Opening of the Caja Rural in Pamplona

The templates from Caja Rural-Seguros RGA And Subsidiary of Caja Rural-Alea They celebrated their launch this Wednesday at the Baluarte Palace in Pamplona before the start of the new course, the fifteenth in a row for the project in the professional category.

An event where the new faces of both groups were introduced and recognized Txomin Perurena, a figure closely associated with the team, died last year. An emotional video recalling his great career, first as a runner and later as a sports director, had the entire audience applauding him.

Growing up together

Caja Rural-Seguros RGA is heading into the new year after a brilliant 2023, as shown by its 16 wins last season. Orluis Aular (7) and Iuri Leitão (5, plus the Omnium World title and the most recent European Scratch title) emerged as the top runners-up. Both will continue to grow within the team even at the ideal age to aim for even greater heights (27 and 25 years old). The Venezuelan champion was already very close to achieving an extraordinary victory in Oliva, the end of the seventh stage of the final stage Back to Spaina race to which Caja Rural-Seguros RGA returned with a very solid overall performance with up to nine places in the top 10.

However, aside from victories and results, the Caja Rural-Seguros RGA does not forget its successes training workand offers young talents the opportunity to make their debut in the professional field. Two pieces of information support and reinforce this idea: With Jon Barrenetxea on his way to Movistar, 27 cyclists with a history in the green formation have now reached the WorldTour and have thus come to us the ProTeam with the highest number. In addition, four other drivers from our subsidiary are making their professional debut this year: Samuel Fernández, Julen Arriolabengoa, Thomas Silva and Jaume Guardeño. The promising Australian Sebastian Berwick completes the supplementary division in a group full of talent, with 12 of its 22 runners under the age of 25.

Centenarians

Over the last fourteen seasons, the RGA of Caja Rural-Seguros has accumulated 2,164 days of competition in 29 different countriesadd up in total 99 wins. Therefore, the possible first success of the new year will bring a milestone for our group and highlight the trajectory and work we have developed during this time.

The first opportunities to claim that centenary victory come this weekend with the team's debut in the Classics of the Valencian Community and the new Castellon Grand Prixto then build on the traditional trophies of the Challenge de Mallorca and the Marseillaise Grand Prix in France.

Testify

Jose Miguel Fernandez (Director of Caja Rural-Seguros RGA): “Last year we completed a season that needs to be appreciated. We have to be happy with the work done, but what I would like to emphasize above all is the ability to make up for the bad start to the year with injuries, illnesses and problems that made us start on the wrong foot.”

“Looking ahead to this season, we are very happy to be able to keep almost the entire block. I think we've strengthened ourselves well with Berwick as a young runner, but he should contribute a lot to us. In addition, the cyclists who leave the amateur level motivate and excite and I think they will quickly adapt to the category.”

“The goals don’t change: win races and now also collect UCI points. Then of course the Vuelta. The invitations are expensive, we don't know what will happen, but that must always be the goal. “In addition, we need to focus more on the classics and one-day tests, where we know there are more points to be awarded.”

Aritz Bagües (Director of the Caja Rural-Alea branch): “My first year as director was very positive, I am proud that four cyclists have joined the professional team. Many deserve it, but we already know that places at the top are limited. I would sign immediately to do it again in 2024, although I know it will be difficult.”

“I think we have an even more complete squad than last year. Very important men have left, but we have strengthened well, with veterans and many first-year runners. I hope that the successes will be repeated and that several children from this subsidiary will be able to wear the jersey of the professional team, which is ultimately what I am here for. It is a training category in which they have to learn what it means to be a professional cyclist so that the change when the opportunity arises is as minimal as possible.”

Caja Rural-Seguros RGA template

He The subsidiary is also important for the structure. The cyclists are Hugo Aguilar, Estanislao Calabuig, Beñat Carbayeda, Jan Castellón, Daniel Cepa, Gorka Corres, Álex Díaz, Aimar Erostarbe, Martxel Etxeberria, Alberto Fernández, Gerard Ginabreda, Alem Herráiz, Javier Ibáñez, Pablo Jaray, Pablo Lospitao, Aimar Madina , Rafael Martínez, Iñaki Navarro, Iker Pérez, Adriá Regada, Emilio Reinoso, Diego Ruiz de Arkaute, Rubén Sánchez, Ilya Shchegolkov, Lucas Towers, Mikel Uncilla and Xabier Zabala.

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