The UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Marathon in Gran Canaria has proved irresistible to the former Spanish cycling champion Abraham Olano, who will take part in the “90 Challenge”, the 77km amateur event just after the UCI World Championship Races!
On the 17th March the best mountain bike bikers in the world will compete in Gran Canaria in the first event of the UCI Marathon World Cup calendar. Already we have Alejandro Díaz de la Peña, the Spanish favourite, Gilberto Simoni, twice winner of the Giro, and Pia Sundstedt, winner of the Marathon Mountain Bike World Cup in 2006.
However one of the best known stars in Spanish cycling will participate in the parallel event to the UCI´s main race as an amateur. Abraham Olano, winner of the Tour of Spain in 1998 and World Champion in 1995, has confirmed his participation in the 77km “90 Challenge”, which take place just after the World Cup races on the same circuit.
There are more than 450 registered bikers in the two events, which share the start and finishing line in the Wild West theme park Sioux City, next to Maspalomas. That will ensure an eye-catching spectacle for the public, who can enjoy the World Cup fully free. As well as two events there will be exhibitions and competitions for the general public and a race village with all novelties of the cycling world.
Abraham Olano, already retired for some years from professional racing, continues to be linked professionally to the world of cycling. He has just presented in Abu Dhabi, the Cycling Race of Champions - the world’s richest cycling event. Although he has not much time to ride, he is a passionate supporter of cycling, and a keen athlete and took the opportunity to race in this marathon here on Gran Canaria.
Palmarés de Abraham Olano:
- Spanish Time Trial Champion in 1994
- Spanish Road Champion in 1994
- World Road Champion in 1995
- 2nd in the World Time Trial Championships in 1995
- 2nd in the Vuelta a España 1995
- 3º in the Giro de Italia 1995 and 1996
- 2nd in the Oylímpic Time Trial in Atlanta 1996
- 5º in the Tour de France 1996
- 4º in the Tour de France 1997
- 1º in the Vuelta a España 1998
- World Time Trial Champion in 1998
- 2º in the Giro de Italia 2001
