Luis Enrique’s extreme challenge in one of the most demanding mountain bike races in the world: “It’s suffering and suffering”

Luis Enrique he took a break from football and after his last stint in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in charge of the Spain team which ended in a painful elimination in the round of 16 on penalties against Morocco, he gave way to one of his passions: Cycling. The former Barcelona coach is in South Africa participate in one of the most demanding mountain bike races on the planet.

At 52, the former footballer who played for the Spanish team in addition to wearing Real Madrid and Barcelona shirts, has returned to high competition, but this time aboard a bicycle. With his team, Unzué, Fought completed the first stage of Epic Cap d’Absa after turning 98 kilometers and 2,550 vertical meters with a time of 6 hours, 22 minutes and 54.8 seconds. Together with his partner Tomás Latorre, they were placed 41st in the Grand Masters category.

“Suffer suffer and suffer. But very well accompanied. Finish step 1″reacted Luis Enrique In their social networks, we have finished the first part of the tough competition which has 8 stages (adding the prologue) with a total of 658 kilometers and 15,775 meters of elevation gain. The coach posted some footage from the race with his colleagues and was proud to continue his imposing challenge, which still has several chapters to go.

The Gijón-born man sports a toned body based on a healthy diet, enough rest and intensive training that includes routines in the gym and cycling circuits. Indeed, for three months, he has been preparing a race that could be compared, at one point, to the famous Dakar Rally where motorcycles, quadricycles, cars and trucks compete. This is his third experience in the African event, since he participated in the edition in 2013 and 2018, led by Juan Carlos Unzué, the leader of the team which has six members.

To measure the rigor of this competition, which takes place in Cape Town, South Africa, from March 19 to 26, different skills of cyclists are put to the test, such as resistance, technique and speed on roads of gravel that crosses valleys and mountains. extreme weather conditions for athletes. Among the most famous winners of the race which has been running since 2004 are figures such as the Swiss Nino Schurter, three-time Olympic medalist and ten-time individual mountain bike world champion.

The journey of Luis Enrique and his team will continue on Tuesday March 21 (stage 2) with a distance of 116 kilometers to cover which includes 1,850 meters of elevation gain and will pass through the town of Hermanus.

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