Alexey Lutsenko wins first edition of Clásica Jaén Paraiso Interior

The Kazakh was by far the strongest man in the opening edition of the Clásica Jaén Paraiso Interior and thrived in the gravel roads to bring Astana Qazaqstan Team it's first win of the season. Alexey Lutsenko has also brought a win on his first day of racing of the season.

The breakaway has set early on with Mikel Azparren (Euskaltel - Euskadi), Igor Arrieta (Equipo Kern Pharma), Chad Haga (Human Powered Health), Juan Diego Alba (Drone Hopper - Androni Giocattoli) and Jenn Berckmoes (Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise) set off for a hard race, but never got much freedom as Lotto Soudal controlled the race closely.

As the riders entered the final circuit around Úbeda, Luis Angel Mate was the first to attack as the b, shortly after though as the race blew up a group with Alexey Lutsenko and Tim Wellens attacking on the second lap in the main gravel ascent with the Astana rider soon going clear. Caught in the following descent, but on the start of the third ascent he quickly powered away from the chasing group to chase the win.

He confortably extended his gap and rode to a confortable win, even having a moment where he seemed to tighten his front wheel on the go as he crossed the finish line for the penultimate time. The chasing group quickly realized they were fighting for minor places and had it's own battle, from where Tim Wellens thrived and went on to finish second place, with Intermarché's Loic Vliegen rounding out the Top3.