Marcos Soler and Luz Yeberes triumphed in the Castle Climb, which brought the race to a close.
The 27th Villa de Mequinenza Cyclotourist March, organized by the Mequinenza Cycling Club with the collaboration of the Mequinenza Town Council and the Zaragoza Provincial Council, as well as various commercial sponsors, took place without incident and under optimal weather conditions for the fifty or so registered participants, aged between 16 and 75. Many of them, after completing the 112-kilometer route, dared to tackle the legendary Castle Climb, a 1,5-kilometer ascent with gradients of up to 14%. The first to reach the summit were Marcos Soler, from the Mequinenza Cycling Club, and Luz Yeberes, from Tramdur de Alpicat.
The peloton, escorted by Bajo Cinca Civil Protection, the Traffic Division of the Civil Guard, medical personnel, volunteers, and organizers, set off a few minutes after 8:00 a.m. from Plaza del Minero, the starting point for the return journey after completing the 112-kilometer route of this unique race in the Bajo Cinca region, which, thanks to considerable effort, remains a fixture on the cycling calendar. The colorful procession wound through towns in the Bajo Cinca and Cinca Medio regions, where the cyclists received the support, warmth, and hospitality of the locals. Three aid stations were planned along the route: one in Ontiñena, provided by the town council; another in Zaidín, thanks to the collaboration of the local cycling club; and a third in Torrente de Cinca, with the support of the "La Torrentina" Housewives Association.
Once the race was over, trophies were awarded to the club that traveled the farthest and the club with the most participants, which went to Club Ciclista Calanda and Club Ciclista Fraga, respectively. Javier Blanc, from Hinaco Monzón, received the award for youngest cyclist, and Jaime Panedés, from the Catalan town of Vinebre, received the award for oldest. As for the overall standings for the Subida al Castillo (Castle Climb), the men's victory went to local rider Marcos Soler, followed by Javier Blanc and Javier Gascón, both from Club Ciclista Calanda. In the women's category, Luz Yeberes took the win, followed by Laura Pallejà, from Club Ciclista Bike Race Reus, and Elena Sánchez, from Club Ciclista Fraga. In the local category, the podium was comprised of Marcos Soler, the overall winner, Fernando Beltrán, and Iván Carballo.
The ceremony, which took place outside the Municipal Sports Pavilion, was attended by Pedro Mesa and Pilar Catalán, from the Mequinenza Cycling Club, as well as Antonio Sanjuán, Mayor of Mequinenza, Miguel Llop, Councilor for Sports, Luis Esteve, Councilor for Youth, Festivities and Events, Débora Bravo, Councilor for Urban Planning and Services, and Councilors Manel Molina and José María Algueró.
