03 Mar Andalucía Bike Raice Metallurgica Veneta Pro Team
Spectacular start to the Spanish stage for the Metallurgica Veneta MTB Pro Team
Stage start in Spain: After finishing in the top 10, the Metallurgica Veneta MTB Pro Team is starting off with a strong boost at the Andalucia Bike Race. After a promising start and some difficulties, Arias and Taffarel have achieved a historic Top 10 finish in a lineup that has brought together the best XCM specialists.
Great stage at the Andalucía Bike Race
March 3, 2025, Córdoba (ESP) – The week of the 15th edition of the Andalucía Bike Race proved to be a spectacular stage, with the world’s XCM giants facing off on 305 kilometers of technical courses, demanding climbs, and exciting descents that tested the riders’ endurance and technical ability in a perfect environment.
In this scenario, the duo of Diego Arias and Nicola Taffarel of the Metallurgica Veneta MTB Professional Team finished the race in seventh place overall, confirming the team’s position among the best in a very high-level context.
Six days of battles in the Andalusian mountains with good results and some setbacks
The Metallurgica Veneta MTB Professional Team duo immediately showed they could fight for the top spots in the standings.
Their debut was spectacular: fifth place on the first stage, 1 minute and 22 seconds behind the winners, a performance they repeated on the second stage, but with a gap reduced to just 20 seconds over the leaders. The Italian-Colombian duo seemed headed for the podium when the third stage presented them with the challenge: after two hours of battling in the lead group, a fall by Taffarel, complicated by a mechanical problem, halted their climb, relegating them to ninth place.
With a reaction that demonstrated great tenacity, Arias and Taffarel got back on track: seventh on the fourth stage, sixth on the fifth, and seventh again on the final day of competition, securing a solid seventh place in the overall standings.
Arias and Taffarel’s words: A race, but with good premises
Diego Arias said he was satisfied, despite some difficulties. “I arrived in Andalusia with some uncertainty, after changing coaches, bikes, and equipment. I immediately felt good with Nicola, and in the first two stages we maintained an excellent pace, but the third stage penalized us and we lost a few positions. It wasn’t easy to recover, but we took away a wonderful experience and the knowledge of having worked hard. I thank the entire team for the organization and I am confident for the upcoming races.”
Nicola Taffarel emphasized the value of the race.
It was a true test after months without competitions. I’m satisfied with the materials and the work done; although there’s room for improvement, I feel I’m on the right track. I had a great time with Diego; his experience was essential for managing the race. We’re on the right track, and this strengthens our personal and team connection.
Team manager Martino Tronconi doesn’t hide his satisfaction.
We’ve shown that we can compete with the best in the world. In the first two stages, we remained at the top of the race until the very end, fighting for the podium. In the third, unfortunately, we lost a few minutes and fell outside the Top 5, but we responded with determination in the following stages. The start to the season is positive, the equipment responded perfectly, and we consolidated our position among the top 10 in an international race. Next Sunday, we kick off the calendar in Italy.
The Andalusian adventure in a top-level international setting has ended with a positive outcome for the Metallurgica Veneta MTB Professional Team, which is now preparing to return to Italy for the next round on the calendar, the Bacialla Bike. The goal is to further improve our performance, consolidate our teamwork, and aim high in the upcoming competitions.