Orluis Aular secures the overall victory in Croatia despite heavy fall in final meters: "It's a bittersweet victory due to the fall"

The 2023 season brought the curtain down this Sunday for Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, and it did so with the final victory of Orluis Aular in the general classification of the CRO Race. The Venezuelan's final stage didn't go as planned, falling hard in the final meters. Luckily he was able to get up and cross the line supported by his teammates, sealing the overall victory.

"From the first moment the objective was to win the race with Orluis. We had analyzed the route and we knew that the bonuses were going to be essential, that's why in the first stage we already bet on it, getting a few seconds. The second stage we changed the approach a little and bet on Iúri, seeing him so superior on the first day, and he came out perfect, bringing us a victory," Caja Rural DS José Miguel Fernández evaluates.

"From the third day we knew that we had to focus on Orluis and the fight for bonuses to fight for the general classification, with a great performance from the Venezuelan especially in the fifth stage that took the victory. In addition, the team has worked as a team of ten, like in the fifth stage when from the kilometer zero they set a pace on the first climb that reduced the group and it surely could have taken its toll on the rivals in the final part."

"In this last stage the objective was to clear the bonuses, and thanks to breakaways where rivals didn't pose any danger for the general classification, we were able to avoid the fight from the peloton and approach the finish as another sprint opportunity for Orluis. We leave with a valuable victory that is bittersweet due to the fall but that demonstrates the level of Orluis and the entire team to close a great season for Caja Rural-Seguros RGA."