The UCI Jaén Paraíso Interior Nations Cup certainly didn’t disappoint – the first edition of this thrilling race brought together some of the world’s top young riders, and what a spectacle it was. In the end, it all came down to a heart-stopping sprint between Britain’s Erin Boothman and Spain’s Paula Ostiz, with the two leading a small group that battled it out in the streets of Úbeda. Ostiz, unfortunately, was left with a bittersweet taste, having been one of the strongest riders for much of the tour only to miss out on the top spot. Meanwhile, Greece’s Eirini Papadimitriou took third place on the podium.
Seventy-seven riders took to the starting line in this inaugural women’s youth category event, which covered a challenging 76.4-kilometer route that began and ended in the beautiful Humanity Heritage City of Úbeda, with the Four Olive Roads featuring prominently in the second half. The Spanish team, led by the talented Paula Ostiz – herself a European champion and world runner-up – was the team to beat, with a presence in every attack. In fact, the national team showed tremendous potential, with up to three riders, including Ostiz, Irene Moreno, and Alejandra Neira, all making their mark on the race.
As the Spanish team stood proudly on the podium, it was clear that they had given it their all. The image of the team, beaming with pride, was a testament to their dedication and teamwork.
Paula Ostiz was naturally a bit disappointed with the outcome, despite her team’s impressive performance. In a post-race interview, she analyzed the events that had unfolded, saying, “I’m a bit sore, to be honest. I think I took too many risks on the ‘sterrato’ and had a bit of a scare when I went down on a curve. My teammates, however, did amazingly well – the plan was for two of them to push ahead and for me to come from behind, and in the end, we had Irene Moreno, Alejandra Neira, and me in the small group that fought for the win. They did a great job, but I just didn’t feel quite right, and in the end, I could only manage second place, which isn’t really satisfying, given how hard I’ve worked. If I’m being honest, I think Alejandra Neira and Erin Boothman were the strongest riders out there.” It’s clear that Ostiz is already looking to the next challenge, and we can’t wait to see what she achieves next.