Kortekaas, in pursuit of the tiple crown
13/11/2023On November the 14th begins the NEOM Titan Desert Saudi Arabia. The second edition of the race in the NEOM territory and the race that closes the Titan World Series calendar for the year 2023.
Four stages, over 350 kilometers and a challenge on desert tracks where no mountain bike has ever ridden before. A real adventure for the 200 participants and an opportunity for the elite cyclists to add a new triumph to their record.
Undoubtedly, the record that would most appreciate this victory is that of Tessa Kortekaas. The Dutchwoman based in Lanzarote seeks to achieve a historic triple crown unprecedented to date: Škoda Titan Desert Morocco, Škoda Titan Desert Almeria and NEOM Titan Desert Saudi Arabia.
An unprecedented milestone for a rider who has dominated the women’s classification of the two previous races with great authority. Including real exhibitions in her debuts in Morocco and Andalusia.
Opposite will be, of course, which was her great rival last October in the Škoda Titan Desert Almeria: Ariadna Ródenas. The Elche is the reigning champion in NEOM and will seek to reedit her triumph in 2023 against Kortekaas.
| MEN’S GC, WIDE OPEN Who surely will not repeat victory in this edition will be David Valero. The Spanish mountainbike reference of the moment will not be in the NEOM Titan Desert Saudi Arabia. An opportunity for the rest of the riders to win. With everything wide open and many possible options, two of the best bets are on the two people who accompanied Valero on the podium last year: Haimar Zubeldia and Julen Zubero. The Basques from Krypteia are veterans of the race and will be looking to make their experience count on the NEOM tracks. Two newcomers to the race promise to give a lot of fight, although their natural habitat has traditionally been on the road: Luis León Sánchez and Lluís Mas. ‘Luisle’ already made his debut in Almería with a more than worthy podium in the GC, while the Movistar Team’s Balearic rider is making his debut in Titan World Series races eager to put the most experienced riders in trouble. Along with them, a list of great bikers who will be looking for their first GC victory in the race: Miquel Faus, Enrique Morcillo, Pau Marzá or Pablo Guerrero, among others, are the names that will be, predictably, at the head of the race on a daily basis. |
