Arlenis Sierra achieves her first victory with Movistar team in Andalusia

May 3, 2022

Cuban Arlenis Sierra, leader of the Movistar team in the Vuelta a Andalucía, in Spain, won this Tuesday the first of the three stages of this cycling race, which meant her first triumph since her arrival at this powerful team, one of the main ones in the world.

"Mission accomplished: Arlenis Sierra, first leader of the Vuelta a Andalucía. The Cuban champion makes her debut with Movistar Team and beats Mavi García in the intricate finish at Arenas," announced the blue club's management on Twitter.

The initial route of the race, corresponding to the women's World Circuit calendar, was 105.5 kilometers between the towns of Salobreña and Arenas, via a coastal and rugged route, according to a report by the Cuban News Agency (ACN).

The Cuban's first victory with Movistar was the result of another good team effort, thanks to the support received from Colombian Paula Patiño, Spanish Sara Martín, Serbian Jelena Erić, Norwegian Katrine Aalerud and Australian Sarah Gigante, the news office specifies.

The cyclist from Manzanillo staged an exciting finish to win in a head-to-head against local Mavi García (UAE Team ADQ), after covering the distance in 2:59.01 hours, according to a note published in the specialized media As.

"You always fight to try to get victories, today we achieved it as a team and that makes me very happy, for myself but especially for the 'girls,' who worked super well. We organized ourselves really well and that gives me confidence that, hopefully, I can keep the 'pullover' until Thursday," Sierra said after the victory, cited by the Spanish media.

The publication highlights Mavi García's good work over much of the course, especially on the final climb to Alto de Arenas, where she unleashed hostilities and completed a good part of the climb solo.

However, it also highlights Arlenis's response, who managed to neutralize her offensive and overtake her in the final meters to take the yellow leader's jersey of the Andalusian race.

According to As, one of the revelations of the women's cycling season completed the stage podium, German Ricarda Bauernfeind (Canyon Generation), who reached the finish line 15 seconds behind the top two, while Colombian Patiño finished in fourth place.

The second leg of the Ruta del Sol Vuelta Ciclista Andalucía Elite Women will take place this Wednesday over 118.9 kilometers in the province of Málaga, between the capital and Mijas.

"Tomorrow is one of the hardest stages, according to what they told me. I know that Mavi is a tremendous rider, a good climber, I know it's going to be a bit difficult, I'm not saying it won't be, but it won't be for lack of fighting. I think what we have best is the team, we understand each other a lot and we're going to do good work," Arlenis warned before the start, the As publication notes.

"I don't know much about the race, I know I struggle a lot on long climbs because I'm not a pure climber, but I'm going to fight. One never knows… Who knows? Maybe it won't be me and it will be another team member who pulls away. We're going to fight until the last day," she added.

In her first season in the ranks of Movistar, Arlenis Sierra has proven to be one of the most competitive cyclists on the professional circuit, with very good results in several maximum-level races on the European continent and great aspirations ahead.

Although the Spanish club boasts figures of recognized quality and trajectory, such as Dutch multi-champion Annemiek van Vleuten and Danish Emma Norsgaard, the Cuban now has the opportunity in Andalusia to show that she can also lead her squad in the absence of her star teammates.