“I’m surprised I won” – Natnael Tesfatsion fights back after being dropped to claim Circuito de Getxo victory
Cycling
Natnael Tesfatsion admitted his Circuito de Getxo victory had taken even him by surprise after the Movistar Team rider completed an impressive comeback to win the Basque one-day race.
The Eritrean was distanced on the decisive climb but fought his way back into contention before beating Pau Miquel of Bahrain Victorious and Cofidis rider Alex Aranburu in the final sprint.
“I know this race well. I was dropped on the hard climb, but we managed to get back with some other riders. I’m surprised I won the race,” Tesfatsion said after crossing the line.
His return to the front owed plenty to the cooperation between Movistar and Bahrain Victorious, with Pello Bilbao helping to drive the chase as the groups came back together in the closing kilometres. “I knew the finish suited me. We worked with Bahrain to get back, with Pello Bilbao, and we caught the front group,” Tesfatsion explained.
Tesfatsion strikes from 200 metres
Tesfatsion kept himself well positioned once contact had been made before launching his sprint with around 200 metres remaining. Neither Miquel nor Aranburu could come past, allowing the 27-year-old to secure one of the biggest victories of his career and an important result for Movistar Team.
“I had the legs. I went with 200 metres to go, gave everything and managed to win,” he concluded.
The victory continued a strong run of results for Tesfatsion and delivered the Movistar Team a significant home success in one of the Basque Country’s most established one-day races.
Juan LarraCycling Journalist
Juan Larra is a writer for Cyclinguptodate and editor-in-chief of Ciclismoaldia, where he has played a central role since its inception. Under his leadership, the website has become a trusted source for professional cycling coverage, offering in-depth analysis, news, and feature stories.
A sports journalist with over 20 years of experience, Juan earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Seville in 2007. He began his career covering a wide range of sports—including football, basketball, Formula 1, MotoGP, tennis, and cycling—for platforms such as the official La Liga app, Vodafone and Movistar websites, NBA Blogdebasket, and Cadena Cope, honing his skills in writing and editorial management.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Juan contributes to Cyclinguptodate and serves as editor-in-chief for the tennis-focused site Tenisaldia. Throughout his career, he has conducted exclusive interviews with cyclists and sports figures, provided detailed analysis of competitions ranging from local Spanish races to major international events, and acted as a special correspondent at prestigious races including Paris-Roubaix, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España.
Juan’s combination of experience, expertise, and direct access to athletes has established him—and the platforms he leads—as authoritative voices in professional cycling.
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