2nd March Issue 34
BRIT TRIUMPHS
IN BENIDORM RACE
by Simon Russell
The Benidorm stage of the female cyclists Setmana Ciclista Valenciana, one of the cycling calendar’s biggest events, was won by British rider Hannah Barnes. The race itself covered three laps of a 40km route around the city, each circuit covering the second-category climb of
Finestrat and was Hannah’s second stage win in four days, sufficient to win her the overall event. South African Ashleigh MoolmanPasio was second overall while Spanish riders Alicia Gonzalez and Mavi Garcia came in third and fourth respectively. Although the race last Sunday was declared a success by the Town Hall
and participants, there was some controversy as many motorists faced major disruptions when roads across the city centre were closed to four wheeled traffic during the middle of the day. Drivers trying to access the area around the Town Hall and Avenida Europe could get no closer than Poniente in many
cases, while there were complaints about the lack of prior information from local business owners and residents alike. Bus journeys that normally took ten minutes were taking well over an hour, while restaurants reported cancellations from people driving in for Sunday lunch unable to access the city centre.