“The perfect combination to enjoy sport and environment”

Francisco Javier Fernández Hernández, Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Junta de Andalucía analyse the success of the race

This will be the eighth year that Andalucía Bike Race presented by Shimano and the Junta de Andalucía organise hand in hand one of the world’s best mountain biking stage races. The success of this first class UCI (International Cycling Union) competition is the reward of the arduous work of both bodies.

Francisco Javier Fernández Hernández, Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Junta de Andalucía is sure that “it’s a special and unique event, in which the combination of pure sport and the wonderful Andalusian touristic destinations, entail as a result a race that outstands from the races of the international calendar”.

Since its first edition, Andalucía Bike Race presented by Shimano, became a Spanish mountain biking benchmark. “The combination is perfect in order to enjoy sport and the surroundings. The six demanding stages which this year begin in Linares and will finish in Córdoba, go along woods, forests, singletrails, streams, villages, vegetation, water and fields, and Andalusia is one of the few territories which offer these endless possibilities”, assures the Minister of Tourism and Sports.

Many national and international federations choose Andalusia for having places that fit the necessities of each sport. “Regarding mountain biking, our land’s landscape richness and mild climate throughout mostly all year, makes it easier to practice”, Fernández Hernández explains. With nearly 400 kilometres and more then 8.500 metres of elevation, the Andalusian race attracts the world’s best mountain bikers and has lots of expectation.

“Besides following the race with the best names of this sport which is part of it, the fact it happens with the festivity of Andalusia will cause that many enthusiasts will throw themselves into cheering all riders”, convincedly explains how the queen stage of the eighth edition of Andalucía Bike Race presented by Shimano will be, which had a spectacular ambience during the last edition.

“Without any doubt, we’ll join two celebrations and this is really typical from us. That day you’ll enjoy in the province of Córdoba the festivity of the region and for sure many enthusiasts will come along to follow the riders, the landscape and our most genuine traditions”, concludes Fernández Hernández.

Having the queen stage of Andalucía Bike Race presented by Shimano and festivity of Andalusia on the same day, February 28th, will sure be a real success.