After a two year absence, more than 1000 participants started the 10th edition of the Desafio Puertos de Guadarrama Challenge by TotalEnergies, racing on 159 and 73 kilometers long routes in the legendary Sierra de Guadarrama mountains of Spain, which will soon host Stage 20 of the 2022 La Vuelta Grand Tour.

With riders aged from 18 to 74, it was 20 year-old Jesus Antonio Garcia Gonzalez (Aritmete Club Ciclista) who stole the show, soloing in for the win. He crossed the finish line for the 159km race in 5:02:15, two minutes ahead of Francisco Javier Alonso Suarez (C C Navastur) and Alejandro Santamaria Perez (Trientrenos) who finished in 5:04:22.

Vanese Ordonez Rios won the women’s category, finishing the 159km long race in 5:25:50.

On the major climbs of Cerro de San Pedro, La Trampa, the Port of Canencia and the massive 1796 meter La Morcuera, cyclists were not only struggling to ride up steep grades, but also with rain, mist and foggy conditions that made descending precarious.

La Morcuera is the climb Alberto Contador used to train for his record breaking Everesting ride in 2020, where the multiple Grand Tour champion climbed 8848 metres in 7:27:20.

Complete Desafio Puertos de Guadarrama results HERE.

Photos: Desafio Puertos de Guadarrama