“If along the way I can lend a hand, I will. And he will surely do the same with me, “acknowledges Abraham
“The Titan is more about friendship and helping others to reach the goal; and it is more the friendship that unites us, we have no rivalry
abraham olanothe first cyclist to double world champion -on the road and against the clock- and winner of La Vuelta and podium in the Giro d’Italia, will return this year to the Titan Desert in Morocco, reliving the duel of the 90s with Miguel Indurainthe five-time winner of the Tour, who has already confirmed his presence in the Moroccan event that will take place between April 30 and May 5.
The main attraction of the test is served with the reunion of two of the best Spanish cyclists in history: Miguel Indurain and Abraham Olano himself, protagonists of great duels on the asphalt when they competed in great tours. Now they will face each other in the Moroccan desert, more united by friendship than by rivalry. “If along the way I can lend a hand, I will. And he will surely do the same with me. It is more the friendship that unites us, we have no rivalry. He was recently in my town, in a tribute to Iñaki Lopetegui, an ETB biker who passed away. Miguel came, signed up for dinner and shared with everyone what a good person he is. He was with everyone until late & rdquor ;, comments Abraham Olano about his relationship with Indurain.
“We will suffer at many times, but the race ahead is done by others. The Titan is more about friendship and helping others to reach their goal & rdquor;, Add. Abraham Olano has already been in the Titan Desert camp in recent editions and this year he returns to a race that “has a special attraction, to enjoy and experience new anecdotes. In road cycling everything is very controlled. On the Titan it is different. You can even venture to look for shortcuts. And your decision may turn out to be an ambush, that you take the wrong path and that in the haimas you eat the head of something that you have done and that perhaps you should not& rdquor ;. In the KH-7 Olano team, he will have the help and advice of a Titan Legend, a true expert in this stage race in which navigation through the route is one of the keys: Melcior Mauri.
According to Olano, “Melcior gives us a lot. He makes us GPS, he is a master of it. He explains how navigation works with TwoNav GPS, possible shortcuts & mldr; It’s nice to have him as a guide. Every time he calls me, and I can, I make myself available to him. If it weren’t for him, with my sailing knowledge I would still be lost somewhere on my first Titan.” Above all, Olano highlights the coexistence among the participants in the haimas.
“Sharing, many times in the same stage while we pedal, but also on the eve or after the stages in the camp is what attracts me the most. I meet many people who have lived our careers professionally and I like to be close to those people who have seen us on television. Now is the time to share a table, memories of those experiences, each one for their part. One as a cyclist and others as fans”, he explains.
Another of the most popular cyclists in the camp is the French Sylvain Chavanelone of the most popular French cyclists thanks to the fact that he holds the record for being the person who has ridden the most times in the Tour de France, with 18 editions, in which he has won three stages, wearing the yellow jersey for two days and being awarded as the most combative in two editions.
“I met Chavanel in the KH-7 team in 2019, when he won a sprint stage. He comes with a role similar to mine, it’s about trying to help a colleague who may need a hand. Pull them, help them if they have a mechanical breakdown, give them water… I encourage him to always come with the team. An athlete like this is always welcome and the team is very grateful to him for that stage victory,” concludes Olano.