One tree per breakaway kilometer - How a Vuelta a Espana rider is looking to make a difference
Cycling
The upcoming Vuelta a Espana will be a brutal race, and also one that will host plenty of Spanish riders. Euskaltel-Euskadi will be at the start, and Luis Angel Maté will be racing with an unique goal in mind.
"I wish we had never had to do this initiative, but we must be aware that we have the most beautiful stadium in the world and it is our responsibility to take care of it," the Spaniard said in a post on Instagram. He will be donating 100 trees to his local area of Marbella, and for every kilometer he spends in a breakaway at the Vuelta a Espana, he will donate one tree.
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This value will be doubled by the end by both Vuelta organizers and the Basque team which he will be representing. Due to ongoing climate change, southern Spain is more frequently being hit by extreme heat waves and increasingly worrying droughts, and the presence of wildfires have further damaged the landscape of Sierra Bermeja where Maté is specifically looking to reforest.
The Vuelta will start on the 19th of August, and on stage 12 into Estepona - Peñas Blancas the peloton will ride through Marbella in what should be a special day for the 38-year old who will be riding his 11th Vuelta.
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A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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- I know, watch the video. and listen to her competitors. it was a tricky tacky call at best. WTF is this guy talking about??? my original comment was from the picture it didn't look like anything.mij09-11-2026
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- deviation lol, watch the videomij09-11-2026
- the 'No different than women who follow and discuss celebs through gossip magazines' comment was unfortunately a bit off. didn't you just boast about your principles in the comments section of another article?Ketterechts08-11-2026
- Are you MrMauMau 2.0? Nothing you are saying is really relevant. Vaguely connected, but irrelevant. The conversation is whether Schreiber impeded Brand or not.
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - He is boring
leedorney08-11-2026 - To Twoje przemyślenia te bla, bla :)
Dariusz08-11-2026 - Uwielbiam patrzeć, jak wyjeżdża na czoło peletonu i zaczyna się rzeź...
Dariusz08-11-2026 - Yeah, unreal.
parisbound0008-11-2026
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