TOM SCHELLEKENS AND SAVILIA BLUNK WIN THE FIRST RACE OF THE YEAR IN THE COPA CATALANA INTERNACIONAL BTT BIKING POINT
The town of Sant Fruitós de Bages (Barcelona) kicked off the season with a the season in an event that attracted 324 runners.
The season of the Copa Catalana Internacional BTT Biking Point 2025 started this Sunday in the municipality of Sant Fruitós de Bages. Tom Schellekens ruled the race with total authority, imposed an unattainable pace from the beginning and rode solo to victory. In the women’s category, the American Savilia Blunk chose to keep a low profile throughout the race, sheltered behind the wheel of her compatriot Kelsey Urban, who set the pace until she gave up in the final sprint.Tom Schellekens gobernó la carrera con total autoridad, impuso un ritmo inalcanzable desde el principio y cabalgó en solitario hacia la victoria. En la categoría femenina, la estadounidense Savilia Blunk optó por mantener un perfil bajo durante toda la prueba, resguardada tras la rueda de su compatriota Kelsey Urban, que marcó el ritmo hasta claudicar en el esprint final.
Tom Schellekens dominates with unchallenged dominance to take first win of the season
The day dawned with a thin layer of low clouds, dissipated by the sun as the morning progressed. The riders called up to the start line appeared in strict punctuality. Tom Schellekens grabbed the spotlight on the starting grid and decided to go flat out from the start. The Dutchman faced the race as a continuous attack that forced the rest of the riders to look for a reply that only Aniol Morell found.
In the early stages, the protagonist was an unleashed Schellekens who pedalled relentlessly. The young KMC Ridley MTB Racing Team rider forced the race from the start and effectively stretched the group. Despite managing to put some ground in the middle with those who came from behind, Aniol Morell pulled his trade, managed to almost match the times of the Dutchman and stopped the bleeding of seconds.
Both maintained the pulse in the distance, while behind Cristofer Bosque, Mario Sinués and Lasse Koneckny tried unsuccessfully to connect with them.
Schellekens continued to ride without slackening his pace, with the aim of breaking the race for good. His efforts began to pay off, and little by little, he managed to break Morell, who was in denial and refused to give in. Schellekens’ lead was consolidated even more as the quadriceps were accumulating kilometres.
The riders reached the halfway point of the race with no major news at the front. The status quo of the race remained unchanged until misfortune knocked at the door of Morell, who was forced to abandon after breaking his saddle with one lap to go.
Schellekens, who by then already had a generous lead, saw victory closer than ever. Without any unexpected surprises or last-minute twists and turns, he spurred the pedals of his bike to the finish line and gave the spectators a final wheelie to claim his first victory of the year.
Savilia Blunk beats Kelsey Urban with a last-gasp winner
The women’s race was marked by the total control exercised by the Americans Savilia Blunk and Kelsey Urban. The two runners accepted the tag of favourites and emerged as the main dominators of the race. The two understood each other perfectly and Urban took on the responsibility of setting the pace, while Blunk opted to take cover behind her back. Behind, Núria Bosch distanced herself from the rest of the chasers and went on a solo chase.
The kilometres went by and neither of the two leaders showed signs of weakness; the wear and tear did not come and both remained united. Urban at the front; Blunk behind. The picture was the same lap after lap. Urban led the way and Blunk felt comfortable behind her compatriot’s wheel. The common interest of the American duo buried the hostilities for the final stretch of the race.
Núria Bosch was in no man’s land; with no pressure from behind, and with the other riders at a sufficient distance, she was also losing seconds off the lead.
The race entered the final lap with the Urban-Blunk pair dancing to the same rhythm. Everything seemed to indicate that the victory was going to be decided in the final metres. The predictions were fulfilled and the two faced the finishing straight together. Blunk put the pedal to the metal, Urban could not withstand the watts, and completed the last few metres in a sprint that was enough to make her the winner. The great international rider opens the season with a victory.
