders are much better prepared this time,” said McCarty. “The previous races in Europe and the Middle East were very tough and we needed them to be. We got a few results, but more importantly, we learned a lot as a team and the guys built tremendous fitness. If you want to be competitive in the sprint events, you need to start early.”

The team brings a two-pronged attack to the hilly Spanish races. With the climbing strength to make it over the climbs in a small group and the sprinting ability to finish things off, Ryan Anderson, Colin Joyce, and Ty Magner will look to place themselves in the early breakaways and outfox the WorldTour led peloton.

Robin Carpenter and Brandon McNulty will look to be aggressive in the chaotic finales while Nigel Ellsay and Emerson Oronte fight to make the elite selection of riders at the end of the day.

“We know these races suit our roster,” said McCarty. “We brought aggressive, dynamic riders, who do well in a variety of scenarios. The racing in Europe is unpredictable and you need riders who are capable of adapting at a moments notice.”

The team will race the GP Miguel Indurain this Saturday, March 31st. The 189 km race starts and finishes in the northern town of Estella, winding through the Spanish countryside before tackling three categorized climbs in the second half of the race. Last year’s edition was decided on the final climb up Alto de Eraul just 10 km from the finish.

Held annually since 1951, GP Miguel Indurain is one of the oldest and most competitive one-day races in Spain. The last time the team competed in Estella was 2013 when Jesse Anthony won the Special Sprint Classification.

The following weekend the team will race the Klasika Primavera de Amorebieta. Held in the heart of the Basque Country, the 171 km race is tailor-made for climbing specialists. With six categorized climbs in the final 70 km of racing alone, there will be no hiding from the brisk pace set by some of the world’s top climbers. The weather is unpredictable in northern Spain, and the team will need to be prepared for both rain and high winds.

GP Miguel Indurain and Klasika Primavera de Amorebieta Roster
Ryan Anderson
Robin Carpenter
Nigel Ellsay
Colin Joyce
Ty Magner
Brandon McNulty
Emerson Oronte