Road Cycling World Cup moves to Spain

Italy lead the World Cup medals table with 21 medals in total, including eight golds. They are followed by Germany with six golds (15 total) and the Czech Republic with six (12 total).

After the opening round of the 2013 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup in Merano and Marlengo, Italy last week, cyclists are now gearing up for this weekend’s second stop on the circuit in Segovia, Spain.

The time trials on Friday (14 June) and the road races the following two days will decide whether or not the jerseys change hands.

Nearly 250 athletes from 36 nations will be racing over the three days of competition in the picturesque city of Segovia, in the region of Castile and Leon.

This pioneering World Cup destination has hosted a round of the international series each year since its launch in 2010.

The athletes will complete the 11km time trial circuit once or twice depending on their sport class.

The road races will be held over a different 12km circuit for a total of between 36km and 108km, depending on the class.

Italy lead the World Cup medals table with 21 medals in total, including eight golds. They are followed by Germany with six golds (15 total) and the Czech Republic with six (12 total).

Spain, which sits in ninth place in the standings, will have the home advantage this time which will no doubt spur on the top tandem of Christian Venge Balboa and David Llaurado Caldero, which finished third behind the two Italian tandems in the time trial in Marlengo.

Spain’s four silver medallists in the Italian round will no doubt be hoping to pull off a top performance at home to claim the gold that eluded their country in Merano.

After Segovia, the World Cup will move to Matane, Canada, for the third and final round from 23-25 August.